Quick answer: A Side shopping transfer is a private car with a driver that takes you shopping — Side's old-town boutiques and bazaar, the Kumkoy strip, or the big Manavgat market (held on Monday and Thursday) — then brings you and your bags back to your hotel door. It works from any Side-area hotel, and as a day shopping trip from Belek (~35 km, 35–40 minutes) or Alanya (~65 km, 60–70 minutes). You ride in a private Mercedes Vito (up to 6 passengers), a Maybach VIP (up to 6) or a Sprinter minibus (up to 16) — never a shared shuttle. Shopping runs have no fixed public tariff: message us on WhatsApp, get a fixed quote in minutes, and pay the driver in cash on the day. No prepayment, free cancellation.
Get a fixed shopping-transfer quote on WhatsApp →
Why book a private transfer just to go shopping?
Because shopping in Side involves distance, heat and bags — usually all three at once. The resorts stretch for kilometres along the coast (Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Colakli, Titreyengol, Sorgun), so "popping into town" is a real journey from most hotels, and the Manavgat market is further still.
A private shopping transfer fixes the three things that ruin a shopping day:
- Timing. Your driver picks you up at your hotel at the time you choose — early for the Manavgat market before the coach crowds arrive, or late afternoon when the old town cools down.
- Bags. Everything goes in the boot. Nobody stands on a crowded dolmus hugging a carpet and four bags of spices.
- The return. The hardest part of any market day is getting home. Your driver waits or comes back at an agreed time — you walk out, sit down, done.
And because the vehicle is exclusively yours, you set the plan: one stop or three, an hour at the bazaar or a whole afternoon. It's the same service model as our airport work — private vehicle, door-to-door, pay the driver on the day — just pointed at the shops instead of the terminal.
Where we take you: Side's real shopping spots
Side old town — boutiques and bazaar inside an ancient city
Side's old town is the only place on this coast where you shop inside a 2,000-year-old peninsula settlement. The pedestrian lanes between the Temple of Apollo and the harbour are lined with boutiques, jewellers, leather shops, ceramics and textile stalls — a genuine bazaar atmosphere with Roman columns in the background. Cars can't enter the pedestrian core, so your driver drops you at the closest access point and meets you at an agreed spot when you're done. Evenings are best: the heat drops, the lanes light up, and most shops stay open late in season.
The Kumkoy strip
Kumkoy is Side's lively resort strip — supermarkets, souvenir shops, textile and beachwear stores, pharmacies and exchange offices along one walkable stretch. Practical rather than romantic: everyday things, gifts in bulk, and evening browsing after dinner. From Colakli or Evrenseki hotels, Kumkoy is often closer than the old town, and a short private hop saves a hot walk.
Manavgat market — Monday and Thursday
The big one. Manavgat's weekly market runs on Monday and Thursday and is one of the largest in the region — fresh produce, spices, olives and cheese on one side; clothes, shoes, fabrics and homeware on the other. It's genuinely local: prices are aimed at Turkish households, not tourists, and haggling is expected on non-food goods.
Practical notes from years of driving guests there: go in the morning before the heat and crowds, bring cash in lira, and don't try to carry a market haul on public transport. We cover the route in detail in our Side to Manavgat transfer guide, and there's a dedicated Manavgat shopping transfer page if the market is your main event.
Coming from Belek or Alanya? Side works as a day trip
Side's old-town bazaar and the Manavgat market pull shoppers from along the whole coast. Approximate road distances to Side:
| From | Distance (approx.) | Driving time (approx.) | Best paired with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side-area hotels (Kumkoy, Colakli, Sorgun…) | 2–15 km | 5–20 min | Old town + Kumkoy in one outing |
| Manavgat centre | ~7 km | ~10–15 min | Monday/Thursday market |
| Belek | ~35 km | 35–40 min | Old-town shopping + harbour dinner |
| Alanya | ~65 km | 60–70 min | Full shopping day: market + old town |
All figures are approximate and depend on your exact hotel and season traffic. From Belek, the run down the D400 is easy — the same road as our Belek to Side transfer. From Alanya it's a proper day out; the coastal drive itself is covered in our Alanya to Side transfer guide. And if you're based in Side and fancy shopping elsewhere for a change, we run the same private service to Alanya's Grand Bazaar street and Alanyum mall, to Belek and the Land of Legends Shopping Avenue, and to Antalya's big malls — TerraCity, Mall of Antalya and MarkAntalya.
What it costs — the honest version
Shopping transfers are custom work: the price depends on where your hotel is, where you want to go, how many stops you make, and whether the driver waits or returns for you. So there is no fixed public tariff for this page — and we won't invent one.
Here's how pricing actually works:
- You message us on WhatsApp with your hotel, the date, where you want to shop, and your group size.
- We reply with a fixed quote in minutes — one total price for the vehicle, not per person.
- The price is confirmed before you commit. No surprises, no meter, no surge.
- You pay the driver in cash on the day. No prepayment, no card details, and cancellation is free.
For context on how our fixed pricing works on standard routes: an airport transfer from Antalya Airport to Side in a Mercedes Vito is a flat €50 for 1–6 passengers — that's a current fixed price you can book instantly at bookridenow.com. Shopping runs are shorter and priced accordingly; the WhatsApp quote you receive is the whole story.
Message us on WhatsApp — fixed quote in minutes →
Choose your vehicle
| Vehicle | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | Up to 6 passengers, one flat price for 1–6 | Couples and families — plenty of boot space for market bags |
| Mercedes Maybach | Up to 6 passengers (VIP) | A boutique-shopping day in comfort — old town, jewellers, dinner at the harbour |
| Mercedes Sprinter | Up to 16 passengers | Big families and groups doing the Manavgat market together |
Whichever you choose, it's yours alone for the trip — no pooling, no waiting for other pickups, and your shopping stays safely in the vehicle between stops.
Families, prams and child seats
Markets and bazaars with small children are entirely doable when the transport is right. We provide free child and infant seats on request — tell us ages when you book and the right seats are fitted before pickup. Prams fold into the boot alongside the shopping, and because the vehicle is private, nap-time on the drive back is quiet time, not a crowded bus. More in our family transfers and child seats guide.
Evening shopping and the ride back
Side's old town is at its best after dark in summer — cooler air, lit-up lanes, shops open late. A common plan we drive: late-afternoon pickup, a couple of hours in the bazaar lanes, dinner at the harbour, then the driver collects you at an agreed meeting point. Fix the return time when you book, or simply message the driver when you're ready — no taxi rank at 11 pm with bags at your feet.
Private transfer vs taxi vs dolmus
- Dolmus (minibus): cheap, but routes and timetables are fixed, they're crowded in season, and a market haul plus a pram is miserable on one. Fine for a solo browse; wrong tool for a family shopping day.
- Taxi: the price is agreed on the spot or metered, varies by driver and time of day, and the return leg means finding another one with full hands. Two negotiations per shopping day.
- Private transfer: one fixed price agreed in writing beforehand, a driver who knows the plan, door-to-door both ways, and the boot as your bag storage between stops. With the Vito's flat 1–6 pricing, a full family pays the same as a couple.
How booking works — three steps on WhatsApp
- 1. Message us: open wa.me/905366037584 and send your hotel name, date, group size, and where you'd like to shop (old town, Kumkoy, Manavgat market, or a combination).
- 2. Get your fixed quote in minutes: one total price for the vehicle, wait-and-return arrangements included as agreed. Free child seats noted on the booking.
- 3. Shop, then pay the driver on the day: cash at the end of the service. No prepayment, no card, free cancellation if plans change.
Airport rides are even simpler — fixed tariffs with instant online prices at bookridenow.com, including the flat €50 Vito rate on the Antalya Airport–Side route.
Side shopping transfer — FAQ
Which days is the Manavgat market open?
The main Manavgat weekly market runs on Monday and Thursday. If your holiday includes either day, plan the transfer for the morning.
Can the driver wait while we shop?
Yes. Wait-and-return is the normal format for shopping transfers. Tell us roughly how long you'd like at each stop and we build it into your fixed quote — or the driver returns at an agreed time if that suits better.
Is the transfer really private?
Always. Every BookRideNow vehicle is exclusively yours for the booking — we never pool passengers or sell seats. Your bags stay in the vehicle between stops.
How is the price set if there's no fixed tariff?
Shopping trips vary too much by hotel, stops and waiting time for a single public price. Send your plan on WhatsApp; we reply with one fixed total for the vehicle, and that number doesn't change on the day.
Do I have to pay anything in advance?
No. You pay the driver in cash on the day of the transfer. There's no prepayment and no card requirement, and cancellation is free.
Can we combine Side old town and the Manavgat market in one day?
Easily — they're about 10–15 minutes apart by road. A popular Monday/Thursday plan: market in the morning, lunch, then the old-town bazaar once it cools down.
We're staying in Belek — is Side worth the trip for shopping?
Yes, and it's close: roughly 35 km, about 35–40 minutes. The old-town bazaar plus a harbour dinner makes an excellent half-day out — and the reverse trip to Belek works just as well from Side.
How far is it from Alanya?
Approximately 65 km, around 60–70 minutes each way along the coast. As a full shopping day (market plus old town) it works well; your driver stays with you throughout.
Can cars drive into Side old town?
The historic core is pedestrianised. Your driver drops you at the nearest access point and agrees a meeting spot and time for the return — no parking hunt, no long walk with bags.
Do you provide child seats for the shopping trip?
Yes, child and infant seats are free on request. Mention the children's ages in your WhatsApp message and the seats will be fitted before pickup.
What should I bring to the Manavgat market?
Cash in Turkish lira (many stalls don't take cards), sun protection, and comfortable shoes. Haggling is normal on clothes and homeware, not on food.
How big a group can you take?
Up to 6 passengers in a Mercedes Vito or Maybach, and up to 16 in a Mercedes Sprinter — one vehicle, one price, everyone shops together.
Can you also do our airport transfer when we arrive?
Of course — that's our core service: meet & greet with a name sign, flight tracking, fixed tariffs. Antalya Airport to Side is a flat €50 in a Vito for 1–6 passengers; see our Antalya airport transfer price guide or book instantly online.
What if my plans change?
Cancellation is free, and since you pay nothing until the day, changing the date or the plan is a WhatsApp message, not a refund process.
Ready to go shopping?
Old-town bazaar at sunset, the Kumkoy strip after dinner, or the Manavgat market on Monday or Thursday morning — tell us the plan and we'll put a private Mercedes on it. Fixed quote in minutes, free child seats, pay in cash on the day.
Book your Side shopping transfer on WhatsApp →
Need an airport transfer too? Get an instant price at bookridenow.com →