# Green Canyon, Side

> Green Canyon (Yeşil Kanyon) is a Manavgat River gorge in the Taurus Mountains, flooded by the Oymapınar Dam, 40–50 km by road from Side. It is a full-day trip: 1–1.5 hours each way by coach, a boat cruise with swim stops and lunch. Tours from Side with pick-up and lunch start at about €27; boats run spring to autumn.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/green-canyon

- City: [Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side), Turkey
- YesGo score: 16/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 4 h
- Entry: Tour from Side from €27
- Opening hours: No fixed opening hours: tours leave Side hotels around 8:30–9:30 and return by early evening; boats run from spring to autumn
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Tour from Side: €27–50 — pick-up, boat and lunch
- Duration: 7–8 hours including the drive
- Hotel pick-up: Around 8:30–9:30, back by early evening
- Season: Spring to autumn; fewer departures late in the season
- Swimming: Stops of 20–30 minutes; the water is cold
- Without a tour: Car or taxi to the pier by the dam; we could not confirm a walk-up boat fare
- Distance: 40–50 km by road from Side, past Manavgat Waterfall
- Where: Oymapınar Dam reservoir, Manavgat district, Antalya province
- Coordinates: 36.91080, 31.53820
- Facts checked: 30.10.2026

## Key facts

- **1984** — the Oymapınar Dam was completed and flooded the gorge (source: English Wikipedia: Oymapınar Dam; Russian Wikipedia; Power Technology)
- **185 m** — height of the concrete arch dam at the canyon mouth (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Structurae)
- **1–1.5 hours** — the drive from Side to the boat pier (source: Green Canyon tour listings from Side on Tripster and local operators)
- **4.7 km²** — surface area of the reservoir (other sources round it to 5 km²) (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia (470–500 ha); Structurae)
- **1977** — construction of the dam began (source: Russian Wikipedia; Power Technology)
- **540 MW** — hydropower output — four 135 MW turbines (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **≈ 300 million m³** — of water held back (another estimate: about 236 million m³) (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Structurae; Power Technology)
- **Manavgat River** — flows down from the Taurus Mountains into the Mediterranean at Manavgat (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Arch dam** — a concrete arch braced against the gorge walls (source: English Wikipedia; Structurae)

## Green Canyon boat trip from Side: price and what's included

A standard tour from Side costs **about €27–50 per person** and covers hotel pick-up, a cruise on the reservoir, swim stops and lunch on the shore. These are the fares we found in tour listings from Side on 30 October; they vary with the boat, the lunch and the season.

The cheapest options use big open-deck boats carrying dozens of people, sometimes with unlimited soft drinks. Pricier ones mean a smaller group, a trout lunch or a jeep ride up into the hills. Some combine the canyon with [Manavgat Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/manavgat-waterfall) or a walk round ancient Side.

Before you book, check three things: is lunch included, are there shopping stops, and does pick-up cover your hotel — some tours only collect within Side and Manavgat.

> **Plan a full day, not a morning** The canyon is not in Side: it is 1–1.5 hours to the pier, and most tours take **7–8 hours** door to door. Actual time on the water, swims and lunch included, is around two to three hours. If you have only one free day and haven't seen [Side's old town](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-old-town) yet, weigh it up.

## What is Green Canyon?

It is not a natural lake. In 1984 the **Oymapınar Dam**, 185 m high, was finished on the Manavgat River and the water backed up into a deep gorge in the Taurus Mountains. The result is a long, narrow reservoir with sheer limestone walls and pine-covered slopes.

The name comes from the colour: emerald, turning almost turquoise near the cliffs on a sunny day. Sources explain the colour in different ways, so we won't pin it on one cause. Here and there dead tree trunks still stand in the water — remains of the forest drowned when the valley filled.

Boats leave a pier behind the dam and head up the canyon to where the walls close in. You pass the dam's arch on the road down to the pier.

## How to get to Green Canyon from Side

1. From the Roman Theatre, walk 5–10 minutes to the bus stop and car park by the Vespasian Gate.
2. Take a dolmuş minibus to Manavgat bus station — about 15 minutes.
3. We found no direct dolmuş to the pier: take a taxi from Manavgat to Oymapınar Barajı, roughly 30–40 minutes up the river road past Manavgat Waterfall.
4. Driving from Side, follow signs for Oymapınar and the dam lake; the last stretch winds uphill and runs through a rock tunnel to the pier.
5. At the pier, ask for a seat on a boat — arrive before 11:00, when most boats leave.
6. The easy option is a tour with pick-up: the coach collects you from your hotel and drops you back.

## How long is the Green Canyon trip?

Expect **7–8 hours** in total. Pick-up is around 8:30–9:30, the drive takes 1–1.5 hours each way, and the boat part — cruising, one or two swim stops and lunch — fills about two to three hours. You are usually back at your hotel in the late afternoon or early evening.

It is 40–50 km by road from Side; sources give figures in that range. The route goes through Manavgat, then north up the river past the waterfall and into the hills. English Wikipedia puts the dam about 23 km upstream of Manavgat town and 12 km above the waterfall.

## What to see on the cruise

- The arch of the Oymapınar Dam, seen from the road just before the pier.
- The narrowest stretch of the gorge, where cliffs rise straight out of the water — the reason to come.
- Dead tree trunks standing in the reservoir — best shot from the bow.
- Pine forest on the slopes; it is noticeably cooler on the water than on the coast.
- The swim stop — clear water, but cold; people jump straight off the side.
- Lunch by the water, usually grilled trout or chicken.

## Is Green Canyon worth it?

Yes, if you like water and mountains and are happy to give it a day: it is the prettiest natural scenery near Side, and the boat asks nothing of you. It works well for families and on the hottest days, when the water feels like air-conditioning.

No, if you want long swims or an adventure. Swim stops are short, the water is cold, and much of the day is coach time and a shared lunch. For adrenaline, [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon) has rafting; for history, try [Selge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/selge) or Side's own ruins.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Tour booked and I know my pick-up time
- [ ] Swimwear on under my clothes — there's nowhere to change on board
- [ ] Towel and a dry change of clothes
- [ ] Sunscreen and a hat
- [ ] A light layer — it's cool on the water
- [ ] Some cash in Turkish lira for drinks and boat photos
- [ ] Passport or a copy

## Green Canyon vs Köprülü Canyon vs Manavgat Waterfall

|  | Green Canyon | Köprülü Canyon | Manavgat Waterfall |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Reservoir in a gorge | Mountain river in a national park | Wide, low waterfall |
| How you see it | By boat | Rafting, hiking trails | On foot from the bank |
| Time needed | Full day | Full day | About an hour |
| Swimming | Short stops | Rafting in cold water | No |
| Best for | A relaxed day, families | Active travellers | Everyone, on the way |

One day to spare? Green Canyon for a lazy day, Köprülü for adrenaline. Manavgat Waterfall is on the road to the canyon and easy to add.

## Water and nature around Side compared

Every waterside place near Side rated by YesGo.

- [Side Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
- [Manavgat Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/manavgat-waterfall) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 50 TL, students 10 TL
- [Green Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/green-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Tour from Side from €27
- [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free entry; rafting via tours

## Canyon by day, Side by evening

The boat in the morning, the waterfall on the way back, then dinner at the harbour and sunset at the Temple of Apollo. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Green Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/green-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Tour from Side from €27
2. [Manavgat Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/manavgat-waterfall) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 50 TL, students 10 TL
3. [Side Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
4. [Temple of Apollo](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-temple-of-apollo) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free

> **Grab a seat at the bow or on the top deck** The narrow part of the canyon is short, and you barely see it from the tables along the sides. Take a spot up front as soon as you board — that's where the cliff-and-tree shots are.

## Good to know

The same Green Canyon is sold from Antalya, Alanya and Kemer — one canyon, just a longer drive. There are other Green Canyons in the USA and Mexico, plus hotels with the name. Köprülü Canyon is a different place, with rafting, further west.

## Tips

- May, June and September are the most comfortable months: a cooler coach ride and fewer people on deck.
- Wear swimwear from the morning — boats rarely have changing cabins.
- Bring a layer: it is cooler by the cliffs than by the sea.
- If the Manavgat Waterfall isn't on your programme, ask the guide whether you can stop on the way back.
- You'll be back in time for dinner at [Side harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) and sunset at the [Temple of Apollo](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-temple-of-apollo).
- Prone to seasickness? The reservoir is almost flat — much gentler than a sea cruise.

## Questions

### How much is the Green Canyon boat trip from Side?

Usually about €27–50 per person with hotel pick-up, the boat and lunch. The price depends on the boat, the lunch and the season.

### How long is the Green Canyon tour?

Around 7–8 hours: pick-up at about 8:30–9:30, back by early evening. Two to three hours of that are on the water.

### How far is Green Canyon from Side?

40–50 km by road — 1–1.5 hours by coach each way via Manavgat.

### Can you visit Green Canyon without a tour?

Yes, by car or taxi to the pier at the Oymapınar Dam. We found no direct dolmuş, and you would need to find a seat on a boat at the pier.

### Can you swim in Green Canyon?

Yes, boats stop for 20–30 minutes. The water is cold, so most people swim only briefly.

### Is Green Canyon worth it?

Yes for a relaxed day on the water with mountain scenery. Not if you want activity or long swims — Köprülü Canyon suits that better.

### When is the best time to visit Green Canyon?

May to October, when the boats run. Summer is coolest on the water; spring and September are quieter.

### Is Green Canyon good for kids?

Yes — it's a calm boat trip with no climbing. The long coach ride is the only real downside.

### Is Green Canyon the same as Köprülü Canyon?

No. Green Canyon is a dam reservoir seen by boat; Köprülü Canyon is a river gorge in a national park, known for rafting.

## How we checked

Dates, height, output and reservoir area are checked against English and Russian Wikipedia, Structurae and Power Technology. Storage figures differ (300 vs about 236 million m³), so we show both. Sources put the distance from Side at 40–50 km, so we give the range. The canyon has no official website with fares or hours: prices, duration and pick-up times come from tour listings on 30.10.2026 and are marked “verifying”. Water temperatures quoted by sources vary widely, so we give no figure, and we don't name a single cause for the colour. We could not confirm a walk-up boat fare for independent visitors.

## Sources

- English Wikipedia: Oymapınar Dam; Russian Wikipedia: Оймапынар; Wikidata Q1934539
- Structurae: Oymapınar Dam — type, height, reservoir area
- Power Technology: Oymapınar hydropower plant profile — construction dates and storage
- Tonkosti travel guide: Green Canyon — location, the drive, the pier and the tunnel
- Green Canyon tour listings from Side on Tripster and local operators, 30.10.2026

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