# Köprülü Canyon, Turkey, Side > Köprülü Canyon is a 14-km gorge of the Köprüçay River inside a national park above Manavgat, about 75 km by road from Side. There is no ticket as such: walking in is free, guidebooks mention a small fee per vehicle, and the Roman Oluk Bridge costs nothing to visit. What you pay for is rafting, sold as tours with hotel pick-up. Plan on a full day: 1–1.5 hours each way plus 2–3 hours on the river. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon - City: [Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side), Turkey - YesGo score: 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Entry: Free entry; rafting via tours - With kids: Fine with kids - Park entry: Free on foot; a nominal access fee per vehicle, different for cars, motorbikes and coaches - Oluk Bridge: Free, any time in daylight - Rafting: Through tour operators only; price depends on transfer, lunch and add-ons - Rafting season: Spring to autumn, weather permitting; mid-March to mid-November per an Anadolu report - Opening hours: Year-round, daylight hours - From Side: About 75 km, 1–1.5 hours by car - Selge: 11–12 km of hairpins above the Oluk Bridge - Time needed: A full day with the drive; add Selge and you'll be back at dusk - Coordinates: 37.19210, 31.18090 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 14 km** — length of the gorge along the Köprüçay River, between Bolasan and Beşkonak (source: Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Küre Ansiklopedi; English Wikipedia) - **2nd century AD** — the Roman Oluk Bridge, dated by its masonry to Selge's heyday (source: English Wikipedia (Eurymedon Bridge); Turkish Archaeonews; Sputnik8) - **Free** — to enter the national park and walk to the Oluk Bridge; only tours and rafting are paid (source: Küre Ansiklopedi; Turkey Travel Planner (nominal vehicle fee)) - **1973** — year the gorge was declared a national park (source: English Wikipedia; Küre Ansiklopedi; Sputnik8) - **≈ 36,600 ha** — area of the national park (source: English Wikipedia (366 km²); Küre Ansiklopedi (36,614 ha)) - **Up to 100 m** — height of the canyon walls (source: Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism; English Wikipedia; Küre Ansiklopedi) - **≈ 400 ha** — of natural Mediterranean cypress forest, the park's botanical highlight (source: Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Küre Ansiklopedi) - **7 m** — span of the Oluk Bridge's single arch; the bridge is 14 m long, laid without mortar (source: English Wikipedia; Turkish Archaeonews) - **Eurymedon** — the ancient name of the Köprüçay River (source: English Wikipedia; Turkish Archaeonews) - **11–12 km** — from the Oluk Bridge up to the ruins of ancient Selge (source: Turkish Archaeonews (11 km); Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (12 km)) ## Köprülü Canyon rafting: what to expect Rafting on the Köprüçay is gentle and family-friendly — grade 1 to 3 rapids, nothing wild. Operators describe a run of about 14 km and 2–2.5 hours on the water, with stops to jump in and swim. Beginners usually launch at or below the Oluk Bridge or at the rafting bases around Beşkonak; experienced paddlers can ask for the livelier upper stretch. Almost everyone comes on a tour: a coach picks you up at your hotel in Side or Manavgat in the morning, lunch is at a riverside restaurant, and you are back by late afternoon. Typically the price covers transfer, gear, a guide and lunch — but prices vary widely, so compare what is included, not just the headline figure. Photos and drinks are almost always extra. > **Most rafting tours skip the Roman bridge** Köprülü is a 14-km national park, not a single viewpoint with a gate. Rafting trips usually start at the bases near **Beşkonak** and don't always drive up to the Oluk Bridge or the narrow upper gorge. If the bridge matters to you, ask before you book — or rent a car. ## How to get to Köprülü Canyon from Side 1. Easiest: a tour with hotel pick-up — usually collected between 8 and 9 am and dropped back in the late afternoon. 2. By car: head out of Side onto the D400 coast road towards Antalya, then turn north following the brown "Köprülü Kanyon" signs to Taşağıl. 3. From Taşağıl the road follows the river to Beşkonak, where the rafting bases and restaurants are — about 75 km and 1–1.5 hours from Side in total. 4. Carry on about 5 km up the gorge from Beşkonak to the Oluk Bridge. It is narrow, so cars cross one at a time. 5. By public transport: take a dolmuş from the stop by the Vespasian Gate in Side to Manavgat bus station (otogar), then a taxi. There is no direct bus from Side to the canyon. 6. Guidebooks mention changing to a minibus towards Beşkonak, but no route number or timetable is published anywhere — ask at Manavgat otogar and check when the last one comes back. ## Is Köprülü Canyon worth it? Yes, if you can give it a whole day. It is the most striking piece of nature within reach of Side: a turquoise river between walls up to 100 m high, a Roman bridge still carrying traffic, and a mountain road up to the ruins of Selge. Rafting here is fun rather than frightening, which makes it one of the better family days out on this coast. It is less worth it if you only have a few hours — the drive takes longer than a quick look. Then the [Green Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/green-canyon) or the [Manavgat Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/manavgat-waterfall) are closer. In July and August the river gets crowded with rafts, so spring and early autumn are calmer. ## What is Köprülü Canyon? Köprülü Canyon is a gorge the Köprüçay — the ancient Eurymedon — has carved through the limestone of the Taurus Mountains. The walls rise **up to 100 m** and the water below is cold and vividly turquoise. Since 1973 it has been a national park of roughly 36,600 ha in Manavgat district, Antalya province. The name means "canyon with bridges": two old bridges cross it, the **Oluk** and the Bügrüm. The Romans built the Oluk Bridge in the 2nd century AD on the road climbing from the Pamphylian coast to the mountain city of [Selge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/selge). It has a single 7-metre arch, its stones are laid without mortar, and cars still drive over it. The park also protects about 400 ha of natural Mediterranean cypress forest, alongside pine and cedar. ## What to see in the national park - **Oluk Bridge** — the Roman arch over the narrowest part of the gorge, with the river far below. - **Bügrüm Bridge** — the second old bridge on the same ancient road. - **The river at Beşkonak** — rafting bases, cafés and easy spots to get into the water. - **Cypress forest** on the gorge slopes, best seen from the road above the bridge. - **Ruins of Selge** — a theatre and agora high in the mountains, 11–12 km of hairpins above the bridge. - **Trout restaurants** along the river, serving fish farmed in the Köprüçay. ## Köprülü Canyon and Tazı Canyon combo tours Many tours from Side sell a combo: a morning jeep safari up to Tazı Canyon, then an afternoon on the Köprüçay. Tazı is a separate narrow canyon in the hills above Manavgat that you look down into from a viewing platform — no water involved. It makes for a long day of 9–10 hours with a lot of dusty tracks. If the river and the Roman bridge are what you want, book a Köprülü-only trip or drive yourself. ## What to wear and bring - [ ] Swimwear on under your clothes - [ ] Shoes you don't mind soaking — not flip-flops - [ ] Towel and a dry change of clothes - [ ] Waterproof phone pouch - [ ] Sunscreen and a hat - [ ] Some cash in Turkish lira for cafés and photos - [ ] Checked that the tour picks up from my hotel ## Köprülü Canyon vs Green Canyon vs Manavgat Waterfall | | Köprülü Canyon | Green Canyon | Manavgat Waterfall | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | River gorge with a Roman bridge | Mountain reservoir | Wide, low waterfall | | What you do | Rafting, the bridge | Boat trip | Short stroll | | Time needed | Full day | Half a day | An hour | | From Side | 1–1.5 h | About 1 h | 15–20 min | | Best for | Active travellers, families with older kids | Anyone who'd rather stay dry | Everyone | Köprülü is the most memorable nature day from Side, and the longest. Short on time? Pick the Green Canyon or the waterfall. ## Water near Side compared Every water spot around 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 - [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free entry; rafting via tours - [Green Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/green-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Tour from Side from €27 ## A day in the mountains above Side The canyon and Oluk Bridge in the morning, Selge's ruins at midday, the Manavgat Waterfall on the way back and dinner at Side harbour. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free entry; rafting via tours 2. [Selge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/selge) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, no ticket office 3. [Manavgat Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/manavgat-waterfall) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 50 TL, students 10 TL 4. [Side Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free > **See the bridge before lunch** The Oluk Bridge is nearly empty in the morning and the light in the gorge is softer. Rafting groups arrive towards midday. After heavy rain the river runs faster and murkier, and operators sometimes cancel. ## Good to know Köprülü is also the name of a family of Ottoman grand viziers and of places in North Macedonia — nothing to do with the canyon. Rafting "from Kemer" or "from Alanya" goes to the same river, just with a longer drive. On maps, search for "Köprülü Kanyon Milli Parkı" or "Oluk Köprüsü". ## Tips - Wear your swimwear from the hotel — changing rooms at the rafting bases have queues in high season. - Not into cold water? Look down at the river from the Oluk Bridge — same gorge, staying dry. - Driving? Go on to Selge: the last 11–12 km of hairpins take about 50 minutes, and the mountain ruins are worth it. - Have lunch at a riverside trout restaurant in Beşkonak — the fish is farmed in the Köprüçay. - No time for a full day? Swap the canyon for the Green Canyon or the Manavgat Waterfall. ## Questions ### Is there an entrance fee for Köprülü Canyon National Park? Walking in is free and so is the Oluk Bridge. Guidebooks mention a nominal access fee that depends on whether you arrive by car, motorbike or coach; we found no official current amount. On a tour it is usually included. ### How do I get to Köprülü Canyon from Side? The easiest way is a tour with hotel pick-up. By car, take the D400 towards Antalya, then head north via Taşağıl to Beşkonak — about 1–1.5 hours. There is no direct bus: dolmuş to Manavgat, then a taxi or a minibus towards Beşkonak. ### How far is Köprülü Canyon from Antalya? Guidebooks give 80–90 km by road, depending on where in the city you start and which part of the park you head for — around 1.5–2 hours by car. Tours from Antalya also pick up from hotels. ### How long is the rafting in Köprülü Canyon? Operators describe about 14 km and 2–2.5 hours on the water. With the drive and lunch, the tour takes most of the day. ### Is Köprülü Canyon rafting safe for kids? The river is mild, and operators take families with children. Each company sets its own minimum age — tour listings range from 2 to 7 years — so check when you book. ### Can you visit Köprülü Canyon without a tour? Yes, by car — the roads are paved all the way to the Oluk Bridge. Without a car it is awkward: dolmuş to Manavgat and a long taxi ride. ### What is the best time to visit Köprülü Canyon? Spring and early autumn: warm enough for the river, with fewer rafts. July and August are hot and crowded; after heavy rain, trips can be cancelled. ### Can I combine Köprülü Canyon with Tazı Canyon? Yes, it is a popular combo — a jeep safari to Tazı plus rafting on the Köprüçay. Expect 9–10 hours with the driving. ### When is rafting season at Köprülü Canyon? From spring to autumn, as the weather allows — an Anadolu Agency report puts it at mid-March to mid-November. Operators set their own dates, and July and August are the busiest months. ### Is Köprülü Canyon worth it? Yes, if you have a full day — it is the best nature trip from Side. For a couple of hours, the drive isn't worth it. ## How we checked The national park has no official website listing hours or prices, so nothing on this page carries an "official" badge. The canyon's length, wall height, area, founding year, cypress forest, the Oluk Bridge and the distance to Selge are each checked against at least two sources. Sources disagree on entry: Küre Ansiklopedi says it is free, Turkey Travel Planner mentions a nominal access fee that varies for cars, motorbikes and coaches, without an amount; we found no official current fee schedule, so we show both and mark the row "verifying". The rafting season (mid-March to mid-November, weather permitting) comes from a single source, an Anadolu Agency report in Hürriyet Daily News; operators set their own dates. Guidebooks put the canyon 80 km (Calista) or 90 km (Nomado) from Antalya, so we give a range; the Ministry of Culture and Tourism says 49 km without saying whether by road, so we do not use that figure. The minimum rafting age (2 to 7 years) comes from several tour listings. The change to a minibus towards Beşkonak is mentioned by Turkey Travel Planner and Yolcu360, with no route number or timetable. The distance from the bridge to Selge is 11 km per Turkish Archaeonews and 12 km per the Ministry. The rafting length and time (about 14 km, 2–2.5 hours) come from tour operators, not the park. Daylight hours rest on one source (Sputnik8). The distance and drive time from Side are map estimates. Tour prices change and depend on the seller, so we give no figures. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Köprülü Canyon and Eurymedon Bridge (Selge); Wikidata Q2090725 - Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism — Köprülü Canyon National Park page - Küre Ansiklopedi — Köprülü Kanyon Milli Parkı - Turkish Archaeonews — Eurymedon Bridge (Selge) - Turkey Travel Planner — Köprülü Kanyon National Park guide - Sputnik8 — Köprülü Canyon National Park guide - Hürriyet Daily News — Anadolu Agency report on the Köprülü rafting season - Yolcu360 — Manavgat travel guide; Calista and Nomado — canyon guides (distance from Antalya) - Rafting tour listings from several operators (minimum age) --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.