Side Museum
Side, Turkey
Agora of Side
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Photo: Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free — viewed through the fence from the street
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Street view 24/7, no closing day
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Walking in
- Not allowed: fenced off for excavation and restoration
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- 15–30 minutes
- Where
- Between the Roman theatre and Side Museum, on the main street
- Getting there
- ≈ 5 min walk from the Vespasian Gate
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- Liman Caddesi, Side, Manavgat, Antalya
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
2nd century ADwhen the commercial agora and its central temple were built
3 sourcesi
Turkish Archaeological NewsVici.org, Tycheum (Side)Tonkosti Turizma12 columnswith Corinthian capitals ring the round Temple of Tyche
3 sourcesi
Turkish Archaeological NewsEnglish Wikipedia, Side, TurkeyTürkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi24 seatsin the marble public latrine — one of the best-preserved parts of the agora
3 sourcesi
Lonely Planet, Agora (Side)Tonkosti TurizmaTürkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi2013the Temple of Tyche was rebuilt from its original fragments by the Anadolu University excavation team
2 sourcesi
Evrensel, 2013Turkish Archaeological NewsTychethe Greek goddess of fortune and of the city’s luck — Fortuna to the Romans
2 sourcesi
Vici.org, Tycheum (Side)English Wikipedia, Side, TurkeySlave markettradition says people were sold here — Side was a slave-trading hub of the Mediterranean
2 sourcesi
English Wikipedia, Side, TurkeyLonely Planet, Agora (Side)1st century BCCilician pirates made Side their base and slave market
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English and Russian Wikipedia, SideConical roofonce topped the round temple above its ring of columns
2 sourcesi
Tonkosti TurizmaTürkiye Turizm AnsiklopedisiTwo agorasthe commercial one by the theatre and the State Agora further east, towards the sea
2 sourcesi
Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi, SideTonkosti TurizmaOpposite the museumacross Liman Caddesi from Side Museum in the Roman baths
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Turkish Archaeological Newstourister.ruIs the Agora of Side free, and can you go inside?
Seeing it is free, but you can’t go in. The square is fenced off while archaeologists work on it, so there is no ticket office and no gate to enter. You look through the fence from the street — and from there you can see everything that matters: the temple, the column drums, the latrine and the theatre wall behind.
Because it is open-air street viewing, there are no opening hours as such; you can stop by early in the morning or after dark. That makes the agora a quick 15–30 minute stop on the way between the theatre and the museum rather than an attraction in its own right.
What was the agora in Side?
This was Side’s commercial agora — the main marketplace of the Roman city. Colonnaded porticoes lined with shops framed a square courtyard; today only their foundations and fallen column drums remain. It went up in the 2nd century AD, the same period as the neighbouring Roman theatre, when the port city was growing rich on sea trade.
The agora is often called Side’s slave market. The story has real roots: Side was one of the Mediterranean’s slave-trading centres, and in the 1st century BC Cilician pirates used the city to sell their captives. That trade predates the stone square you see now, though — think of the name as the memory of the place rather than a label on these exact stones.
Across the street is Side Museum, set in the old Roman baths, so the agora, theatre and museum form one compact cluster just inside the Vespasian Gate.
The Temple of Tyche
The round building in the middle is the Temple of Tyche, goddess of fortune and guardian of the city’s luck — Fortuna to the Romans. A shrine to good fortune in the middle of a market makes sense: traders came here hoping for a good deal. It stands on a stepped platform, with 12 Corinthian columns around a circular inner room, and was once crowned by a conical roof.
For decades the temple was a scatter of blocks. In 2013 the Anadolu University team that excavates Side reassembled it from the original fragments, which is why its pale columns now stand out clearly even through the fence.
Sources disagree on its date: archaeological references place it in the 2nd century AD with the rest of the square, while English Wikipedia says the 2nd century BC. We give both.
What to see at the agora
- The Temple of Tyche — the round colonnade on its stepped base, best seen from the museum side of the street.
- The latrine — a Roman public toilet with 24 marble seats over a flushing channel, where people sat side by side and chatted.
- Fallen column drums and portico bases around the edges, marking where the shops once stood.
- The arched outer wall of the theatre right behind — from here you get a sense of its sheer size.
- The remains of the monumental gateway (propylon), facing the museum entrance.
How to get to the Agora of Side
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Side Museum is about 5 min away on foot.
- Roman Theatre of Side is about 1 min away on foot.
- Side Old Town is about 6 min away on foot.
More tips
- Take a dolmuş (shared minibus) from Manavgat bus station or from the coastal hotel strip to the Side stop by the car park near the Vespasian Gate — about 15–20 minutes from Manavgat.
- Walk through the Vespasian Gate into the pedestrian old town; cars stop here. A small tourist shuttle train also runs from the car park if you’d rather ride.
- Follow the ancient main street for about 5 minutes: Side Museum appears on your left, the fenced agora with the Temple of Tyche on your right.
- Walk along the fence and the theatre wall for views of the temple and the latrine.
- Carry on through the arch by the theatre into the old town and down to the Temple of Apollo by the sea, about 10 minutes more.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Agora vs theatre vs museum: where to spend your time
| Agorayou are here | 2nd-century market with the Temple of Tyche | Free, outside view only | No | 15–30 min | Morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman theatre | 2nd-century theatre | Paid | Yes | ≈ 45 min | Morning |
| Side Museum | Statues and sarcophagi in Roman baths | Paid | Yes | ≈ 1 h | Midday heat |
| Temple of Apollo | Temple columns by the sea | Free | Up to the columns, yes | 20–30 min | Sunset |
The agora is a short stop between the theatre and the museum. Short on time? Prioritise the theatre and the Temple of Apollo, and glance at the agora as you pass — it isn’t worth a special trip.
Ancient Side compared
Every historic site in Side rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Side Old Town | 54 | 2 h | Free | 6 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agora of Sideyou are here | 45 | 30 min | Free | — |
| Side Harbour | 44 | 45 min | Free | 10 min walk |
| Temple of Apollo | 44 | 30 min | Free | 11 min walk |
| Roman Theatre of Side | 39 | 45 min | Closed for restoration | 3 min walk |
| Side Museum | 39 | 45 min | €5, under 8 free | 3 min walk |
| Selge | 29 | 1 h | Free, no ticket office | 56.4 km |
| Köprülü Canyon | 16 | 4 h | Free | 50.7 km |
Ancient Side in half a day
The museum in the Roman baths, the agora and its temple, the theatre, then through the old town to the Temple of Apollo and the harbour. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.
- Side Museum45 min · €5, under 8 free
- 3 min walk from the previous stopAgora of Sideyou are here30 min · Free — view through the fence
- 3 min walk from the previous stopRoman Theatre of Side45 min · Closed for restoration
- 10 min walk from the previous stopTemple of Apollo30 min · Free
- 6 min walk from the previous stopSide Harbour45 min · Free
5 places · about 3 h 37 min with walks · 22 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Treat the agora as a pass-by: it sits on the main street between the Vespasian Gate and the theatre.
- Cross the street straight into Side Museum to see the statues dug up around the city.
- Come in the morning — there’s no shade at the fence and the stone heats up fast in summer.
- Don’t come to Side for the agora alone; pair it with sunset at the Temple of Apollo.
- Kids love the latrine: a 24-seat Roman toilet explains daily life better than any sign.
Questions
Is the Agora of Side free?
Yes. There is no ticket office — you view the square through the fence from the street at no cost, at any time.
Can you walk inside the agora in Side?
No. It is fenced off for excavation and restoration, so you see the temple, columns and latrine from outside.
Where is the Temple of Tyche in Side?
In the middle of the commercial agora, opposite Side Museum and next to the Roman theatre.
How do I get to the Agora of Side?
Take a dolmuş from Manavgat or the coastal hotels to the stop by the Vespasian Gate, then walk about 5 minutes along the main street.
Was the agora in Side a slave market?
That is the tradition. Side really was a slave-trading centre, and in the 1st century BC Cilician pirates sold captives here.
How long do you need at the agora?
15–30 minutes to walk the fence line and pick out the temple and latrine. Most people combine it with the theatre and museum.
What is the difference between the commercial agora and the State Agora?
The commercial agora is the market by the theatre with the Temple of Tyche. The State Agora is a separate square further east, towards the sea.
Is the Agora of Side worth visiting?
Worth a look if you are already heading to the theatre or museum — it’s on the way and free. Not worth a special trip.
Who was Tyche?
The Greek goddess of fortune and of a city’s luck, called Fortuna by the Romans — a fitting patron for a marketplace.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Turkish Archaeological News: Ancient temples and Byzantine basilica in Side — the Temple of Tyche, its columns, restoration and fence
- Vici.org: Tycheum (Side) — date and dedication of the temple
- English Wikipedia: Side, Turkey; Russian Wikipedia: Side; Wikidata Q116671649
- Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi: Side — the city’s agoras and the Temple of Tyche
- Evrensel, 2013: Tyche Tapınağı açıldı — the temple’s restoration
- Tonkosti Turizma: Agora and Temple of Tyche; Lonely Planet: Agora (Side) — the latrine and slave market
- tourister.ru: Agora Square in Side — entrance opposite the museum, fencing
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