# Agora of Side > The Agora of Side is the ancient city’s 2nd-century AD market square, right behind the Roman theatre and opposite the museum. At its centre stands the round Temple of Tyche with 12 columns. The site is fenced off, so you can’t walk in — but viewing it from the street is free at any hour. Allow 15–30 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-agora - City: [Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side), Turkey - YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — viewed through the fence from the street - Walking in: Not allowed: fenced off for excavation and restoration - Hours: Street view 24/7, no closing day - 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 - Address: Liman Caddesi, Side, Manavgat, Antalya - Coordinates: 36.76850, 31.39150 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **2nd century AD** — when the commercial agora and its central temple were built (source: Turkish Archaeological News; Vici.org, Tycheum (Side); Tonkosti Turizma) - **12 columns** — with Corinthian capitals ring the round Temple of Tyche (source: Turkish Archaeological News; English Wikipedia, Side, Turkey; Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi) - **24 seats** — in the marble public latrine — one of the best-preserved parts of the agora (source: Lonely Planet, Agora (Side); Tonkosti Turizma; Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi) - **2013** — the Temple of Tyche was rebuilt from its original fragments by the Anadolu University excavation team (source: Evrensel, 2013; Turkish Archaeological News) - **Tyche** — the Greek goddess of fortune and of the city’s luck — Fortuna to the Romans (source: Vici.org, Tycheum (Side); English Wikipedia, Side, Turkey) - **Slave market** — tradition says people were sold here — Side was a slave-trading hub of the Mediterranean (source: English Wikipedia, Side, Turkey; Lonely Planet, Agora (Side)) - **1st century BC** — Cilician pirates made Side their base and slave market (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, Side) - **Conical roof** — once topped the round temple above its ring of columns (source: Tonkosti Turizma; Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi) - **Two agoras** — the commercial one by the theatre and the State Agora further east, towards the sea (source: Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi, Side; Tonkosti Turizma) - **Opposite the museum** — across Liman Caddesi from Side Museum in the Roman baths (source: Turkish Archaeological News; tourister.ru) ## Is 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. > **No entrance — don’t hunt for one** Some older guides describe walking among the stalls. Today the whole square sits behind a mesh fence and you can’t get close to the Temple of Tyche. Walk the fence line along the main street and the theatre wall instead — each side gives a different angle. ## 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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-ancient-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](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/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 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. Walk along the fence and the theatre wall for views of the temple and the latrine. 5. Carry on through the arch by the theatre into the old town and down to the [Temple of Apollo](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-temple-of-apollo) by the sea, about 10 minutes more. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] I know it’s a view through the fence, not a walk inside - [ ] Allowed 15–30 minutes on the way to the theatre and museum - [ ] Going in the morning or late afternoon — there is no shade by the fence - [ ] Water and a hat for summer - [ ] A phone with zoom — the temple stands in the middle, away from the fence - [ ] Some Turkish lira in cash for the dolmuş from Manavgat ## Agora vs theatre vs museum: where to spend your time | | Agora | Roman theatre | Side Museum | Temple of Apollo | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | 2nd-century market with the Temple of Tyche | 2nd-century theatre | Statues and sarcophagi in Roman baths | Temple columns by the sea | | Entry | Free, outside view only | Paid | Paid | Free | | Can you go in? | No | Yes | Yes | Up to the columns, yes | | Time needed | 15–30 min | ≈ 45 min | ≈ 1 h | 20–30 min | | Best time | Morning | Morning | Midday heat | 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. > **Where to stand for the photo** The postcard shot of the Temple of Tyche is from the museum side: stand at the fence opposite the museum entrance and frame the columns against the theatre’s arches. In the morning the sun is behind you, and holding your phone right up to the mesh makes the fence disappear. ## Ancient Side compared Every historic site in Side rated by YesGo. - [Side Old Town](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-old-town) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free; theatre and museum extra - [Agora of Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-agora) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free — view through the fence - [Side Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Temple of Apollo](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-temple-of-apollo) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Roman Theatre of Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-ancient-theatre) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Closed for restoration - [Side Museum](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-museum) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · €5, under 8 free - [Selge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/selge) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, no ticket office - [Köprülü Canyon](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/koprulu-canyon) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free entry; rafting via tours ## 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. 1. [Side Museum](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-museum) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · €5, under 8 free 2. [Agora of Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-agora) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free — view through the fence 3. [Roman Theatre of Side](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-ancient-theatre) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Closed for restoration 4. [Temple of Apollo](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-temple-of-apollo) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free 5. [Side Harbour](https://yesgo.io/turkey/side/side-harbour) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free ## Good to know Side has two agoras: this commercial one by the theatre, and the State Agora further east towards the sea — a separate site. Search results for “agora” also mix in Athens, Ephesus and Izmir, plus shopping malls and cafés of the same name. The Temple of Tyche isn’t a separate stop: it stands in the middle of this square. ## Tips - 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. ## How we checked Facts are checked against at least two sources. There is no official page on access to the agora: that it is fenced off and closed to visitors comes from Turkish Archaeological News and recent traveller descriptions, so entry and hours are marked “verifying”. The temple’s date differs — 2nd century AD in archaeological references, 2nd century BC in English Wikipedia — so we show both. Sources give different sizes for the square (about 90 metres, or 65 × 65 metres), so we leave the size out, along with the latrine’s exact position within the square. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.