Side, Manavgat, Lyrbe and the Oymapinar Reservoir

The next day, we headed to Side, where I had last been 20 years ago.

Much had changed since then. While on our last visit we could still take the bus directly into the city center, today the ride ends at a large parking lot outside the city walls. From there, you can only continue on foot.

Side is still a beautiful city, picturesquely located on a peninsula. There was already a settlement at the site of today’s city 2,000 years ago.

Still visible today are an amphitheater and the Apollo temple from Roman times.

The temple’s columns look especially magical in the light of the setting sun.

Today Side belongs to tourists who stroll through the narrow alleys of the old town; you hardly find locals.

We wandered through the pretty alleys of the old town, replenished our caffeine supply with coffee in a nice restaurant, and browsed the numerous souvenir shops.

Manavgat – Waterfalls and a Vibrant City

Afterwards, we made our way to the famous Manavgat Waterfalls.

The masses of water plunge impressively into the depths here. The waterfalls are not very high but impress with their extent and power.

Along the Manavgat River, you can enjoy a wonderful walk or settle into one of the numerous cafés and restaurants, always with a view of the roaring waterfalls.

We did both – first, we strolled along the river, then we sat down in one of the restaurants and ordered cold drinks.

Later, we also took the obligatory photos in front of the main waterfall.

Finally, we set out to visit the city of Manavgat.

Manavgat is a very lively city where you can gain a very good insight into the everyday life of the people.

We strolled along the busy main street, lined with numerous shops. There are far fewer souvenir shops here than in Side; everything feels more genuine and authentic.

Numerous restaurants serve the region’s specialties. In one of them, we stopped and enjoyed fresh köfte, juicy kebab, and crisp salad.

Soon we reached the river, which winds idyllically through the city.

On both banks, there are excursion boats that take people to the waterfalls as well as to the Green Canyon. We took such a boat trip 20 years ago, and it was truly impressive.

Twice a week, the market takes place here. You can get everything you can imagine there – from fresh food to textiles and souvenirs.

This market is one of the largest in the region and attracts locals and tourists alike.

Lyrbe – The Hidden Jewel

From Manavgat, it’s not far to a hidden jewel of the region: the ruins of Lyrbe. Hardly anyone knows these excavations, and few guidebooks mention them.

I came across it by chance. When you keep returning to the same holiday destination, you begin to search for hidden treasures. That’s how I found Lyrbe.

In the former mountain town, also called Seleukea, there are ruins from Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine times.

You can still visit the city walls, two towers near the entrance gate, an agora, and remains of baths.

You can park in a small lot a few meters away; access is completely free, and when we were there, we were almost alone on the site.

It is definitely worth seeing.

The Oymapinar Reservoir – Pure Nature

Since it was already very late, we decided to drive to the last destination of the day: the Oymapinar Reservoir.

This was built in 1983 on the Manavgat River. In summer, you can take boat tours here; around the lake, there are some restaurants offering local specialties.

The view over the lake was beautiful in the light of the already very low sun.

Unfortunately, we had to tear ourselves away from the view soon to be back at the hotel in time for dinner.

There, we freshened up briefly again and enjoyed the delicacies from the buffet. We spent the evening once more with our friends at the bar.