Side & Manavgat Bazaars – Explore Antalya’s Local Markets
A market morning is an easy way to see everyday life beyond the hotels of Side and Manavgat. Seasonal produce, piles of towels, the smell of gözleme and conversations across the stalls make the visit worthwhile even if you buy nothing. The three markets below offer different experiences; choose one that fits your location and shopping plans.
Manavgat Monday Market: food, textiles and local life
Ask for “Pazartesi Pazarı”, the Monday Market in Aşağı Pazarcı. The municipal market complex and surrounding shopping streets are on the eastern side of the Manavgat River, inland from the main bridge rather than directly on the waterfront. Durkaya Hotel and The Sansa Hotel & Spa are neighbourhood reference points, not market entrances; confirm your walking route locally.
The food section offers seasonal fruit and vegetables, herbs, olives, cheeses, honey, butter, jam and bread. In the surrounding clothing and souvenir areas, look for T-shirts, dresses, shorts, children’s clothes, bags, belts, wallets, towels, bedding, tablecloths, jewellery, magnets and nazar charms. Selection varies by stall and season. A familiar logo on a shirt or bag is not proof that it is an authentic branded product.
Monday suits visitors who want both groceries and browsing. Leave room for a break rather than trying to cover every row. Pide and lahmacun bakeries, small lokantas, gözleme stalls and riverside cafés offer different options for a meal afterwards; check the menu and price before ordering.
Manavgat Thursday Market: another central shopping day
The Thursday Market, “Perşembe Pazarı”, is in the Aşağı Hisar area around Gülveren Caddesi. It is a different market location, not simply another opening day for the Monday site. Confirm the entrance and your stop before travelling.
Food stalls and clothing areas bring together daily shopping and holiday browsing. Expect seasonal vegetables and citrus, olives, cheese and other pantry products, alongside beachwear, household textiles, bags and small gifts. Covered sections and street stalls do not guarantee a clear or step-free route: crowds and stall layouts can make access difficult with a wheelchair or pushchair.
A gözleme and ayran, fresh orange or pomegranate juice, or a simple lunch of pide, köfte or home-style food can turn the visit into a relaxed half-day outing. There is no need to add a full-day excursion to the same schedule.
Side Saturday Market: outside the ancient town
Ask specifically for “Side Cumartesi Pazarı”. The market is associated with the residential area near Büyük Camii and the Gazi Paşa Hotel area, outside the ancient peninsula; it is not the shopping streets beside the temples. Do not confuse it with the separate Saturday market in Manavgat’s Bahçelievler district.
Side’s market is mainly useful for clothing, beach bags, hats, sunglasses, towels, jewellery and souvenirs, with packaged goods such as lokum, spices, soap and lavender sachets. Some fresh produce may also be available. Saturday is its established market day, but confirm the current location and operation for your visit, especially around holidays or local changes.
The map links below can help you begin planning. Check the place name and current access in your map app before navigating; a saved pin is not a guarantee of the day’s stall layout. A beach break or café afterwards is often enough to complete the day.
Getting there from the coastal resorts
For the Manavgat markets, ask about services towards Manavgat from Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki or Çolaklı. From Kızılağaç and Kızılot, check whether your service terminates at a local terminal and where to continue on foot or change vehicles. Do not simply follow a crowd or assume every vehicle passes the same market entrance.
For Side’s market from western resorts such as Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı, ask whether a Side-bound service stops near the Saturday market. From Sorgun and Titreyengöl on the eastern side, confirm whether your particular route is direct or requires a connection. From farther east, including Kızılağaç and Kızılot, ask about a connection via Manavgat. The answer depends on your hotel’s stop and the current route.
Confirm the fare, accepted payment, permitted stop and last return before boarding. Journey times vary with traffic and starting point. Useful names are “Pazartesi Pazarı” for Monday, “Perşembe Pazarı” for Thursday and “Cumartesi Pazarı” for Saturday; do not rely on the driver announcing them.
A comfortable market visit
Mornings are generally a better choice for avoiding summer heat, though crowd levels and opening hours vary. Bring water, sun protection, comfortable shoes, a shopping bag and some small cash in Turkish lira. Ask whether cards or another currency are accepted and agree the price and currency before paying.
Bargaining is more common for textiles and souvenirs than for food sold at displayed prices; a discount is never guaranteed. Compare unit prices, check the item’s condition and ask before tasting or photographing people. Keep cash and valuables secure in crowded areas. For food gifts, check packaging and the import rules of your destination.
Trips to consider on another part of your holiday
A Manavgat river trip may combine the waterfall and bazaar, but check the actual market stop and operating day. Green Canyon, Dolphin Island, sunset cruises, jeep and quad outings, The Land of Legends and Antalya city tours offer different experiences. Read the itinerary, pickup area, inclusions and participation conditions rather than assuming every tour fits after a market morning. The sunset tour is an entertainment cruise with music and a party programme, not a guaranteed quiet sailing. A Dolphin Island trip does not guarantee seeing wild dolphins.
Market map links
- Monday market map — confirm the place before travel
- Thursday market map — confirm the place before travel
- Side Saturday market map — confirm the place before travel
Trips from Side
- Manavgat river, waterfall and bazaar trip
- Green Canyon boat trip
- Jeep safari from Side
- Quad safari in Side
- Dolphin Island boat trip
- Sunset party boat trip
- The Land of Legends tour
- Antalya city tour
Related guides
- Manavgat Market Visit
- Your Complete Travel Guide to Side, Turkey
- Discover the Best of Side and Manavgat, Turkey
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