10 Best Photo Spots in Side & Manavgat (2026 Guide)
Planning a photoshoot in Side? Here are the top locations featured in our local guide:
- 📸 Temple of Apollo: Best for golden hour silhouettes.
- 📸 Side Ancient Harbour: Boat life and sea reflections.
- 📸 Side Ancient Theatre: Majestic Roman symmetry.
- 📸 Side Old Town Streets: Authentic Mediterranean aesthetic.
- 📸 Side East Beach: Sunrise and minimal photography.
- 📸 Manavgat Waterfall: Iconic nature photography classic.
- 📸 Tazi Canyon: Epic cliffside horizons and eagles view.
- 📸 Oymapınar Dam & Green Canyon: Turquoise water landscapes.
- 📸 Köprülü Canyon: Adventure and action photography.
- 📸 Seleukia (Lyrbe): The hidden ancient photography gem.
✅ Verified Content: Each spot is detailed with local tips below.
🌅 Temple of Apollo, Side – Best Sunset Photography Spot
The Temple of Apollo in Side is the most iconic photo location in the region. Located right on the coastline, the ancient columns create breathtaking silhouettes during sunset. This spot ranks highly for keywords like Side sunset photos, Temple of Apollo photography, and best places to take photos in Side.
✨ Why this spot is special:
- • Golden hour light with the Mediterranean Sea backdrop
- • Strong contrast between ancient stone and sky colors
- • Perfect for cinematic, romantic and Instagram hero shots
⏱ Best time to shoot: Sunset (30 minutes before & after)
⚓ Side Ancient Harbour – Timeless Travel Photography
The Side Ancient Harbour combines ancient ruins, luxury yachts and calm sea reflections. It is one of the best locations for Side harbour photos, Side old town photography and travel storytelling images.
📸 Photography tips:
- ✓ Shoot towards the sea to create depth
- ✓ Late afternoon light adds warmth to stone textures
- ✓ Ideal for wide-angle and lifestyle photography
🕒 Best time to shoot: Late afternoon to early evening
🏛️ Side Ancient Theatre – Panoramic & Drone Photography
The Ancient Theatre of Side offers one of the most impressive panoramic viewpoints in the area. From the upper seating rows, you can capture the scale of the ancient city, making it perfect for Side ancient theatre photos and historical photography in Antalya.
🎯 Best shots:
- ◈ Wide-angle landscape photos
- ◈ Drone photography (where permitted)
- ◈ Minimalist compositions with stone textures
🌸 Side Old Town Streets – Authentic Mediterranean Aesthetic
The narrow streets of Side Old Town are filled with stone houses, colorful flowers and local shops. This area performs extremely well for Side street photography, Side old town Instagram spots and lifestyle content.
✨ Why photographers love it:
- 🌸 Natural frames created by arches and doors
- 🌸 Bougainvillea flowers add strong color contrast
- 🌸 Ideal for portraits and reels
🌅 Best time to shoot: Early morning
🌊 Side East Beach – Sunrise & Minimal Photography
For soft light and calm compositions, Side East Beach is the best sunrise photography location. It is highly searched under Side sunrise photos and quiet beaches in Side.
✨ Perfect for:
- ● Sunrise silhouettes
- ● Yoga and wellness photography
- ● Clean, minimal travel shots
🌿 Manavgat Waterfall – Nature Photography Classic
The Manavgat Waterfall is one of the most visited natural attractions in the region. It ranks strongly for Manavgat waterfall photos and nature photography in Manavgat.
📸 Photography tips:
- ✦ Use a slow shutter speed for silky water effect
- ✦ Capture wide shots including bridges and greenery
- ✦ Ideal for family and group photos
🌿 Tazi Canyon – The Epic Cliffside Horizon
For those chasing the most dramatic landscape photos in Antalya, Tazi Canyon (Eagles Canyon) stands as the undisputed king. Perched high in the Taurus Mountains, this viewpoint offers a sheer 400-meter vertical drop that creates a sense of immense scale, perfect for wide-angle mastery. The interplay of light and shadow against the grey limestone walls, contrasted by the deep turquoise ribbon of the Köprüçay River below, makes it a top-tier destination for Tazi Canyon drone photography and epic cliffside portraits.
The surrounding landscape, including the mystical Adam Kayalar (Avatar Rocks), provides a surreal backdrop that feels worlds away from the coast. Whether you are capturing the vastness of the national park or focusing on the rugged textures of the conglomerate rocks, Tazi Canyon delivers a visual complexity that keeps professional photographers coming back.
📸 Photography tips:
- ✦ Arrive at Golden Hour for a soft glow on the canyon walls
- ✦ Use a wide-angle lens (14-24mm) to capture the full depth
- ✦ Be cautious near edges; the wind can be unpredictable
💎 Oymapınar Dam & Green Canyon – Turquoise Landscapes
The Oymapınar Dam and Green Canyon area is famous for its unreal turquoise water and mountain scenery. This is one of the top locations for Green Canyon photography, Manavgat nature photos and drone shots.
✨ Why it stands out:
- 💠 Mirror-like water reflections
- 💠 Wide panoramic viewpoints
- 💠 Strong contrast between water and mountains
🚣♂️ Köprülü Canyon – Adventure & Action Photography
The Köprülü Canyon National Park is the top spot for action photography near Side and Manavgat. Rafting boats, suspension bridges and canyon walls create dynamic compositions.
⚡ Perfect for:
- ▶ GoPro and action cameras
- ▶ Adventure tourism content
- ▶ Rafting and outdoor lifestyle photography
🏺 Seleukia (Lyrbe) – Hidden Photography Gem
The Seleukia Ancient City (Lyrbe) is one of the least crowded but most atmospheric photo spots near Manavgat. It ranks well for hidden places in Manavgat and ancient ruins photography Antalya.
📜 Why it’s unique:
- ✧ Forest surroundings create mystical light
- ✧ Almost no crowds for clean frames
- ✧ Ideal for cinematic and storytelling photos