Temple of Apollo (Side): Swimming in the Shadow of History

That special coordinate where someone renting a boat in Side says, "I don't just want to swim, I want to be enchanted": In Front of the Apollo Temple.

This is technically not a closed "bay"; it is the open sea at the very tip of the Side Peninsula. However, for Side yacht charter guests of Limancepte.com, this is where they look at the most expensive painting of the Blue Cruise. It is the privilege of swimming at the feet of 2,000 years of history without buying a museum ticket.

Here are the sailor's notes about Side's most romantic and historic anchoring spot:

1. A View Unique in the World

You are swimming in the middle of the sea, and when you take your head out of the water, the white marble columns of the Temple of Apollo stand before you in all their glory.
Experience: There are very few places in the world where you can approach an ancient city, especially such an iconic temple, so closely by boat and swim. Looking at the temple from land is beautiful, but watching the sunset behind the columns from the sea is priceless.

2. "Golden Hour" Ritual

The event of this location is not the midday heat, but the sunset.
Sunset Tours: Boats come here in the evening hours and turn off their engines. While the sun slowly glides through the columns of the temple, the sea turns orange. Watching this moment from the boat with your glass in hand is the peak point of the Side holiday.

3. Underwater is as Rich as Above

The sea in front of the temple also hosts some building blocks of the ancient city submerged under water.

• Caretta Caretta: Since this place has a rocky and mossy ground structure, it is the natural pasture of Caretta Caretta turtles. It is a common occurrence for a giant turtle to pass by you while swimming.
• Ground Warning: This is not a sandy beach. The bottom structure may consist of large rocks and historical debris. Also, since it is open sea, it can sometimes be wavy.

4. How to Get There?

It takes only 10-15 minutes to reach here with a boat you rent from the ancient harbor right next to the temple or from the riverside.

Apollo Temple Front FAQ

• Can we go up to the temple from the sea?
  No. The boat cannot get too close to the shore (rocks), it anchors offshore. You must step on land from the harbor to walk to the temple area.
• Is it safe here?
  Yes, but since it is "open sea", there may be currents. Non-swimmers are recommended to use life jackets.
• Can we swim at night?
  If you rented a private boat, yes. Swimming in the moonlight under the night illumination of the temple is a very mystical experience.
• Will we definitely see Caretta Carettas?
  Your chances are high. They approach the shore especially in the early morning or in the evening when human density decreases.