The cafes and bars around the harbour near the Temple of Apollo are at their best in the late afternoon. The combination of the sea, the columns, and the colour of the evening light is one of the better natural spectacles on the Turkish coast. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset to get a seat at one of the harbour-front cafes with a direct sightline. A beer or a tea are both acceptable excuses to stay for the full hour.
Sunset at the Temple
A story
The headland at the southern tip of Side faces almost due west, and in the hour before sunset the Temple of Apollo columns catch the light in a way that makes them glow orange-gold against the sea. This has been the defining image of Side for decades. The cafes on the harbour wall close to the temple fill up from about an hour before sunset and stay full until dark. It is a ritual that Germans, Turks, and every other nationality present in Side participates in together.