Gündoğdu Holiday Guide: The Side Coast Closest to Antalya Airport
If the thought of a long drive after your flight is enough to put you off, Gündoğdu deserves a look. It is the first of the Side resort villages you reach from Antalya, with a long beach and plenty of hotels. This guide covers what the area is like, where to go for a day out, and why the journey from the airport is so short.
First Stop on the Side Coast
Gündoğdu is a small Manavgat neighbourhood at the western end of the Side resort coast. Coming from Antalya, it is where the hotel strip begins, and from here the shoreline runs east through Çolaklı, Evrenseki and Kumköy to Side itself. The village is modest, but the coast has many hotels, mostly resorts with their own grounds and beaches, with a large share of foreign guests. There is no busy town centre, so holiday life centres on the hotel and the sea. For many visitors the real attraction is practical: you land, collect your bags, and not long afterwards you are by the pool, while guests heading further along the coast are still on the road.
The Beach
A long beach runs from Gündoğdu towards Side, and together with neighbouring Çolaklı the area is known for wide hotel beaches with room to spread out. Most guests use the stretch in front of their own resort. Not every hotel is right on the sand, so if stepping straight from the garden to the sea matters, check the map before you book rather than relying on the description. The open shore means little natural shade, so a good hat and regular sun cream are essential in summer. For a change of beach, Çolaklı's municipal public beach is a short way east. Long shore walks are easy here too, with the next resorts always in sight along the coast.
Day Trips East and West
Being at the western end of the Side coast means you are well placed for outings in both directions. Side old town is about 14 km east in a straight line, with the Temple of Apollo, a Roman theatre and plenty of restaurants for an evening out. To the west, the Roman theatre of Aspendos, near Serik, still has its great stage wall and is a classic half-day trip. Antalya city is within reach for a bigger day: its walled old town, Kaleiçi, sits above the old harbour, and the Düden Waterfalls tumble off the cliffs into the sea near Lara. Rafting trips in the Köprülü Canyon are also sold throughout the area. Taxis and organised excursions are the easiest way to get about.
Who Gündoğdu Suits
Gündoğdu is a sensible choice for families with young children, for whom a shorter transfer can make the first and last days of a holiday far easier. It also suits short breaks, where every hour counts, and travellers on late or early flights. Couples who want a resort stay with the occasional outing will be comfortable here. Those after nightlife or a lively town should look at Side instead. The beach season runs from late spring to autumn. June and September combine a warm sea with more manageable heat, while July and August are hottest and busiest. Many resorts on this coast open for a summer season only, so check your hotel's dates if you are thinking about the winter months.
The Shortest Transfer in the Side Area
Of all the resort villages around Side, Gündoğdu is the nearest to Antalya Airport (AYT): 52 km by road, about 40 minutes on the D400 coastal highway. Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP) is at the far end of the coast for you, 120 km away and about 1 hour 25 minutes, so Antalya is the clear choice. Our transfer is private, with no shuttle-style stops at other hotels. Your driver meets you in arrivals holding a name sign, your flight is tracked so the pick-up moves with any delay, and child seats are free on request. Some Gündoğdu hotels are also sold under the Çolaklı or Side name, so send us the full hotel name and we will drive you straight there.