Kumköy Holiday Guide: Soft Sand and a Seafront Walk Into Side
Kumköy's name means sand village, and it lives up to it. Fine, soft sand and shallow water make it one of the gentler beaches on the Side coast, and the old town is close enough to reach on foot. Here is what a family-friendly holiday in Kumköy looks like, what to do beyond the beach, and how quickly you can get there from Antalya Airport.
Side's Sandy Suburb
Kumköy is a small, quiet residential and hotel area on the western edge of Side, running along the coast towards Ilıca. It has none of the crowds of the old town, yet the old town is right there whenever you want it. The streets behind the beach are a mix of hotels, holiday flats, shops and restaurants, so you are not confined to an all-inclusive bubble if you would rather eat out. Holiday life here is simple and sociable. Mornings are for the beach, afternoons for a rest in the shade, and evenings for a walk along the seafront, perhaps all the way to Side for dinner and back again. Hotel addresses may say Kumköy, Ilıca or simply Side; they are all part of the same stretch of shore.
A Beach Built for Paddling
The beach is broad, with especially fine sand, and the water stays shallow for a good way out. Toddlers can paddle safely under a watchful eye, older children can spend hours building sandcastles, and adults can actually swim without picking their way over stones. For more action, water sports run along the shore in season: diving and snorkelling, parasailing, jet skis and banana boat rides. Sunbeds and umbrellas are easy to find, though many families bring a beach tent for extra shade. Children tend to stay in the water much longer on a shallow beach, so reapply sun cream often and keep hats handy. Early mornings and late afternoons are the gentlest times in high summer.
Into Side Old Town
The seafront promenade, lined with shops and restaurants, runs from Kumköy into Side centre, so an evening in the old town needs no transport at all. Once there, walk out to the Temple of Apollo at the end of the headland, where its columns stand right beside the sea, and take in the Roman theatre on the way. The Side Museum is housed in Roman baths opposite the ancient agora and displays statues, sarcophagi and coins found in the area. Side's East and West beaches are a short drive from the Ilıca end if you fancy swimming somewhere new. For a longer outing, organised trips run to the Roman theatre at Aspendos, near Serik, and to Manavgat and its river.
Who It Suits and When to Visit
Families with young children are the people Kumköy suits above all, thanks to that soft sand and shallow water, and to the easy walk into Side for a change of scene. Couples who like a quiet base and dinner in the old town, and travellers who prefer a hotel with restaurants outside the door rather than a closed resort, will also enjoy it. Teenagers have the water sports to keep them busy. June and September are good months for families: the sea is warm and the heat is easier to manage than in July and August, when the beach and the old town are at their busiest. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times for exploring Side's ruins on foot.
From the Airport to Kumköy
Kumköy is a quick transfer from Antalya Airport (AYT): 61 km by road, about 45 minutes along the D400 coastal highway. Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP) is 113 km away, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes, so Antalya is the airport to choose when you can. Our private transfer means the vehicle carries only your party, with no circuit of other hotels before yours. Your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, we track your flight, and child seats are free on request, which is worth asking for if you are bringing little ones to this family beach. Because the same beach road is addressed as both Kumköy and Ilıca, simply give us the hotel name as it appears on your booking.