Manavgat Waterfall is a charming corner of the planet, located in the area of the resort town of Side in Turkey. Every year, millions of tourists come here to admire the river mountain streams and take unforgettable pictures against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes. It is noteworthy that you can visit this tour yourself, saving a lot of money. But to do this, you should know in advance how to get to the place and study its infrastructure. You will find all the necessary information about the object below in our article.
General information
Manavgat Waterfall is located on the river of the same name, 4.4 km from the city of Manavgat and 8 km from the ancient resort town of Side, located in Antalya province. Its width is 40 meters, and the height reaches 2 meters. In reality, this is not really a waterfall, but a stream of mountain waters falling from a large river rapid. But this fact does not detract from the beauty of the local landscapes. For a long time, the Manavgat waterfall even flaunted on old Turkish banknotes of 5 lira denominations.
In the immediate vicinity of the river rapid, special viewing platforms are installed, from where you can take beautiful photos of the Manavgat waterfall. It is forbidden to go down to the river, and even more so to swim in it, here. But during the flood period, rapid river flows rise to the level of viewing platforms, and tourists have the opportunity to walk along the icy mountain waters and feel their raging onslaught. The water temperature in this area, even in the hottest months in Turkey, does not exceed 10 degrees.
Previously, the entrance to the park with a waterfall was free, but today both tourists and locals need to pay $1.2 for adults and $0.6 for children to visit the attraction.
The property is open daily not only during the high season in Turkey, but also in winter, and you can visit it from 8: 00 to 19: 00.
Infrastructure
Around the Manavgat waterfall in Turkey, there is a well-equipped green park, along the neat paths of which it is pleasant to take a leisurely walk and enjoy the lush landscapes. There are several cafes and restaurants where you can taste the famous gozleme Turkish flatbreads, try grilled trout, and then slowly sipping strong and invigorating Turkish black tea, contemplate the local beauty.
There are also small shops and souvenir shops near the waterfall, which sell both standard Turkish souvenirs and handmade products. As a rule, in Turkey, in shops in the immediate vicinity of attractions, prices are too high, so we do not recommend spending your time here on shopping. But it will be very exciting to take a photo against the background of a turquoise stream sparkling in the sun with a parrot on your shoulder. There is a large free parking lot at the entrance to the property, which is convenient for those tourists who get here by rented car.
On a note! Read more about Duden waterfalls in Antalya here.
How to get
If you are vacationing in Turkey in the resort town of Side, then be sure to include the Manavgat waterfall in your sightseeing list. Enjoy the natural beauty of the area and take a walk through the shady, flowery park for less than an hour. How to get to Manavgat Waterfall from Side? There are three ways to do this.
By bus
There are no direct flights from Side to the waterfall, so you can only get here with a transfer in Manavgat. The distance between these cities is just over 5 km, and the journey time takes about 10-15 minutes. You will need to take the Side-Manavgat Dolmush train. Since this destination is very popular, minibuses arrive at the bus stop literally every 10 minutes, so you don’t have to languish in the scorching sun for a long time. The cost of travel will not exceed $1 per person.
Upon arrival in Manavgat, we advise you to disembark at the central city street “Antalya”: landmarks here can serve as an artificial multi-meter waterfall located in the city center, a large Waikiki store or a bridge over the Manavgat River. There are bus stops nearby, some of which are air-conditioned. A bus with the sign “Şelale” (translated from Turkish as “waterfall”) runs along the main street every half hour, which is exactly what you need. The fare to the destination will be $1 per passenger.
If you are disoriented upon arrival in the city, you can always ask the driver of any dolmush or numerous tourists walking around the city’s surroundings where and how to get to the Manavgat Waterfall.
By taxi
The easiest and most comfortable way to get from Side to the waterfall is by taxi. The cost of such a trip can range from $12-15, which, of course, is more expensive than traveling by public transport, but it is more convenient and faster. Many taxis in Turkey in Side are designed for 7 people, so if a full car of passengers is collected before the waterfall, this option will be quite profitable. Well, don’t forget to bargain if you don’t have the opportunity to get acquainted with the fixed price list, and you feel that the price tag is clearly too high.
Please note! What to see in the Old City of Antalya is described on this page.
By rented car
Renting a car in Turkey is not difficult. You can do this at the airport, at the hotel, in the offices in Side and Manavgat. The cost of daily rental of a budget car is $ 25-30. This option will be logical if you plan to visit several attractions in the Side area at once during the day. But before you get behind the wheel, it is worth considering that Turkey has its own unofficial laws on the roads, which often contradict the established traffic rules. Therefore, it is important to study in advance the specifics of motorists ‘ behavior on the road in resort areas.
Useful tips
If you are fascinated by the photos of the Manavgat waterfall in Turkey, and you decide to definitely visit this attraction, you should consider a few nuances so that your tour does not become a bitter experience.
- Go to the waterfall yourself. If you are vacationing in the Side area, then visiting the attraction on your own will not be a problem for you. Above, we have already described the ways to get to the object and given all the prices, so you just need to specify the location of the Manavgat waterfall on the map and, in fact, go on the road. Your guide will definitely offer you this excursion route, but, first of all, the cost of a tour with an agency will be several times more expensive than even a taxi ride to the waterfall. And secondly, most of the time you will be taken to shopping centers in the hope that you will buy at exorbitant prices some unnecessary product, from which the guide will receive his coveted percentage. As a result, you will spend the whole day on a guided tour, which, if you visit independently, will take you at most 2-3 hours.
- Go on a guided tour early in the morning. During the high season in Turkey, the Manavgat Waterfall is literally teeming with tourists. Crowds of people fill the viewing platforms so tightly that sometimes it is not even possible to make a decent shot. As a rule, sightseeing buses start arriving at the parking lot at 11.00, so we recommend visiting the waterfall from 8.00 to 10.00, when the flow of visitors is not so strong yet. The ideal time to explore the attraction is from October to April: during these months, there are almost no tourists here, and you can enjoy the local beauty in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Pay in Turkish liras. It is best to pay for public transport and entrance tickets to the Manavgat Waterfall in local currency. You can exchange dollars or euros for liras in the exchangers Side and Manavgat (in the latter, the exchange rate is always better).
