Hotels near Temple of Apollo (Sunset on the Headland)

Five tall Corinthian columns supporting a re-erected pediment fragment make the Temple of Apollo the most photographed ruin in Side. The temple was built around 150 AD on the western tip of the headland, dedicated jointly to Apollo and Athena, and stripped of its roof in a 4th-century earthquake. The five columns visible today were re-erected in the 1980s using anastylosis, the same technique used at the Acropolis. The site sits at the harbour edge with no fence, so you can walk among the marble blocks and read the carvings up close. There is no entry fee. Sunset between 19:00 and 20:30 in summer 2026 paints the columns deep amber against the Mediterranean. Arrive 30 minutes early to claim a flat rock; bring water as no kiosks operate on the headland after 18:00.

Pro Tip: Walk 80 metres east to the smaller adjacent Temple of Athena foundations and shoot the columns from there. The angle catches both the temple and the harbour boats in the same frame.