What is the sea entry like on Side beaches, and do you need water shoes?

There is also an option to enter the sea via a small pier/bridge, but some travelers dislike it: you immediately end up in water almost waist-deep, quite a sharp depth change.

A recent report says the bottom is rocky but manageable to walk on without water shoes, though many people still wear them. There is also a handrail on the beach that you can hold onto while entering or exiting the water.

According to the most recent feedback, sea entry in Side is generally okay: it is not like Belek with very soft sand and a very shallow slope, but many travelers can swim there without special shoes.

One traveler pointed out that shade setup matters a lot on the beach: small round umbrellas can be inconvenient, especially if you burn easily even with SPF 50. A more comfortable option is beaches and hotels with loungers under large shared canopies, such as Aska Just in Beach.

If you do not like the sea entry in Side, a practical fix is to buy water shoes: one traveler said entering the water became noticeably more comfortable after getting a pair. There was also feedback that sea entry is fairly similar across several hotels in Side.