The dolphin show in Side means an hour at Aksu Dolphinarium in Antalya, watching bottlenose dolphins leap high out of the water, play ball and even paint pictures. The fur seals and sea lions get the audience laughing just as much, and in the interval you can have your photo taken with them for an extra fee.
We pick up guests from hotels in Gündoğdu, Çolaklı, Evrenseki, Kumköy, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kızılot and Kızılağaç.
Book your seat online with no prepayment — you pay on the bus on the day of the tour.
Dolphin show in Side at a glance
- Hotel pickup: 13:00–14:00
- Back at your hotel: 18:00–19:00
- Venue: Aksu Dolphinarium in Antalya
- Show length: about an hour, with a 15-minute interval
- Programme: dolphin, fur seal and sea lion show
- Payment: cash on the bus ($, €, ₺)
Tour programme
- 13:00–14:00 | Hotel pickup
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
- Transfer to Aksu Dolphinarium
The dolphinarium is 52–79 km from hotels in Side, a drive of 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Entrance tickets
On arrival your tour rep hands out the entrance tickets and tells you the meeting time at the bus. The show ticket is included in the price.
- Dolphin, fur seal and sea lion show
The show begins at 15:00 and runs for about an hour, with a 15-minute interval. During the interval you can have your photo taken with the animals if you wish, at an extra cost.
- 18:00–19:00 | Back to your hotel
After the show the bus heads back to Side. The exact time depends on where your hotel is and on traffic.
How does the dolphin show in Side work?
Transfer to Aksu Dolphinarium
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 13:00 and 14:00. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed. Guests staying further out, in Kızılağaç and Kızılot, are picked up earlier so they arrive in time for the 15:00 show. The bus then heads to Aksu Dolphinarium.
From hotels in Side it’s 52–79 km to the dolphinarium, a drive of 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes depending on the area.
Aksu Dolphinarium by the sea
The dolphinarium takes its name from Aksu, the Antalya district on the Mediterranean coast where it stands, and it is open all year round. It is open-air, and its large, deep pool is filled with seawater. It is home to bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and sea lions.
Entrance tickets and meeting time
On arrival your tour rep will hand out the entrance tickets and tell you what time to be back at the bus for the return trip.
The dolphin, fur seal and sea lion show
The show starts at 15:00 and lasts about an hour. The dolphins and fur seals perform acrobatic tricks, turn somersaults in mid-air, jump through hoops, play ball, sing, dance and even paint pictures.
You’ll see how closely the trainers work with their animals.
Photos with the animals in the interval
The show has a 15-minute interval. This is when you can have a souvenir photo taken with the animals: a sea lion might kiss you on the cheek, or a dolphin might give you a high five. Photos with the animals are optional and cost extra.
Swimming with dolphins is a separate programme. If you’d like to get into the water with the dolphins rather than just watch the show, it’s best to book it in advance.
Return to your hotel
After the show, guests board the bus back to Side. You’ll be back at your hotel between about 18:00 and 19:00. The exact time depends on where your hotel is and on traffic.
If you’re on holiday with children and want to see dolphins and sea lions up close, the dolphin show in Side is a good choice: the trip only takes up the afternoon.
Book your seat online with no prepayment. You pay for the tour on the bus on the day.
Tour video
Tour video
Press Play twice to start the video.
What is included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entrance ticket to the dolphin show
- A tour rep with the group
- Insurance
What is not included
- Photos with the animals during the interval (optional, at an extra cost)
- An encounter or a swim with the dolphins (optional)
- Drinks during the tour
- Souvenirs and other personal expenses
What to bring
- Phone or camera
- Drinking water
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Cash for photos, drinks and personal expenses
Distance to the dolphinarium
- Kızılot to Aksu Dolphinarium: 79 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes
- Kızılağaç to Aksu Dolphinarium: 78 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes
- Titreyengöl to Aksu Dolphinarium: 68 km, about 1 hour 5 minutes
- Sorgun to Aksu Dolphinarium: 66 km, about 1 hour
- Side to Aksu Dolphinarium: 63 km, about 1 hour
- Kumköy to Aksu Dolphinarium: 60 km, about 1 hour
- Evrenseki to Aksu Dolphinarium: 56 km, about 1 hour
- Çolaklı to Aksu Dolphinarium: 53 km, about 1 hour
- Gündoğdu to Aksu Dolphinarium: 52 km, about 1 hour
Distances and travel times are based on Google Maps and are intended as a guide. The actual journey time depends on traffic and on how long it takes to pick up guests from other hotels.
Discounts
- Book at least 7 days in advance — 4% off
- Book at least 30 days in advance — 5% off
- $1 off for each person in your booking who follows our Instagram (@goldwaytravel)
- Discounts can’t be combined: choose either the early booking discount or the follower discount, whichever saves you more
FAQ about the dolphin show in Side
How much does the dolphin show in Side cost?
Adults $35, children 3–10 $30, children 0–2 free. The price includes hotel transfer, entry to the dolphin show and a tour rep with the group.
How do I book the dolphin show in Side?
Choose the date and the number of adults and children in the “Online Booking” form; the total is worked out automatically. In the form that opens, enter your full name, hotel, WhatsApp number and email, then send it. No prepayment: you pay on the bus on the day of the tour. Once your booking is confirmed, we send you an e-ticket with the exact pickup time via WhatsApp or Telegram. For step-by-step instructions with pictures, see
“How to book and pay on the bus”.
How long is the dolphin show?
It lasts about an hour, including a 15-minute interval, and starts at 15:00.
Where is the dolphinarium?
Aksu Dolphinarium is on the Mediterranean coast, in the Aksu district of Antalya. From hotels in Side the drive takes 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes.
Which animals take part in the show?
Bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and sea lions. The programme may vary slightly from day to day.
Is the show suitable for children?
Yes, it works well for families: children enjoy watching the tricks and seeing how the animals work with their trainers. Children aged 0–2 travel free on an adult’s lap, without their own seat on the bus.
Can we have our photo taken with the dolphins?
Yes, during the interval you can have a souvenir photo taken with the animals. Photos aren’t included in the tour price and are optional.
Can we swim with the dolphins?
Swimming with dolphins isn’t included in the show price. It’s a separate programme that’s best booked in advance.
What time is hotel pickup?
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 13:00 and 14:00. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed. Pickup in the outlying areas, Kızılağaç and Kızılot, is earlier so that you reach the 15:00 show on time.
What time will we be back at the hotel?
You’re usually back at your hotel between 18:00 and 19:00. The exact time depends on where your hotel is and on traffic.
