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    Alaçatı & Çeşme

    Turkey

    Alaçatı & Çeşme

    CityBeach

    Alaçatı and Çeşme are located at the tip of the peninsula of the same name west of İzmir, about 75 kilometers from the airport. Alaçatı is known for its stone houses, windmills, and windsurfing area, Çeşme for its castle and harbor.

    by Felix Gillen

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    7. Aegean Coast
    9. Alaçatı & Çeşme
    Alaçatı and Çeşme are located at the tip of the peninsula of the same name west of İzmir, about 75 kilometers from the airport. Alaçatı is known for its stone houses, windmills, and windsurfing area, Çeşme for its castle and harbor. North of it, the shallow sandy beach of Ilıca entices with warm thermal water in the sea.

    Sights in Alaçatı & Çeşme

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Çeşme Castle
    Castle

    1Çeşme Castle

    Sultan Bayezid II. had the castle built in 1508, after Venice attacked the coast in 1472 and 1501. Today, it houses the Çeşme Museum. In front of the gate stands the monument to Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Paşa.
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    Pazaryeri Mosque
    Mosque

    2Pazaryeri Mosque

    The building was erected in 1874 as the Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Konstantinos. Following the population exchange, it was converted into a mosque.
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    The Ilıca Beach
    Beach

    3The Ilıca Beach

    The wide sandy beach stretches for about two to three kilometers. The water stays shallow far out, warmed by thermal springs on the seabed. Its gentle slope makes it popular with families with children.
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    Windmills of Alaçatı
    Historic Landmark

    4Windmills of Alaçatı

    The stone windmills on the hill above the town date from the 19th century. From the top, you overlook Alaçatı and the coast. Admission is free.
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    Restaurants in Alaçatı & Çeşme

    1

    Alaçatı Focus

    Relaxed open-air restaurant, away from busy streets, listed in the Michelin Guide. Serving Mediterranean-Turkish sharing dishes: barley noodles with cheese, mushrooms, thyme; or pearl couscous in beef broth. Cocktails are served; reservation recommended.
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    2

    Wheel Fish

    Family-run seafood restaurant on a side street in Çeşme, listed in the Michelin Guide. At lunchtime, fish straight from the boat is served simply prepared, alongside meze like artichoke hearts and grilled prawns.
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    3

    Sota Alaçatı

    Fish restaurant located in the courtyard of an early 20th-century villa, listed in the Michelin Guide. The cuisine is centred around a lobster tank and an oyster bar, serving fish from the Aegean. Open evenings from April to October.
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    Food and Drink

    On the Çeşme Peninsula, herbs, fish, and meze characterize the cuisine.

    Wild herbs

    The peninsula's herbs are the focus of the annual herb festival in April.

    Mastic

    The resin of the mastic tree flavors pudding, ice cream, coffee, and meze.

    Fresh Fish

    In Çeşme the catch goes straight from the boat onto the grill, served with sea bass, calamari and meze such as artichoke hearts.

    Culture & History

    Greek HeritageAlaçatı was settled by Greeks in the 17th century; by 1895, nearly 14,000 people lived here, including only 132 Muslims. Following the 1923 population exchange, Muslims from Crete, Thrace, Macedonia, and the Dodecanese moved into the houses. The Ottoman stone houses with bay windows have been protected as historical monuments since 2005.Çeşme CastleSultan Bayezid II had the castle built in 1508 as protection against Venetian attacks. Today, it houses the Çeşme Museum. In front of the castle, a monument commemorates Admiral Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Paşa.Herbs and MasticEvery spring, Alaçatı celebrates the Herb Festival, featuring dishes made from the peninsula's wild herbs. Mastic trees have been replanted on the peninsula, their resin used in desserts, ice cream, and coffee.

    Arrival & Exploring

    Getting ThereFrom İzmir Airport, Havaş shuttles run according to arrivals, taking about 90 to 100 minutes via Alaçatı to Çeşme Bus Station. By rental car or taxi, you'll be there in 45 to 60 minutes.LocallyAlaçatı, Çeşme, and Ilıca are only a few kilometers apart; Çeşme Castle is about a 15-minute drive from Alaçatı. You can explore Alaçatı's Old Town on foot.TipWindsurfing: Alaçatı's shallow, calm bay is suitable for beginners and pros alike; the season runs from approximately May to October. PWA competitions are held here.Herb Festival: Held every April, it focuses on cooking with local herbs.

    Accommodations in Alaçatı & Çeşme

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    Campgrounds in Alaçatı & Çeşme

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      • 2Pazaryeri Mosque4 days
      • 3The Ilıca Beach5 days
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    Nearby

    Chios

    Chios

    Chios, just a few kilometers off the Turkish coast, is the only place in the world where mastic, mastic tree resin, is traditionally harvested. This trade resulted in fortified mastic villages, Genoese estates, and a Byzantine monastery with World Heritage status.As Greece's fifth-largest island, it still thrives on shipping, agriculture, and trade; large hotel complexes are rare. You come for the villages in the south, the mosaics of Nea Moni, and the pebble beaches on the south and west coasts.
    Izmir

    Izmir

    İzmir, with around 4.5 million inhabitants in its province, is Turkey's third-largest city and the gateway to the Aegean coast. You'll come for the Kemeraltı bazaar district, the Kordon promenade, and its cuisine featuring Boyoz, Kumru, and Meze. The historic center is around Konak Square, with the Alsancak entertainment district to its north, and Karşıyaka across the bay.
    Ikaria

    Ikaria

    Ikaria is one of the world's five so-called Blue Zones, where a striking number of people live past 90. The island between Samos and the Cyclades has few large hotel complexes; instead, it offers mountain villages, hot springs, and summer festivals that last until morning.You come for hiking on old mule tracks, for swimming on the north coast around Armenistis, and for the Panigyria. Schedules and opening hours are handled more casually here than elsewhere.
    Samos

    Samos

    Samos is located at its narrowest point, less than two kilometers from the Turkish coast, and is considered one of the greenest islands in the Aegean. Spread across nearly 480 square kilometers are the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pythagoreion and Heraion, the 1,434-meter-high Kerkis mountain, and the wine terraces where the sweet Samos Muscat grows.You come for the ancient ruins, the mountain villages of Ambelos, and the pebble coves on the north coast. The island is large enough for a week, without repeating any routes.
    Aegean Coast

    Aegean Coast

    The Turkish Aegean coast stretches from Pergamon in the north to the Bodrum Peninsula in the south and is rich in ancient sites. Here are three World Heritage Sites: Ephesus, Pergamon, and Hierapolis-Pamukkale, plus seaside resorts like Alaçatı and Bodrum. İzmir, Turkey's third-largest city, is a hub with an airport and rail connections to the hinterland.

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