Alaçatı
Alaçatı / Çeşme
A boutique resort town on the Çeşme Peninsula, with Greek-style stone houses, narrow lanes, bougainvillea and windmills on the hills. Its bay is a world-class windsurfing destination.
Alaçatı lies about 75 kilometres west of İzmir. It is a wine-grape town built by Greeks in the 19th century. Many of its stone houses with blue wooden doors and windows survive. Today, the old houses have been converted into boutique hotels, restaurants, cafés and design shops. The area around Kemalpaşa Caddesi is the busiest, and on summer nights the crowds are dense.
On the hills to the north of town stands a row of stone windmills, a popular spot for sunset photos. In the old town, the Panteleimon Church has been converted into a mosque.
About 3 kilometres south of town, Alaçatı Bay has steady winds and shallow, calm water. It has several windsurfing schools. Every April, the Herb Festival showcases the wild herbs of the Aegean and the food made from them.
From İzmir, a long-distance bus takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Çeşme town is about 10 kilometres away. In summer, weekends are crowded and prices are high, so book in advance and arrive in the evening for the best experience of strolling and dining.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Ilıca Beach
- Alaçatı Windsurf Bay
- Şifne Thermal Springs
- Delikli Koy
- Çeşme Caravanserai
- Çeşme Castle
- Aya Yorgi Bay
- Ayios Haralambos Church