Alaçatı has become a popular destination lately and has become one of the favorite places for holidaymakers. It resembles a modern European town, with its bay-windowed houses built of cut stones and decorated with colorful flowers such as bougainvillea, honeysuckle and geranium. Approximately eight thousand people live in this holiday resort, which fascinates with its charming architecture unique to the region, during the winter months, while this number rises to fifty thousand during the summer months.
This charming lavender-scented town of the Aegean is now among the most popular holiday destinations in our country. It has a very pleasant atmosphere with its bay-windowed stone houses decorated with colorful windows and doors, cobblestone streets, lavender-scented souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants decorated with blue wooden chairs and tablecloths embroidered with local motifs.
Alaçatı Travel Guide
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Alaçatı Travel Guide
Places to Visit in Alaçatı 📌
- Kemalpaşa Street
- Hacimemis District
- Alaçatı Pazar Yeri Mosque
- Alaçatı Houses
- Alaçatı Mills
- Alaçatı Market
- Alacati Marina
- Yumru Bay and Alaçatı Windsurf
- Alaçatı Beaches
- Fountain
Alaçatı turns the spring months into a visual feast with its fragrant flowers adorning its streets. Alaçatı, which takes its name from the Alacaat tribe that lived during the Ottoman period, is an old coastal town where settlement has continued since ancient times. It has a deep-rooted history and a magnificent architectural texture. Alaçatı’s stone houses, built between 1850 and 1890, bear traces of Greek and Ottoman architecture.
To get rid of the summer heat, it was built in a north-south direction to receive less sun and more wind. A big change took place after the population exchange. Alaçatı is a town that is the holiday dream of many of us, even though it may be a bit disappointing for those who visit it for the first time due to excessive interest and then becoming too touristic, which happens to every famous place. With its new venues, boutique hotels, activities and flavors that open every year.
One of the most important features that make Alaçatı Alaçatı is that wild construction and high-rise buildings are not allowed. All the buildings you will see all around Alaçatı were built in accordance with the stone house concept.
The wide area starting from Hacı Memiş District and extending to Kemalpaşa Street has a holistic aesthetic architecture, including the side streets. These streets adorned with colorful flowers are filled with people competing to take photos, especially on weekends.
Alaçatı town of Izmir, where every corner reflects a different color and emotion, is a place where you will enjoy getting lost while wandering around its streets. On both sides of the narrow cobblestone streets, there are eye-catching and stylish boutiques, antique shops that reveal the local wealth, restaurants serving the rarest dishes of the Aegean and extraordinary cafes.
Alaçatı’s nightlife is also quite lively, as it is difficult to walk on its streets during the day. After a late breakfast at the first light of day, people go to the beach and cafes in the holiday resort, and after a rest in the afternoon, everyone gets ready for the night.
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Places to visit in Alaçatı
Hacimemis District
things to do in alaçatı
Alaçatı is one of the most special regions of Turkey with its concept boutique hotels reaching 400 in number. It becomes difficult to find a place in high season in hotels, each of which has a texture, a story and a spirit that complements this story.
Most of the boutique hotels that make their guests feel special with their colorful decorations have between 5 and 15 rooms. Hotels that are away from crowds and stress, free from noise, and that touch your soul as soon as you step through the door, are the biggest helpers in your search for peace.
In addition to the restaurants and cafes in Alaçatı center, many of which offer great flavors accompanied by live music, many beach clubs that serve as beaches during the day are also turning into entertainment venues. Alaçatı Port is one of the first places to visit for those looking for entertainment.
If there is one thing you should do first and beyond the list in Alaçatı, it is to walk on the narrow cobblestone streets of the cute town. Strolling through the stone streets and passing by the houses with bay windows adorning the side streets gives you pleasure.
Although this famous holiday resort is one of the first places that come to mind in Turkey when it comes to surfing, it is not by the sea. Therefore, those who want to surf and swim can go to the wonderful Alaçatı beaches and bays, which are approximately 5-10 kilometers away. Alaçatı Çark Beach and Delikli Bay are among the most famous beaches in this area. If you wish, you can also go a little further from Alaçatı and reach Çeşme Ilıca Beach, known for its long beach with fine sand.
WHERE IS ALAÇATI
Alaçatı is located in the Çeşme district of İzmir. Alaçatı is only 3 km east of Çeşme. The distance between İzmir Alaçatı is 79 km, and the distance between İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport and Alaçatı is 85 km. Alaçatı, the charming town of the Aegean that smells of lavender, is bordered by Ilıca in the north, the Aegean Sea and Alaçatı Marina in the south, Çeşme in the west, and Kutlu Aktaş Dam Lake in the east.
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HOW TO GET TO ALAÇATI
Alaçatı can be easily reached via the İzmir-Çeşme Highway. The closest airport to Alaçatı is in Izmir. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is 85 km from Alaçatı. There are direct flights to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport from many cities in Turkey and Europe. HAVAŞ buses are a very good option
for transportation from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Alaçatı . There are flights every two hours from 03.00 to 20.00 in the evening. Again, Çeşme Travel company operates flights between the Airport and Çeşme. The journey takes 90 minutes. Izmir Bus Terminal Alaçatı : Çeşme Travel buses provide transportation on the Izmir-Alaçatı-Çeşme route. There are flights almost every hour between April and November, and less frequently in the rest of the year. Vehicles depart from platform 141. The first vehicle leaves at 06.30 in the morning and the last vehicle leaves at 22.00. Departures are organized every half hour or 45 minutes. Izmir Alaçatı bus price is 25 TL and takes 1.5 hours. Çeşme Seyahat bus station phone number is 0232 7126499. Çeşme Seyahat Alaçatı phone number is 0232 7166191. In addition, Kamil Koç, Pamukkale and Metro Turizm have flights from cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Bursa during the summer season. İzmir Center – Alaçatı ESHOT : You can reach Alaçatı by changing 2 buses from İzmir center with ESHOT buses, the public transportation company of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. First of all, to go to Urla, take the F. Altay-Urla bus number 725 departing from Fahrettin Altay. When you arrive in Urla, you can go to Alaçatı by taking the Urla-Çeşme bus number 760. How to get from Çeşme to Alaçatı : Alaçatı-Ilıca-Çeşme minibuses operate every 10 minutes from 07.00 in the morning to 21.00 in the evening, and every 15 minutes from 21.00 to 24.00. Minibuses depart from Çeşme Bus Terminal and stop at Ilıca and Alaçatı centre. The fee starts from 3.50TL and varies depending on the distance. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes. Going to Alaçatı by renting or car 🚘 İzmir Alaçatı takes 45 minutes, if you have a private car of course. It is very easy to reach Alaçatı, which is 79 km away on the İzmir-Çeşme Highway. Those who want to go via the old road must risk a journey of approximately 1 hour. The distance between Istanbul and Alaçatı is 550 km and the journey takes 6 and a half hours, and the distance between Ankara and Alaçatı is 675 km and takes 7 and a half hours.
WHERE TO STAY IN ALAÇATI
🏡 Alaçatı boutique hotels welcome their guests with their unique atmosphere, regardless of the four seasons. Each one has a completely different identity. Alaçatı hotels, most of which are made of cut stone and have been restored to their original form, with a history of over 100 years, offer a comfort where you can enjoy Turkish coffee in their bay windows. Especially the Aegean style breakfast is legendary. Take a look at the boutique hotel options:
Kurabiye Hotel , Alura Boutique Hotel , Alacati Kostem Hotel , Salbakos Salbakos Herakleia Boutique Hotel . I stayed in all of these hotels. Choose the one that suits your budget. You can make a reservation with a credit card from the Booking application by downloading a VPN.
WHERE TO STAY IN ÇEŞME
I stayed at On’Live Hotel in Çeşme (★★★★★), a magnificent one-star hotel in every aspect. All rooms of the hotel, which is 6 km away from Çeşme center, have sea views. It’s also great for a honeymoon. If you want to stay in the center of Çeşme, Laledan Hotel , located in a 200-year-old historical building, has a perfect location.
If you are going to stay in Ilıca, check out Yasos Suites, one of the best hotels in the region , or the well-located Kalipso Motel , Nars Ilica Hotel and Destina Hotel . Also keep Villa Lui Hotel in mind. If you are looking for an affordable place, check out Villa 19 Apart Hotel .
Places to Visit in Alaçatı 📌
➡My Instagram account is @yoldaolmak ✔️
Alaçatı is easy to visit. You can go everywhere by walking. You will only need transportation for Delikli Bay and Alaçatı Port.
- Kemalpaşa Street
Alaçatı Kemalpaşa Street
Kemalpaşa Street is the busiest point of Alaçatı. This is the main artery through which the crowd of the bazaar flows. It appears before you when you enter Alaçatı from the street where the windmills are located and walk towards the crowd. Even though its name is Kemalpaşa Street, it looks like a long, narrow street that is closed to traffic.
There are rows of two-storey houses with bay windows on both sides of the cobblestone street. These stone houses, which are the trademark of Alaçatı, are so cute with their flowers hanging from their blue framed windows and their unique architecture that they look like a movie set prepared for postcard shooting.
In Kemalpaşa, there are many boutique hotels, beautiful new generation cafes, restaurants that make you want to come here in the evening and have a drink, and small souvenir shops that make you want to shop. There are also bouquets of lavender, the scent of which permeates everywhere, lined up on a small counter in front of the door, and artichokes with purple flowers if they are in season!
In the summer months, especially in the evenings, there is no place to step in Kemalpaşa. Especially during holidays, it is impossible to avoid being dragged from place to place in the crowd! If you are determined to sit on this street in the evening, it is best to decide on the place you will go to and make a reservation in advance.
During the day, it is quiet and countless photogenic corners are available for taking photos. Take your nice clothes with you and a friend who takes good photos…
Alaçatı Square is a small square on Kemalpaşa Street, but it has many visitors. The square is surrounded by restaurants where the smell of appetizers comes from and bars where the sounds of soft music come from. The best part of the square is its blue-white concept that makes you feel like you are in the Aegean!
İmren Patisserie has been in Alaçatı since 1941. Inspired by traditional recipes, İmren’s desserts are so delicious that sometimes it can be difficult to choose. My favorites are all the mastic desserts, and the Çeşme lemon tart.
Kirli Çıkı Art Gallery is one of my favorite places in Alaçatı. Very nice works have been created using acrylic-collage and digital printing techniques on wooden spoons, trays, slippers and many other objects we use in our daily lives. If you are interested in artistic works, visit Kirli Çıkı!
- Hacimemis District
Hacimemis District
Hacimemis Alacati
Mulberry Coffee, Hacımemiş Alaçatı
Hacımiş District is the most unique place of Alaçatı. It is the rising star of Alaçatı with its cute cafes and restaurants, antique shops, galleries, ceramic and glass craftsmanship workshops and many other places. Because this neighborhood still carries the spirit of Alaçatı. It is peaceful, further away from the crowds of Kemalpaşa and the square. Even looking left and right among the undisturbed crowd is very enjoyable.
It feels good to be on the streets where bougainvilleas burst out carelessly among the cantilevered houses. Wander around the restaurants with new ones being added every day, art galleries where original works are exhibited, and tiny Alaçatı bakeries where the sweet scent of mahlep permeates the air. I’m sure you’ll love it!
There is no crowded crowd or noisy places spilling onto the street like Kemalpaşa Street, it is a quieter and more serene place. I suggest you enter the antique shops that offer original products one by one.
Dutlu Kahve , in silence under the centuries-old mulberry tree! Taste delicious appetizers, have a nice conversation with a glass of raki or special wines. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, a glass of water here will make you forget all your troubles.
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Kapari Bahçe is built in a large spacious area, among the stones from the historical mansion. It is a must to taste Hania Pastry, Greek Style Moussaka, Seafood Linguine and Santorini Fava in the garden that promises delicious tastes on both sides of the Aegean! His tahini cookies won an award.
Dondurmino is a place in Alaçatı where you will be hesitant to choose delicious Italian ice creams. The colorful balls of Dondurmino, which has been in the ice cream industry for 40 years, are perfect for cooling off after getting tired wandering around the streets of Alaçatı.
Asma Yaprağı is undoubtedly a place that lives up to its name. They cook delicious meals in a spacious garden using locally grown herbs, without using any complicated techniques. You will definitely feel like a native of Alaçatı, where you can taste Aegean delicacies and sit at long tables with lots of conversation in the glass mansion!
- Alaçatı Pazar Yeri Mosque
Alaçatı Pazaryeri Mosque (Ayios Kostantines Church) is actually a church built by Yuhannis Halopas, dating back to 1874. It was later used as Pazaryeri Mosque, and the structure remained faithful to its original form. The icons on the walls of the three-naved basilica are covered with curtains during prayers.
Antique Dealers’ Bazaar is a bazaar that I recommend antique enthusiasts visit. Just opposite the market place. Authentic items from Anatolia, valuable paintings, decorated vases, candlesticks, Victorian style tea and coffee cups… You can find something to suit your taste among a wide variety of vintage items!
- Alaçatı Houses
Alaçatı Houses
Where to visit in Alaçatı
Alaçatı Houses have a rightful share in why Alaçatı is so popular! Each of them is the main actor of the photographs taken in Alaçatı. It has a unique style with its architecture consisting of cut stone houses. It is both aesthetic and friendly with its Aegean-inspired doors, colorful framed windows, and stone walls leaning on each other.
These houses, made of cut stones resembling ‘pumice’ stone, keep cold in summer and warm in winter. Boutique hotels and restaurants in the surrounding area also use the restored stone houses left over from the Greeks.
- Alaçatı Mills
Alaçatı Mills , the trademark of Alaçatı! Stone windmills from the 1850s are among the oldest structures here. Four windmills of different sizes are built on a small hill in the center of Alaçatı. They were used to turn wheat into flour approximately 100-150 years ago.
Alaçatı’s windmills are an ideal place to drink a tired coffee after touring the streets of Alaçatı and to watch the beautiful sunset and take photos. There is a cute cafe next to the windmills that sells food and drinks at affordable prices.
Kumrucu Şevki Alaçatı is one of the famous people of Alaçatı. It is prepared by adding fried salami, sausage, cucumber and pickled pepper into Izmir kumru, made from chickpea yeast. Its ayran is as delicious as its kumru. Even though refined meat products are not very healthy, it wouldn’t hurt to have a little break!
- Alaçatı Market
Alaçatı Market is a special pleasure that is held in a very large area every Saturday. Vegetables and fruits are incredibly delicious and cheap. Those who want to buy vegetables and fruits on their way home should not worry about how to carry them, it is worth all the effort.
Apart from vegetables and fruits, it is a very colorful place where quality clothing products and handmade jams and spices can be found. Buy delicious natural products from villagers producing in nearby villages. Stop by Jam Maker Niko at the market and see what delicious jams are made from which products.
- Alacati Marina
Alaçatı Marina (Alaçatı Port) is the sea facing side of Alaçatı. The marina in Alaçatı Bay, where the sea reaches all the way to Karşıyaka River, is lined up with luxurious yachts overlooking the windmills and the blue of the Aegean.
This is also a living space. Luxury restaurants by the sea, stylish bistros and cafes with coffee scents are the reason why those who come to Alaçatı visit the marina. Moreover, it is on the road from the market to the Windsurf Zone, and it is very close to the surf schools.
- Yumru Bay and Alaçatı Windsurf
Yumru Bay is one of the first places that come to mind in Alaçatı when it comes to windsurfing. Since Alaçatı is windy 330 days a year, it is flocked by many windsurfing enthusiasts every year. Windsurf means windsurfing. Alaçatı, which also hosts international competitions, is one of the best windsurfing places in the world.
Yumru Bay is very suitable for windsurfing with its wind and geographical structure. The World Windsurf Championship is held here every year. Whether you are a professional or a fan of surfing, go and try it. There are many surf schools in the bay where instructors who are experts in their fields teach. I don’t know how to windsurf either, but it is a pleasure to watch amazing surfers in schools where experts in their fields teach.
- Alaçatı Beaches
Alaçatı is not by the sea, but it is not too far from the sea either. Located on the Bosphorus part of the Çeşme peninsula, Alaçatı has wonderful beaches on both sides where you can swim. There are Ilıca Public Beach, Deliklikoy, Kleopatra beach, Alaçatı Çark beach and many cool beach clubs, which can be reached within a 10-15 minute journey from Alaçatı center.
⛱ Çark Beach is in the south of the Alaçatı peninsula, close to the marina. There are both paid beach clubs and free areas on the beach. It is truly beautiful with its fine sand structure, shallow sea and turquoise color. When I want to go to a beach without getting too far from Alaçatı, I go here most of the time.
⛱ Delikli Bay has become very popular in recent years. Delikli Bay, which takes its name from the hole-shaped cavity of the rock in the sea, was a deserted, lonely place in the past. The main reason for this is that drone images reveal the magnificent beauty of the landscape. The white cliffs around the sea are also very photogenic and extraordinary. It has a clear sea.
⛱ Cleopatra Bay is a relatively small bay in the west of Delikli Bay. Transportation is a bit difficult and the road is a little dusty. It can be reached by going down the stairs after parking the car. But the magnificent beach you will encounter after all these difficulties will make you forget everything with its glassy sea and crystal clear water. There are no facilities in the bay.
⛱ Ilıca Beach , this is the most beautiful beach in Çeşme. Close to Alaçatı, the blue flag beach lives up to its reputation with its striking color and cleanliness. The sea is shallow and does not exceed tens of meters of height. Since there is a hot water source in the sea, the water is warm. You can throw on your towel and sunbathe wherever you want. There are also changing cabins, showers and toilets.
⛱ Günizi Beach is a private beach in the north-east of Alaçatı, the prices of which are more reasonable than those in Çeşme. Since the sea is shallow and warm, it is ideal for families with children. There are also bungalows to stay right behind the beach.
⛱ Golden Sand Beach is located in the western part of the Çeşme peninsula. The water is quite cold, but the clear sea and the white, soft, velvety beach make up for this gap. Since it is not in a bay, it is wavy in the afternoons. There are private beaches as well as public beaches where you can enjoy yourself without paying a fee.
- Fountain
Places to visit near Alaçatı
Fountain
Çeşme is one of the most important holiday centers in Turkey with its golden beaches, magnificent marina and streets. In fact, Alaçatı is a neighborhood of Çeşme. If you have time while you are in Alaçatı, you can spend a day visiting Çeşme.
Located in the center of Çeşme, Çeşme Archeology Museum, Caravanserai, Çeşme Bazaar and Çeşme Marina are among the places to see. Also visit Ayios Haralambos Church, the only church in Çeşme district center that has survived to the present day.
Ilıca Beach, located 5 km away from Çeşme town center, is exquisite, but finding a place can be difficult during the season and on weekends. It is among the most beautiful beaches of Izmir. If you are interested in exploring, there are many alternative travel routes with villages such as Ilıca, Ildır, Şifne and Germiyan.
WHAT TO EAT IN ALAÇATI
The answer to the question of what to eat in Alaçatı is not very challenging. Alaçatı is one of the places that best reflects the Aegean culture. Raki tables decorated with appetizers accompanied by Aegean herbs and local delicacies make people smile along with live music. Taverns offering insatiable tastes with their tiny tables are among the values that make Alaçatı Alaçatı.
Aegean cuisine’s appetizers with herbs and olive oil should especially be tried. With its restaurants offering delicious Aegean cuisine and its friendly people, Alaçatı also has a rich diversity in terms of restaurants. Take a break at restaurants known for their olive oil appetizers, herbs, and olive oil snacks.
Don’t leave without eating something with artichoke once. I think you can experiment randomly with herb varieties. There is no chance of you regretting it unless your normal diet is ‘they should beat anyone who eats anything other than meat’! Of course, ‘Kumru’, which comes to mind when Izmir is mentioned, is one of the must-eat foods. It is also known as
Çeşme turtle dove , ‘Izmir dove’ and ‘Alaçatı dove’. Kumru, which turns into a magnificent feast of taste when accompanied by soudjouk, tomato and tulum cheese on chickpea sourdough sesame bread, is a good choice as a lunchtime snack.
Those who come out of the sea and finish the night’s entertainment stop by the kumrucu to eat kumru with its appetizing taste. Kumrucu Şevki and Kumrucu Hikmet are among the best options to witness the trio of Kumru, homemade pickled cucumber and ayran .
This is one of the rare regions where the tree grows, which is the right place to try various flavors such as mastic ice cream, mastic pudding, and mastic Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee with mastic before the meal is indispensable, as is known on the opposite side of Chios Island, and it is used in many places, from pudding to coffee. You can taste mastic pudding, cookies and daily desserts at İmren Patisserie, which has been in service since 1941.
Whether at the sea or for night entertainment, enjoying mussels and beer is worth trying. The taste of the stuffed mussels plate accompanied by a cold beer lingers on the palate. Delicious and fresh stuffed mussels can be enjoyed at the beach or at your lounge. You can shop safely from mobile mussel sellers who are available all the time. My recommendation for dinner is Asma Yaprağı,
which is located in one of the charming streets with bay-windowed stone houses typical of Alaçatı . It is difficult to find a place without reservation. Kapari Bahçe, Red Barbun, Roka and Agrilla are my favorite restaurants. For food outside Alaçatı, Cevat’s Place in Dalyan is my favorite. Şerefe Meyhane and Şişarka are recommended for raki and appetizer lovers.
WHAT TO BUY FROM ALAÇATI
Alaçatı has become a center where many designers have their workshops. It is possible to see original designs in the design workshops that you come across on almost every street. Whether it is a small refrigerator ornament or a leather bag, you can find a gift for every budget in Alaçatı. In addition, the night market, where the stalls are set up side by side, starts to welcome visitors in the afternoon.
The Antique Market next to the Pazaryeri Mosque, which was converted from a church built in 1874, is set up on Saturdays and Sundays and is known as one of the first antique markets in Turkey.
When you go to this holiday resort, which has a wide range of restaurants with new ones added every day, you should taste fresh seafood and Aegean appetizers in addition to snacks such as mastic ice cream and mastic jam.
Also, don’t forget to stop by Değirmen, a favorite place for brides and grooms who come to the region to have their wedding photos taken in the summer, and sip a hot Turkish coffee while watching the view.
ALAÇATI NIGHTLIFE
In recent years, many entertainment venues have been opened in Alaçatı, which has attracted the attention of investors from Istanbul. Famous singers and DJs occasionally take the stage in these places, some of which turn into beach clubs during the day and entertainment venues at night. Alaçatı’s nightlife, which starts with its beautiful beaches and happy hours in the evening and continues until the first light of the morning, makes a name for itself.
If you wish, stop by Aya Yorgi Bay for a fun night that lasts until the first light of the morning. The most famous places here are Babylon, Sole Mare and Marrakech. For those who want to continue saying the night is long, Club 29, Öküz, Tren, located in Alaçatı Port; Otto Alaçatı, located on Çark beach, is one of the places to go for nightlife. Deli Deli located on Kum Beach and Riders Mood located in Alaçatı bay are other popular places.
Alaçatı Herb Festival is an event whose fame goes beyond the borders of Alaçatı. Many tourists attend the festival, where dishes prepared with the medicinal herbs of Alaçatı, where, according to legends, many kinds of herbs grow, are exhibited and various competitions are held. Workshops, panels and award-winning competitions are also organized within the scope of this festival, where you can taste delicious dishes made with herbs specific to Alaçatı and the Aegean Region.
Those who plan to go to this festival, which represents the beginning of the holiday season in the region, should make advance reservations for accommodation and flight tickets. If you are late, you may have difficulty finding a seat due to intense interest. Olive oil produced in the town is used in the meals prepared at the festival, which takes place in the first week of April.
Alaçatı is approximately an hour away from Izmir; The ideal route to relax, have fun and taste delicious Aegean delicacies. Alaçatı is the apple of Izmir’s eye with its unique beaches and bays, colorful nightlife, stone boutique hotels and concept venues.
