10 vibes for Alaçatı, Çeşme & Urla

The old city of Alaçatı features narrow, winding cobblestone roads, rustic, stone buildings, and a relaxed, fun vibe. The place really comes to life at night, when the temperature cools down and visitors of all ages come out to make the most of a gorgeous region. The center of town runs along two perpendicular streets forming a “T” shape, lined with cute cafés, intriguing antique stores, chic clothing boutiques, tempting waffle shops, and elegant restaurants serving the finest local cuisine.

Hacımemiş; is a less-known neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets and bougainvillea flowers decorating the walls. Here you can find antique shops, boutiques, quaint coffee shops, and authentic restaurants. You will feel like you are in a movie set as you walk along these picturesque streets. The area is favored by the locals since the main strip gets very crowded during high season. 

Visit the Alaçatı Producer’s Market and the daily fish auction; which hosts friendly locals selling fresh seasonal produce in Alaçatı. You can find anything and everything you are looking for although it is most known for its fresh produce, fruit, and herbs. The famous Alaçatı Market is open every Saturday from morning until evening. If you want to avoid the crowds and the heat, go early in the morning. It’s an unforgettable local experience that is worth waking up early for. At the market, you can find pretty much everything under the sun from local produce, spices, souvenirs, textiles, sports gear, and clothing. The market even has its own fish auction!

Windsurfing; Alaçatı is one of the most popular places for windsurfing in the world and hosts many international competitions every year. The constant wind and flat water surface create the perfect conditions not only for professionals but also for beginners. If you want to learn how to windsurf this is the perfect place to try! 

Beaches to visit; There are plenty of beach clubs to visit in Alaçatı, but they all have one thing in common: the beautiful Aegean Sea. Wherever you go, know that you’ll enjoy the aquamarine waters of the Aegean.

Visit antique store; from decorated wooden doors to old rustic olive buckets, colored glass bottles, and industrial lamps, Alaçatı has everything a person interested in interior design could ever dream of.

Visit Çesme Castle; an Ottoman fort offering impressive views, in the nearby town of Çesme. 

Visit the Urla Herb Market; which is established in the pier area, to buy some delicious Aegean herbs such as radish greens, fennel, chickpeas, cibes otu (cornflower), and asparagus.

Visit the wineries of the Urla Vineyard Route; there are five family-owned vineyard houses in this neighborhood. You can try the wines, made from foreign and local grapes, accompanied by local food at the restaurants here.

Take a trip; booking a boat trip to one of the nearby islands is recommend. One such island is Eşek Adası, or Donkey Island. According to local legend, a few donkeys were left on the island and through the years they have multiplied, thus giving the island its name. They say that if you feed the donkeys watermelon, they will pose for your photos. If this sounds intriguing, then the island is an hour away by boat.

Visit Urla Sanat Sokağı (Urla Art Street); is a joyful and peaceful street where you will come across painters and ceramic artists, Turkish handicrafts and centuries-old antiques, and unique cafés.