The roads in the fountain and the flowers in the spring are very beautiful. Because the towns of the touristic district of Izmir, which bears traces of Ionian and Ottoman civilizations, contain thermal resources that are rare in the world, rich culinary culture and colorful local life.
Although it makes it easy to reach every part of Çeşme, the minibuses, which are the backbone of public transportation, can be quite crowded in the summer period. Therefore, if you have a budget, you can choose the option of renting a car for transportation to explore the beauties of the district more freely. When you are hungry while traveling within your travel route, do not forget to eat Çeşme's famous kumru, taste the mastic ice cream and cookies at Kumrucu Şevki.
1. Cesme Castle
Located close to Cumhuriyet Square in the town center, Çeşme Castle was built in 1508 when Bayezid II was on the throne. You can include the Ottoman structure, which welcomes its visitors with the statue of Kaptan-ı Derya Hasan Pasha in front of its main gate, to your list of places to visit in Çeşme due to its magnificent architecture and panoramic view. In addition to these, there is the Cesme Museum, which was opened in 1965 to display the weapons brought from Topkapi Palace. Today, historical artifacts brought from Erythrai Ancient City are exhibited in the museum instead of weapons.
2. Altinkum Beach
Altınkum Beach, which is only 10 minutes away from Çeşme town center, awaits you with its beach clubs on a 500-meter clean sandy beach. The most important feature of the beach, which takes its name from its golden sand, is that it is free of waves for most of the year and its water is cold compared to other places in Çeşme. You can easily reach the beach, where you can enjoy the cool waters of the Aegean Sea and the sun, by public transportation.
3. Erythrai Ancient City
The ancient city of Erythrai, which has been hypothesized to derive its name from its red-colored soil or from Erythro, the son of the first founder of the city, Rhadamanthes from Crete, is located within the borders of Ildırı Village, 26 kilometers from Çeşme. The first excavations in the historical settlement, which is one of the 12 Ionian cities established in Western Anatolia, were carried out by Prof. Hakki Gultekin and Prof. It was carried out between 1963-1966 under the leadership of Ekrem Akurgal. You can examine the valuable items found in the ancient city, where the Acropolis area, the Temple of Athena and the theater were unearthed, in the museum in Çeşme Castle.
4. Ilica Beach
Since its waters are fed by underground sources, Ilıca Beach, where you can swim not only in summer but also in spring and autumn, attracts holidaymakers with its rich content. The 3-kilometer-long beach, which is an indispensable stop for those seeking healing due to its warm and rich mineral waters, makes surfing possible thanks to its wavy structure. Since the sea is not very deep, it is necessary to apply to the hotels around for other water sports activities, especially diving, on the beach, which can be preferred by families with children with peace of mind.
5. Aya Yorgi Bay
Aya Yorgi Bay, which has a different popularity among the beautiful Çeşme beaches that fascinate those who see them, is located in Sakarya District, only 1 kilometer from the district center. Beach clubs serving in the bay, which is relatively quiet during the day, offer their guests unforgettable hours with their distinguished entertainment programs including concerts and DJ performances at night. If you get bored of the content in the bay, which I will definitely recommend to add to your list of places to visit in Çeşme, due to its calm blue sea and the entertainment opportunities offered by the facilities on the beach, you can switch to another beach by taking advantage of the zodiac boats that work as a sea taxi.
6. Dalyan
Dalyan, located in the north of the peninsula, is one of the towns where you can have the opportunity to experience the typical Aegean life, despite its facilities opening to its beaches. There are a few beach clubs where you can swim from the pier and a public beach where you can enjoy the sea for free in the residential area, which is preferred by those who seek calmness. Despite their shabby appearance, the venues, especially on Kocakarı Beach, offer the freshest of seafood to their guests at affordable prices.
7. Hot Springs
Due to the fact that the beach and thermal use are in the same place, Ilıcalar is known as one of the rare spa areas in the world. In the thermal areas, which are a source of healing and entertainment, 5 kilometers from the district center, the water has a temperature between 42-55 °C. This water, which is suitable for bathing and drinking cures, has therapeutic properties for many ailments, especially rheumatism, digestive system, women and skin diseases. You can visit the facilities for a day, or you can stay in the surrounding facilities and benefit from the healing waters.
8. Bay with Holes
Delikli Bay, located between Alaçatı and Ovacık, which is considered the center of surfing tourism, takes its name from a gap formed due to natural reasons in the rock that separates the 2 beaches. The cove, which is an ideal place for those who seek peace with its turquoise color, calm sea and quiet environment, is one of the indispensable areas in Çeşme for campers. In addition to enjoying the sea, you can only reach the bay by your own or rented vehicle, as there is no public transportation to the bay, which offers beautiful views for those who like to take pictures at sunset.
9. Germiyan Village
I recommend that especially gastronomy enthusiasts add Germiyan Village, which is 23 kilometers east of the town center, to their list of places to visit in Çeşme. This is because Germiyan, the only Turkmen settlement in Çeşme, is the first village in our country to join the Slow Food movement. Thanks to this movement, which aims to keep local and natural products alive, you can enjoy products such as village-specific Kopanisti Cheese, Date Olives, Şekeriçi Damat Turkish Delight, Bazina, Ravioli with Rice, prepared from seasonal and additive-free products in the surrounding settlements. Apart from spending time with original kitchen products, you can wander around the village and examine the pictures drawn by the local artist Nuran Erden on the walls of the houses.
10. Donkey Island
Donkey Island, which you can visit by participating in daily boat tours, attracts the attention of holidaymakers thanks to its clean coves and location suitable for underwater sports. Accommodation is not allowed on the island, which takes its name from the lovely creatures that were once left here and multiplied over time. If you intend to go diving to the land which is one of the disputed islands between Turkey and Greece, the rift point with a depth of 60 meters may be of interest to you.
