Çeşme and Alaçatı Guide: Stone Houses, Beaches and Windsurfing

West of İzmir, one of the Aegean's liveliest holiday areas, the Çeşme peninsula is famous for Alaçatı's bougainvillea-clad stone streets, Çeşme's castle and turquoise beaches. With its clear sea and steady wind, it is ideal both for relaxing and for water sports.

Alaçatı's stone houses and streets

Alaçatı is one of Turkey's most photogenic towns, with its restored stone houses, colourful shutters and bougainvillea. Boutique hotels, design shops and stylish cafés line the narrow streets. The town's emblem, the old windmills, forms an elegant silhouette on the hilltop.

Çeşme Castle, beaches and windsurfing

The Ottoman castle in central Çeşme and the historic caravanserai across from it are worth seeing. The fine-sand, shallow beaches of Ilıca and Altınkum are ideal for families, while Alaçatı Bay, with its steady wind, is a world-renowned windsurfing and kitesurfing hub. Courses for beginners are widely available.

When to go and tips

June and September are the most ideal months for both sea and weather; July–August are busy and crowded. Don't miss Alaçatı's herb festival and local flavours. Comfortable shoes help on the stone streets, and for surfing the afternoon hours, when the wind picks up, serve you best.

Exploring Çeşme and Alaçatı together makes for a few enjoyable days. Planning your accommodation options in the region in advance helps you make the most of your holiday.