Alaçati: the most colourful village in Turkey?
Alaçati, on Turkey’s Aegean coast, is one of Turkey’s most colourful villages.
Although not yet a mass tourism destination, it has slowly been featuring on several travel guides for hip- destinations and it is no longer the sleepy village it once was.
You need at least three days to explore this picturesque village, explore its nearby beaches and sample the food on offer.
Getting there
Located on the Çesme Peninsula, a 45 minute drive away from Izmir on the Turkish Aegean coast, Alaçati is best visited between April and September.
The closest airport is Izmir and you have three options to reach Alaçati:
taxi, the most expensive option and may set you back around £50.
Car hire, likely the best options as it gives you freedom to explore the whole region and its stunning beaches
Bus, from Izmir, operating every 15 minutes from 6 am to 6 pm. You can purchase your ticket either online or at the terminal.
Things to do
Explore the colourful streets
With its cobbled streets and alleyways filled with colourful tables, authentic shops, historic stone houses and pink and blue bougainvillaea, the old Alaçati is definitely charming.
In the mornings, the village is quiet, sleepy, the smell of fresh bread emanating from the many firins (ovens) gracing the streets, some people will have their coffee before heading to one of the beaches in the area. As the day goes by, the activity level increases and by night music flows from its various bars and hidden gardens.
Try the local food
There are a lot of food options in Alaçati, for every budget and every taste. From traditional Turkish food, to Mexican, Italian, burgers and more.
Visit the bazaar
There is a small bazaar on the main street, perfect for some souvenir shopping .
Visit the many beaches in the region
It would be better to have your own transportation in order to visit the most remote beaches and coves. However it is still possible to rely on public transport and taxis to reach some beautiful beaches.
Ilica Beach
Easily reached by bus 760 or a short, cheap taxi ride, it is a sprawling, long, wide beach with beautiful turquoise waters. The beach is clean, except for some cigarette butts here and there, but overall is quite clean. At the far end of the beach, the more secluded area, there are no bars or restaurants but there are plenty towards the “city” part of it.
Altinkum beach
You need a taxi or car to reach this gorgeous beach on the south side of the peninsula. A beautiful beach with calm, shallow and clear water.
There are chairs and sun loungers and a little restaurant.
Çesme
Visit the charming fishing town of Çesme, with its harbour side restaurants and relaxed vibe. Discover the castle, with epic sunsets from its turrets.
Take the bus 760 or a short taxi ride.
Hop on to Chios, Greece
From Çesme, hop on a ferry for a day trip, or longer, to Chios, the closest Greek island to this region. Only 30 mins crossing.
For more Turkey blog posts: https://blog.worldswithout.net/turkey/
Alacati tours: https://www.getyourguide.com/alacati-l191375/
