ÇeÅŸme Map

ÇeÅŸme is one of the Turkey’s most beautiful strerches of coast, surrounded by clear blue seas, with a landscape of cultivated fields. Visitors can enjoy unspoilt bays, excellent holiday accommodation, restaurants, sports and entertainment facilities. Thermal baths offer a healthy break from the rigors of modern life. Excellent shopping is available, with a good selection of carpets, leather goods and souvenirs. At night a lively atmosphere pervades, especially in the restaurants, cafes, bars and discos along the promenade. ÇeÅŸme hosts many national and international meetings and conventions throughout the year.
 This coastal town has been a settlement for thousands of years, and today the same climate and geography which attracted the ancients are what make ÇeÅŸme a popular summer resort today. Moreover, ÇeÅŸme is just a 45 minute drive from the Aegean port city of Izmir. Almost as soon the bus leaves Üçkuyular Bus Terminal in Izmir, you find the azure expanse of the Aegean to your left. Soon, however, the new motorway begins to snake its way through mountains and hills and the sea is left behind. But this is only a temperate separation, a lull before the true encounter. Maquis, pine forest and olive groves take turns to keep you company. After the turnoff to Karaburun you come to the small town of Alaçatı, south of ÇeÅŸme, which is now attracting a spate of new building, fortunately inspired by the architecture of the towns historic houses.
 ÇeÅŸme Peninsula, lapped by the waters of the Aegean Sea, lies west of Izmir. The name ÇeÅŸme, meaning fountain, refers to the many springs found in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is one of Turkey’s most beautiful stretches - surrounded by clear blue sea, with landscapes of cultivated fields of aniseed, sesame and artichokes dotted with fig and gum trees. In the unspoiled bays you can swim in absolute peace. Visitors will find excellent holiday palces, restaurants, sports, foods, and night activities.
   
 A 14th century Genoese fortress, restored and enlarged by the Ottomans in the 16th century, dominates the small port of ÇeÅŸme, 80 km from Izmir. Today the town is a popular holiday resort with excellent places and restaurants. The 16th century caravanserai near the fortress, built by Süleyman the Magnificent, has been converted into a hotel, while the 19th century Church of Hagios Haralambos has been restored as the Emir Çaka art gallery. Thermal baths offer a health-oriented escape from modern life. Excellent shopping, the finest quality carpets, leather goods, as well as souvenir items are available. At night, beautiful, fun atmosphere pervades, especially in the restaurants, cafes, bars and discos along the promenade. Yachts can be hired to explore the Peninsula’s splendid coastline. Çesme hosts an annual International Song Contest in the summer. Also, weekly ferry lines run from Çesme to Venice.
   
 The very popular holiday centre of Ilıca boasts an excellent white, sandy beach, and the outstanding activities of the Altın Yunus Marina and Holiday Complex. The bay here is ideal for water sports, especially windsurfing and sailing. The thermal baths around Ilıca are very popular; the best being located on Åžifne Bay, PaÅŸa Limanı has a campsite which offers campers comfortable facilities. In Ilıca Bay, the colourful International Çakabey Optimist Yacht race is held every year in July.
 
 The natural seems offer relaxation while the bay is ideal for water sports. In Dalyan, a fishing village built on a sheltered deep water inlet just north of ÇeÅŸme, some of the region’s best fish restaurants border the quay of the marina.
 
 Tourists are attracted by the variety of Çiftlik’s places, and by a long, sandy beach (Pırlanta Plajı), just outside of town to the southwest. Camping opportunity are available to the south, and nearby stretches one of the area’s best beaches, the Altınkum Plaj (Golden Beach).
 
 Windmills, some of which have been converted into attractive restaurants, dot the hill above Alaçatı, a delightful and typical Aegean town. Alaçatı lies to the south inland from Ilıca and the coast; a couple of kilometres to the south is a good beach. Many good bays, reachible only by yacht, are to be found along the coast southeast of the town and ensure safe and relaxing anchorage in this popular sailing region.
 
 Ildır, a quiet seaside village 20 km northeast of ÇeÅŸme, was ancient Erythrai. Those who climb up to the Acropolis at dusk are rewarded with beautiful views as the sun sinks over the bay and islands. Nearby Gerence Gulf is a pristine inlet northeast of the ÇeÅŸme Peninsula which can be reached by yacht or car.
    
 ÇEÅžME CASTLE:

 
 It was ordered to be built by the Ottoman Sultan (Sovereign) Beyazıt the second in 1508. The archeologic monuments that outcame of Ildır are exhibited inside of the museum that is in the castle. This historical structure, is organized as a concert place during the international. ÇeÅŸme Music Competition that is made in this area and it is displayed to the whole world between 2-7 July.
 
 CARAVANSERAI (KERVANSARAY):
 
 The Kervansaray which Kanuni Sultan Süleyman ordered to be built had two sections. The architect of this caravanserai is son of Ali Pabuccu Omer(1528). The rectangle-shaped structure had a courtyard, shops, depots and rooms in the middle of it.
 
 ILDIR (ERYTHRAI):

 
 Erythrai which is one of a union of 12 Ionian Unions, it was in condition of being extensive and important settlement place in 6 B.C. It is known that, Erythrai which had a widely protective harbor, commercial ties with Egypt, Cyprus an Western countries and evolved its trade. There is an acropolis which its ruins are seen on the peak that today stands in the middle of the city. The statues which were served as a devoted to the Athena Pallas temple were found in the excavations that were made here. The most important of the ruins, is the woman sculpture that endured from the Archaic Period and it is exhibited at Izmir Archeological Museum.The district became independent with the help of Alexander the Great invasion of the city in 334 after Lydian and Persian sovereignity. In the Roman period the city was plundered and its importance after the earthquakes of that region in 1st century A.D.
 
 The city frequently changed posession after Alexander the Greats death. After the Erythrai that went under Byzantian domination became a village. Cesme, which was tied to Ottomans in 1422, gained enduring monuments for the Turkish-Ottoman history.

 ALAÇATI:

 
 Turkey’s Aegean shores are among the most fascinating and beautiful stretches in the country. The magnificent coastline, lapped by the clear water of the Aegean Sea, with landscapes of cultivated fields of aniseed, sesame and artichokes dotted with fig and gum trees, will allow you to discover one of the world?s greatest windsurfing destinations in Alaçatı bay on the ÇeÅŸme peninsula. With its 1.8 kms width, over 5 kms depth, crystal clear waters, azure blue skies, consistent and steady winds, topography and location Alaçatı is an ideal windsurfing spot especially in Europe.
 
 Both, the very shape of the bay and the thermal water pressures, create steady and consistent winds blowing side-shore from North to South in summer and from South to North in winter monthS. First time windsurfers love the place as the waist-deep and sand covered shallow water area extends for 500 meters from shore into the bay creating perfect conditions for beginners of all ages. Easy recovery from falls adds a new dimension to both teaching and learning to windsurf.
 Consistent steady winds, combined with the best equipment ready and all rigged up steps away from the water is also an opportunity for speed or wave lovers not to miss. In summer, the North wind creates perfect conditions for flat-water high-speed windsurfing, whereas in winter the South wind creates waves steady enough even to please the big wave-funs.
 
 As the shore plain enjoys an exceptionally mild climate, with soft, verdant springs, hot summers, sunny autumns and warm winters marked by occasional showers. For windsurfing and sun-bathing summer months are ideal, but as the Aegean provides a perfect escapes from rigors of a northern winter even in January and February with mild sunny and pleasant days, wave lovers prefer to visit Alaçatı in winter to mix and match their holidays with windsurfing.