Endless beaches, including the most beautiful one in Turkey within close reach. The province filled up with ancient sites in each direction.
Note that Cesme city is an elite place for the Turks, where holidays are spent by the cream of people from Izmir and Istanbul, cinema stars, sports stars and politicians. Encounter refined accommodations, wonderful restaurants and discos on the city beaches. Walk along the narrow streets, crowded with top car makers like Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches. Enjoy 360° views at the top of Cesme castle, restored in modern days and home to the Archaeology Museum. Speak and listen to all the colours in Cesme Old Town. It feels just like a traditional Greek village. Head north of Cesme Castle to Ayios Haralambos Church, 19th century Greek Orthodox church, which is used today for temporary exhibitions. Observe part of the Chios coast on the horizon right from Cesme.
Taste Turkish traditional dessert “Baklava” and Maraş ice-cream in MADO at Cesme Marina. The most popular baklava is made of pistachio and it is super delicious.
Warm yourself up at Ilica beach with thermal springs arising from the bottom of the sea.
Stroll the narrow streets and take in some colour inspiration in Alacati. Admire true artistic talent at the studio of Serap Yurdaer in Alacati. Bowls are decorated with ancient Ionian patterns and little ceramic goddesses based on Hittite sculpture. Hop into Asma Yaprağı in Alacati, is truly a hidden gem in Alaçati’s side streets. The mezes, small appetisers and olive oil dishes are delicious. Also slow cooked lamb with rosemary & meatballs in cinnamon yogurt sauce is the speciality of the restaurant. Wonder through Alacati Market. It is open every Saturday and has pretty much everything from local produce, spices, souvenirs, textiles, and more.
Try the best ice cream in Alacati at Dondurmino with about 20 different flavours made by mastic, lemon, mulberry, pumpkin, peanut butter, bitter chocolate, caramel, biscuit. Sample local turkish vines near the antique site of Teos, noted for its Temple of Dionysus, the god of wine. Eat the best desserts made of “mastic” at İmren in Alaçatı. It is also a local bakery where you can find several different desserts accompanied by Turkish Coffee. One of the best desserts is “sakızlı muhallebi” a Turkish type of pudding with gum flavour from Mastic. Check in at Alacati Bay, a hotspot for windsurfing where winds are constant and steady.
Check stunning white rock formations at the untouched beach at Delikli Koy. Or jump to an interesting island Esek Adasi, or Donkey Island. They say that if you feed the donkeys with watermelon they will pose for your photos.
Discover the ancient Greek city of Erythrai on the edge of Ildiri village with a theater, dating to the 3rd century B.C., Acropolis, Temple of Heracles, a 5th-century-B.C. sacrificial altar, and 2nd-century-B.C. luxury villas and mosaic stone pavement. Get astonishing pictures at the site of ancient Ephesus near Selcuk. Nearby is also the site of St. John's Basilica and the reputed last home of the Virgin Mary. Extend your journey with trips to the nearby Greek island of Chios, or to one of the biggest Turkish cities, Izmir.
The ancient site of the city of Ephesus was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form from the third century B.C. and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
Between Kusadasi's southern shores and Pamukkale lies the valley of the Menderes River (the Meander), where several ancient civilizations built major settlements, including Priene, Milet, Didyma (Didim), Aphrodisias and Hierapolis (Pamukkale). The Temple of Apollo at Didyma was one of the most sacred places of antiquity.
According to mythology, Narcissus Spring is where Narcissus, who disdains girls who fall in love with him, was punished. Narcissus, who continuously hurts girls, is thirsty one day and drinks water from a spring. When he sees his reflection in the water, he falls in love with himself. He cannot see anything else and dies gazing at his own face. Narcissus plants, also known as daffodils, used to grow at this place where he died.
