If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen my recent visit to Alaçati & Çesme, Turkey. This is my second time visiting this beautiful country. I have been to Dalyan a couple of years ago and what stuck with me were the hospitality, food & culture and this trip showed me no different. The waters are clear blue, the people are friendly & the food is delicious. This is my Alaçati photo diary!

We fly to Izmir with Corendon Airlines and are picked up by a driver from the Tas Otel where we stay, a boutique hotel in Alaçati, that is located in a quiet area, but close to everything. This place felt like home. A more extended post about my stay here is coming soon!

Alaçati was originally settled by the Ottoman Greeks in the 17th century, who drained the swamps to stop Malaria. After the job was done, they decided to stay. Most of the Greek population fled after the Greco-Turkish war and the village became a town forgotten in time. When Zeynep Ozis set up Tas Otel, there were no hotels in Alaçati. The locals told her she was mad! She was the first to see this pretty town’s potential and started a cosy guesthouse in an old Greek home: Tas Otel.

Nowadays Alaçati is full of charm and a favorite destination for wealthy Turkish sunseekers, who enjoy the great restaurants, shops & beaches. There are not a lot of foreign tourists…yet, so communication can be a little difficult every now and than, but that’s the charm of travelling! There is not one plastic chair in the town’s center and after midnight all the restaurants & cafes turn down their music. Don’t miss the great antique shops & concept stores in the side streets. You’ll find a lot of beautiful clothing & cute items for your interior.

We rented a scooter and took a lot of road trips in the Çesme area. We visited the beautiful castle of Çesme & an old fishersman’s village called Ildir. For most people, renting car would be a better option. I think I would go for a car next time too…Because of the steady wind, this is a popular place for wind- & kitesurfers. It is a lot of fun to take some lessons! Because of this wind, our road trips by scooter became quite an adventure…
The wine in this region is really good! Most of the local wine is produced at the Urla Vineyard. I really wanted to buy a couple of bottles to bring home with me! It is always nice to buy wine while travelling, so you can enjoy your holiday a little longer when you get home!
In the Çesme area you find a lot of artichoke plants & sesame and aniseed.

Don’t visit Alaçati in July & August. The streets are narrow and get very crowded in the summer months. June & September are probably the best months, when all the beach clubs are open, these were still closed while we were here ( the beginning of May). The temperature of the the water at Ilica beach is always warm enough for a swim, because of the thermal sources in the ocean.
More posts coming soon!

Read HERE all about our stay at the beautiful Tas Otel.
Click HERE for my favorite restaurants in Alaçati.

Corendon flies to Izmir from all over the world. It is about an hour drive from the airport to Alaçati. Corendon has a lot of great hotels to book too, like the Premier Solto Hotel, that is right at the beach. Check http://www.corendon.com for all the options

Booking.com