Çeşme and Alaçatı

Alaçatı is a former Greek, then Ottoman, village at the end of the Çeşme peninsula, the western tip of Turkey's Aegean coast. Its stone houses with terracotta roofs, cobbled lanes and windmills have made it the most sought-after resort in the region. Most hotels are small converted houses of 7 to 28 rooms. People come to stroll, eat well and enjoy the wind, which blows hard across the bay in summer.

The old town

The heart of Alaçatı is best explored on foot. Kemalpaşa Caddesi, the main street, runs through the town; around it, lanes lined with restored houses are home to shops, cafés and restaurants. The windmills stand on the hill above the rooftops. On summer evenings the streets fill up: the town is as lively at night as by day.

Most hotels in our selection are in the old town or a few minutes' walk away. That is Alaçatı's advantage: once you arrive, you don't need a car.

The wind and the bay

According to the MICHELIN Guide, Alaçatı Bay is one of the best stretches of water in the world for windsurfing. It is sheltered from the swell, with a steady wind for much of the summer, which also draws kitesurfers. The sailing schools are on the shore of the bay.

The wind has a downside: the peninsula is very windy, and some beaches feel it. For a calm swim, ask your hotel which beach is sheltered that day. Wind-sport fans will find other spots on our kitesurfing page.

Çeşme, the harbour

Çeşme, 11 km to the west (11 minutes), is the peninsula's port. Its Ottoman fortress above the harbour houses the town museum: admission will be €7 from 1 April 2027, according to the price list of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. A day cruise around the bays of İzmir and Çeşme is sold from €95 per person.

Hotels in the Sabaro selection

Five houses, five styles. All are boutique hotels; none is a large resort.

Prices are for one night for two, checked in October 2026 for two nights from 1 to 3 June 2027, including taxes and fees. "On request": no rate was published for those dates; Sabaro passes on the hotel's offer with your enquiry.

For a honeymoon, Alavya and KestelINN are the most intimate; for a pool, Viento; for a more creative atmosphere, Warehouse. More hotels of this kind are on our boutique hotels page.

Getting there

İzmir Airport (ADB) is 88 km from Alaçatı, about 1 h 04 by road without traffic. In season it has direct flights to Paris, London, Amsterdam, Brussels and several German cities, and year-round flights to Istanbul. İzmir is a few hours' flight from Europe's main cities, direct or with one stop. Alaçatı is 54 minutes from İzmir and 32 minutes from Urla: see İzmir and Urla. Ephesus is about 1 h 40 away.

Climate and best time to go

The Çeşme weather station records average highs from 13.6 °C in January to 30.9 °C in August: the peninsula is a little cooler than İzmir in summer, thanks to the wind. There is almost no rain from June to September (under 5 mm a month). The sea rises from 19 °C in May to 22.4 °C in June and 24.2 °C in August.

June and September are the best months: warm sea, a lively town without the July and August crowds. May and October suit walking and eating out, less so swimming.

Safety

No European foreign ministry advises against the Çeşme peninsula. Several ministries point to the summer risk of forest fires on the Aegean coast, assaults in beach resorts in season and methanol-contaminated alcohol in the İzmir region: drink in reputable establishments. The "Travel advice" table on this page gives the advice of your country.