Looking to spend one day in Cesme and Alacati — or Çeşme & Alaçatı, to use their proper Turkish spellings — without lying out on a beach towel? You’ll find plenty to keep you occupied in these sun-drenched seaside towns, from historical buildings and archaeological sites to markets and marinas. Here are some of the best things to do if you’d prefer to leave your swimsuit at home.

You’ll start the day in Çeşme, where your whole morning will be a walkable loop; with leisurely strolling and shopping, you can do it all in under four hours. You will need a car or a taxi to get from Çeşme to Alaçatı, and then you’ll be walking again.

A Morning in Çeşme

Visit Çeşme Castle 

It’s impossible to miss Çeşme Castle, the most imposing structure in town.

Built by the Ottomans in 1508 to repel Venetian attacks, this castle boasts impressive views out over the harbor.

You’ll want to begin your journey here to get a sense of Çeşme’s geography and history. The castle houses the small but sweet Çeşme Archaeology Museum, which features a variety of artifacts found around the region.

If you enjoy photography, the castle also affords all kinds of opportunities to take great shots.

Pro tip: if it’s fig season — usually August through October — make sure to head to the back of the upper courtyard to see if there’s any ripe fruit.

Start your morning at Çeşme Castle early, when the climb up the many fortress stairs is still comfortably cool.

Snacks, Shopping, and Saints

After leaving Çeşme Castle, turn right and make your way to Atatürk Boulevard. This lively street is lined with gelaterias, cafés, and tourist shops.

Make sure to pop into the 1832 Agios Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, once the busiest and most beautifully ornamented church in Çeşme.

During the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey (a historical debacle), most of the Greek Orthodox population was forced to leave Çeşme. The Muslim town leaders turned the church into a cultural event space, and today, you’re likely to find local crafts for sale here.

If you’d like a break, stop at the small square under the plane trees for a freshly blended juice and morning pastry.

As you stroll, it may be worth wandering the back streets just to see what you might find. There’s not a lot of charm in the blocky houses, but we were lucky to stumble on a local celebration complete with clarinet and drum.

The Çeşme Waterfront

Head downhill from the church to the water, and then walk south along the promenade.

It’s fun to people-watch along the waterfront, and there’s even a great spot where you can sit on Adirondack chairs out on a pier. But no matter how hot you are — and you’re likely to be quite warm — you may not give in to the temptation to swim.

A Camel Stop at the Kanuni Caravanserai

Before you reach the marina, take a quick detour to admire the Kanuni Caravanserai, a 16th-century trade stopover built on the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent. Merchants and their beasts of burden once stayed in this rectangular stone building, but it has recently been converted into a luxury hotel.

You may not be able to peek in for a look — but if you can, check out the details that might remind you of the region in its Ottoman heyday.

If you really want a reminder of the Turkey of yore, don’t miss this guy as you cross the street to the marina. He is Qaplan I Giray, the Khan of the Throne of Crimea and Desht-i Kipchak in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Lunch by the Sea

Take a stroll along the seaside, where you’ll pass unusual public art …

… and lots of fancy boats in the marina.

Çeşme is a prime spot on the Turkish Riviera, and yachts and flashy sailing vessels stand in proud lines out on the water. You’ll want to have a view of all of this as you sit down for lunch, and there’s no better place for that than Köprü Bistro. We loved this spread there so much that we ate every bite and then returned for more a few days later.

If you want to stop by the boutiques or have a gelato near Köprü, this is the time to do it, since some stores open late in the morning.

Bird Bonus: The Alaçatı Wetland

If you want a bit of nature as you drive from Çeşme to Alaçatı, make a stop at the protected intertidal estuary known as the Alaçatı Wetland of Çeşme — it’s right off the main road between the two towns.

This wetland supports a range of endemic plants and fish, as well as over 130 different kinds of birds, both resident and migratory. The middle of the day is the worst time for birdwatching, but the binocular stand helped us spot resident flamingos and black-winged stilts.

If you love wildlife, there’s more on the birds of Alacati here.

An Afternoon in Alaçatı

Narrow Streets and Stone Houses

Alaçatı is fantastically cute, especially if you make your way past the tourist shops to the narrow, winding back streets.

You’ll want to give yourself time to get lost in Alaçatı (though you can’t get too lost, because it’s not all that big). This is a town of colorful balconies and winding sprays of pink and purple bougainvillea, of inviting arches and decorated doorways.

The streets around the Haci Memis Mosque offer great architecture viewing — and don’t miss the mosque itself, an early-19th-century Ottoman structure with a cut-stone minaret.

Don’t miss the quiet, leafy cemetery just behind.

Alaçatı Cafes and Shops

If you’d like to stop at a very cute cafe for a drink, Sailors will fit the bill. It looks like a hipster joint straight out of Brooklyn, with a graceful garden added on out back, but it’s actually one of the oldest cafes in town.

Art lovers should make sure to stop at nearby Yaahane Art, a gallery with spectacular works, exterior art, and interior space — which includes industrial machinery original to the building.

I found most of the traditional tourist shopping in Alaçatı a bit overwhelming (too many people) and dull (everything quickly started to look the same), but I did love this particular display.

Who doesn’t love a Turkish cat?

Dinner in Alaçatı: Meze and Manti

For dinner in Alaçatı, search out perfect, pillowy manti.

These tiny, handmade dumplings with yoghurt sauce are so special that they’ve been woven into a Turkish legend: apparently, if a woman could make forty manti small enough to fit on a single spoon, she was ready to be a bride.

Along with your manti, make sure to order lots of small, shareable meze, such as garlicky yoghurt dips, smoky eggplant, and piping-hot zucchini fritters. We had a tremendous meal at Homeze Meze Evi, with eight of us squeezed together in the restaurant’s minuscule backyard. I should note that, as of December 2025, Google lists this spot as temporarily closed. I’m hoping that’s just a seasonal fluke. If they do reopen, reservations are key, though they also do a brisk take-out business.

Looking for More to Do After Your One Day in Cesme & Alacati?

• Spend a morning in nearby Izmir with my walking guide.
• Don’t miss the ruins at Ephesus, plus its excellent archaeological museum.
• Check out my guide to the very best places to visit in Turkey, from the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia to the winding streets of historic Antalya.
• If you’re thinking of hopping over to the Greek island of Chios, find out why Mesta will make an excellent base for your stay.