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Çeşme is a seaside town at the tip of the peninsula of the same name, about 94 km west of İzmir, with an early 16th-century castle in the centre and a ring of very different resorts around it: Alaçatı, Ilıca, Dalyan and Boyalık. Ferries run from its port across to the Greek island of Chios (Sakız in Turkish), so many visitors combine a few days on the peninsula with a hop to the island.
Short answer
- Where to stay: Çeşme town if you want to walk to the ferry; Ilıca or Boyalık for long beaches and calmer water; Alaçatı for stone houses and evenings out. See where to stay in Çeşme.
- Top three sights: Çeşme Castle and its archaeology museum, Alaçatı’s stone houses and windmills, and Ilıca beach.
- Ferry port: Chios ferries leave from Ulusoy Port in Çeşme, where Ertürk Lines has its port office. Ertürk requires check-in at the port 1.5 hours before departure.
- How many days: 2–3 days covers the town, Alaçatı and a beach day; add a day before or after the crossing if you are going to Chios.
- Best months: June to September for swimming; May and late September to October for sightseeing with fewer people. Alaçatı’s herb festival takes place in April.
Things to do
Çeşme Castle and Archaeology Museum
According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the castle was first built by the Genoese and given its present form in 1508 under Sultan Bayezid II (some sources give 1502 as the start of construction). The walled area of about 11,000 m² now holds the Çeşme Archaeology Museum, with finds from ancient Erythrai and the Bronze Age settlement at Bağlararası, a collection of amphorae, and a display on the 1770 naval Battle of Çeşme inside the Umur Bey Tower. The municipality notes that the castle also hosts summer festival events and concerts.
As of October 2026, the ministry’s museum page lists winter hours (1 October to 1 April) of 08:30 to 17:30, with the ticket office closing at 17:00, and summer hours of 08:30 to 21:00. The same page gives the entry fee for non-Turkish visitors as €6. An older municipality page lists different hours and a Monday closing, so check the official museum page before you go. We could not confirm on the ministry page whether the Müze Kart pass is accepted.
The caravanserai and the Hasan Pasha statue
The municipality’s history page says the caravanserai next to the castle was built in 1528 under Süleyman the Magnificent and now operates as a hotel. In the square in front of the castle stands the statue of Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha, shown with his lion. This square is the town’s meeting point, and the seafront promenade and the main shopping street start here.
Ayios Haralambos Church
According to Visit İzmir, this Greek Orthodox church was built in 1832 and restored by Çeşme Municipality in 2012. It now works as a cultural centre for exhibitions, concerts and talks, and visitors also come to see its frescoes. It fits easily into a short walk between the castle and the shopping street.
Tekke beach
The municipality’s beach list describes Tekke as a bay in central Çeşme with calm, shallow, clear water. It is the closest place for a swim on ferry day if you do not want to travel far.
Alaçatı
Alaçatı lies about 10 km from Çeşme town. It is best known for its Ottoman-era stone houses, with pale stone walls and wooden doors, and for its windmills from the 1800s, which stand in the open and are free to visit. Steady, strong winds have also made Alaçatı a windsurfing centre; the municipality describes Çark beach, on the south side of the peninsula, as windy all year with surf schools on the shore. A Çeşme–Ilıca–Alaçatı minibus (dolmuş) runs from Çeşme town.
Ilıca
The municipality calls Ilıca the peninsula’s main resort area. Its beach is about 2 km long, with wide white sand, a Blue Flag, and shallow water for roughly the first 100 metres from the shore. The municipality also highlights Ilıca’s thermal water. It is one of the easiest beaches on the peninsula for families with young children.
Boyalık Bay and Ayayorgi
Boyalık is a bay about 5 km long, according to the municipality. Within it, Ayayorgi (listed by the municipality as Sakin Deniz, or Aya Yorgi) is described as the calmest part of the bay because it is sheltered from the northern winds, with facilities along the shore. On days when the north wind is strong, it is a good place to look for flatter water.
Dalyan
Dalyan is a small harbour village on the north coast, 4 km from Çeşme according to the municipality, known for its harbour, places to stay and fish restaurants. Kocakarı beach at the village entrance and the windier Ali Bostan beach are in the same area.
Altınkum and Pırlanta
On the southwest of the peninsula, about 10 km from Çeşme, Altınkum is a partly sheltered bay with fine golden sand; the municipality notes that its water is very cold. Nearby Pırlanta beach has steady wind and regular waves, which make it popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Erythrai (Ildırı) ancient city
The İzmir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism places Erythrai in the village of Ildırı, about 20 km northeast of Çeşme. One of the Ionian cities, it has a partly excavated theatre on the slope of the acropolis, remains of a temple of Athena on the summit, and traces of a city wall about 5 km long. Some of the finds are on display in the museum inside Çeşme Castle. The municipality also mentions natural beaches and campsites around Ildırı Bay.
Şifne
About 5 km northeast of Ilıca, Şifne (also called Paşa Limanı) is described by the municipality as a bay with hot springs, campsites and holiday-home communities. It is a quieter alternative to Ilıca.
Getting to the ferry port
Ferries to Chios leave from Ulusoy Port (Ulusoy Liman) in Çeşme. Ertürk Lines’ contact page lists its Çeşme Port Office at Atadağ Caddesi No:2, Ulusoy Liman; the company also has a head office and a marina office in town. The port is visible across the bay from the main square, and one travel guide puts the walk around the bay from the square at about 15 minutes. With heavy luggage, a taxi is easier.
Check-in: Ertürk Lines’ FAQ says check-in at its counter in the port is compulsory 1.5 hours before departure, and the same applies to passengers travelling with a vehicle.
Documents: Ertürk’s FAQ notes that you need a valid passport to enter Chios. Non-Turkish travellers should check Schengen entry rules for their own nationality before travelling.
Tickets: You can book on Ertürk’s website or at its offices, including the port office. For timetables and fares, see our Çeşme to Chios ferry guide.
Parking: We could not confirm parking arrangements at the port on the operator’s own pages. A ferry information site says there is a paid car park with short- and long-term options; if you plan to leave a car for several days, ask Ertürk’s port office about location and price before you travel.
Taking a car: Ertürk says Green Card insurance is compulsory for taking a vehicle out of Turkey, and that passengers who arrive without it may lose their ticket. If the car is not yours, you need a notarised power of attorney translated into English. See taking a car to the Greek islands.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is İzmir Adnan Menderes. One travel guide puts it about 90 km from Çeşme, or roughly 60 to 85 minutes by car. A third-party timetable site lists a Havaş airport bus to Alaçatı and Çeşme bus station; as of October 2026 it shows a journey of about 100 minutes and a fare of 600 TL. We could not open Havaş’s own page to confirm this, so check with Havaş before you fly. Taxis and private transfers are the other options.
By road: The İzmir–Çeşme motorway runs all the way to the peninsula; the Alaçatı exit is the last one before the motorway ends in Çeşme. One travel guide puts the drive from İzmir at under an hour.
By bus: Regular buses run from Üçkuyular (Fahrettin Altay) in İzmir to Çeşme bus station, and most also call at İzmir’s main bus station, where you can connect to Selçuk (for Ephesus), Kuşadası and Bodrum. Çeşme bus station is on the İzmir road, about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the main square. Minibuses link it with Ilıca and Alaçatı.
For a rough budget for the whole trip, see trip cost.
A day before or after the crossing
If you are taking a morning ferry, spending the previous day in Çeşme town makes the early check-in easy. A sample plan:
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Çeşme Castle and the Archaeology Museum, then the caravanserai and Ayios Haralambos Church |
| Midday | A swim at Tekke beach, or a short minibus ride to Ilıca beach |
| Afternoon | Minibus to Alaçatı for the stone-house streets and the windmills |
| Evening | Back to Çeşme for a walk along the seafront and an early night |
| Next morning | At Ulusoy Port at least 1.5 hours before departure for check-in |
Coming back from Chios, reverse the plan: if you arrive on an afternoon sailing, spend the evening in Alaçatı and the next day at a beach before heading to the airport.
When to go
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism describes Çeşme’s climate as hot and Mediterranean, and exposed to northern winds. The wind takes the edge off summer heat but can make some beaches choppy; sheltered spots such as Ayayorgi are calmer on windy days.
- June to September: The swimming season and the busiest months on the peninsula.
- April and May: Cooler sea but good for sightseeing. The 15th Alaçatı Herb Festival (Ot Festivali), hosted by Çeşme Municipality, took place on 17–20 April 2026.
- October to March: Off-season; the castle museum switches to winter hours from 1 October.
A ferry information site says Çeşme–Chios sailings run all year, peaking in summer. Winter services may be less frequent, so check the ferry season calendar and the operator’s current timetable. For other departure points along the coast, see the ferry map.
FAQ
Which port does the Çeşme to Chios ferry leave from?
Ferries leave from Ulusoy Port in Çeşme. Ertürk Lines’ port office is at Atadağ Caddesi No:2, Ulusoy Liman.
How early should I arrive for the ferry?
Ertürk Lines requires check-in at its counter in the port 1.5 hours before departure, for foot passengers and vehicles alike.
Can I park at Çeşme port while I visit Chios?
A ferry information site mentions a paid car park at the port, but we could not confirm this on the operator’s own pages. Ask Ertürk’s port office before you travel if you plan to leave a car for several days.
How do I get from İzmir Airport to Çeşme?
By taxi, private transfer or airport bus. A third-party timetable lists a Havaş bus to Alaçatı and Çeşme bus station taking about 100 minutes as of October 2026; confirm times and fares with Havaş.
Is Alaçatı worth visiting from Çeşme?
Yes, if you like historic streets: it is about 10 km away, known for its Ottoman-era stone houses, its 1800s windmills and its windsurfing. A Çeşme–Ilıca–Alaçatı minibus runs from Çeşme town.
How much is entry to Çeşme Castle?
As of October 2026, the ministry’s museum page lists €6 for non-Turkish adults; under-8s who are not Turkish citizens enter free.
Opening hours and prices change; check the official source before you go.
Sources
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism – İzmir Çeşme Museum (accessed Oct 2026)
- Çeşme Municipality – Historical tourism (accessed Oct 2026)
- Çeşme Municipality – Public beaches (accessed Oct 2026)
- İzmir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism – Erythrai (Ildırı) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism – Çeşme (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit İzmir – Ayios Haralambos Church (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk Lines – Contact (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk Lines – FAQ (accessed Oct 2026)
- Feribot Seferleri – Çeşme port (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turkey Travel Planner – Çeşme and Alaçatı transport (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turkey Travel Planner – Alaçatı (accessed Oct 2026)
- e-Yaşam Rehberi – Airport to Çeşme Havaş timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- Medyascope – Alaçatı Herb Festival 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
