Cesme Streets. Photo Courtesy of OscarKosy.
Located halfway down Turkey’s Aegean coast, Çeşme is a popular sea-side resort town known for its crystal-clear waters, clean beaches, thermal springs and exceptional night life. The city’s name comes from the Persian word for ‘fountain’, referring to the many Ottoman fountains found throughout the city.
In antiquity, Çeşme was known as Cyssus — one of twelve Ionian settlements. Together with the island of Chios, Cyssus once dominated the wine and slave trade in the region. The city eventually fell under the sway of the Byzantine Empire until the Ottomans took over the area in the 14th century. Much of this legacy is evident in the city’s architecture and archaeological sites.
The town itself is a compact collection of souvenir and merchandise vendors interspersed with bars, discos, restaurants and cafes. The central waterfront stretches from the harbor in the south to the public beach in the north, with Çeşme Castle dominating the central point. Built during the reign of Sulatan Bayezid II in 1508, this beautiful castle hosts a museum and also serves as the venue for the International Cesme Music Festival, which is held here during the first week of July every year. Also worth visiting is the Ayios Haralambos Church, a Greek Orthodox Church dating back to 1832, and any visit to Cesme would be incomplete without a visit to the area’s natural hot springs.
There are also some impressive stretches of sand in the area, the three best being Ilıca Bay, Boyalık bay and Paşalimanı. These and other beaches are popular spots for windsurfing and kiteboarding, particularly Alaçatı, located on the southern side of the peninsula.
Another popular activity is the boat trips that leave from the main port each day between 10am and 5pm. Depending on the weather and the agency, you stop at three to four bays. Cesme is also surrounded by small islands that can be visited and explored.
The Greek island of Chios is just opposite Çeşme, about an hour away by ferry. Thanks to frequent ferries, it can be done as a day-trip.