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AYVALIK-LIMAN-BANNER
General / History Places to See Where to Stay What to Eat Transportation / Telephones

GENERAL : Ayvalık, a district of Balıkesir, is a tourism center with beautiful coasts surrounded green olive grove, pure sea water and beaches, and contains historical and archeological values.

HISTORY : Various archeological finds and excavations in the region prove that Ayvalık and its environs were inhabited as early as the preistoric ages. The islets in the Ayvalık Bay (Ayvalık Körfezi) were also used for settlement purposes, together with Ayvalık, during the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. The constant threat posed by piracy in the region during the previous ages did not allow the islet settlements to grow larger and only Cnda (formerly Nesos) could maintain a higher level of habitation as it is the largest and the closest islet to the mainland. After the Byzantine period, the region came under the rule of Anatolian Turkish Beylik of Karesi in the 13th century and was later annexed to the territory of the Ottoman beylik (principality), which was to become the Ottoman Empire later. Until 1922, Ayvalık had a large Greek population. The town was invaded by the Greek Army on 29 May 1919, and taken back three years later by Turkish Armies on 15 September 1922. After the Turkish Independence War, the Greek population in the town was replaced by a Muslim population from Greece under the 1923 agreement for the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations. Most of the new population that replaced the former Greek community were Muslim Turks from Mytilene, Crete and Greek Macedonia. One could still hear Greek spoken in the streets till recently. Many of the town's mosques are Greek Orthodox churches that have been converted.

CLIMATE : The Maritime climate dominates in Ayvalık. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are tepid and rainy.


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WHERE TO VISIT

AYVALIK HOUSES

Ayvalık houses, famous for their doors, facades, door knockers, windows, woodwork and masonry workmanship are well worth seeing as they carry beautiful traces of history.

DEVIL'S TABLE (Şeytan Sofrası)

At this place which overlooks a forest you can see a part that looks like a table. Because there is a large foot trace here which is said to belong to the devil, the place is called DEVIL'S TABLE.

SARIMSAKLI BEACHES

5km from Ayvalik, beach lovers can find a kilometer long white sandy beach. Among Turkey's innumerable beautiful beaches, SARMISAKLI is no doubt one of the most popular ones with some kms of gorgeous white sand and calm water. Sadly, observative eyes would immediately notice the disturbing residential development in the area. It goes without saying, you can find all kinds of sports and entertainment facilites such as water skiing, clubs where you would be served food and drinks etc. BADAVUT is among beaches worth seeing as well.

This small town sleeps till late afternoon. Then all little stands and shops get open and the town doesnt look sleepy anymore. One can hear local Turkish music everywhere... an done can see people selling everything including cheap clothes, jewlery, shoes... and all kinds of food and drinks

THE ALİ BEY (CUNDA) ISLAND

Cunda Island is situated near Ayvalik, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. This old town was established by the Aeolian tribe. On Cunda Island (also called Alibey Island) and in Ayvalik you can find a lot of old houses, Monasteries and churches which were built by greeks before they left this place after the First World War.

The town of Cunda is as close as it gets to "Greek island" atmosphere in Turkey. The area around the town is spoiled by new housing colonies, but the back (north) part of the island remains untouched. Two timeless little hamlets here bear the common name Patrica. A path leads from the second of the two to a deserted cove where a derelict Greek monastery -- formerly St Demetrios of the Moonlight-- stands by clear sea. It is an evocative site at full moon.

You can reach CUNDA by boat or car from AYVALIK. One can find nice restaurants serving delicious Turkish meze and fresh fish here. Cunda however is known to be quite a dear place. So it is recommended to inquire well about prices in all situations.

For those keen on shopping souvenirs, elegant shops selling attractive textile and handmade jewelry products are available.

As to historical places Taksiyarhis Greek Orthodox Church is among sites worth seeing.

DIVING - FISHING - WATER SPORTS - SAILING

In AYVALIK, one can do all kinds of sports including diving, windsurfing and sailing.

This resort could be a true paradise for "fishing lovers" with a wide variety of marine creatures, plants, sponges and abundant fish. You can fish any where on the coast or else you can also go on a fishing boat.

For those who are interested in diving there are facilities to exercise this sport in the depths of the Aegean Sea. There is also a marina offering all kinds of services in AYVALIK.

SHOPPING

In Ayvalık, you can shops from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm and also at lunch break. Among items worth taking back home are carpets, gold and leather

DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT

Visiting Ayvalık houses,
Wandering around Devil's Table.
Going Cunda Island and seeing churches
Swimming at Sarımsaklı.
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WHERE TO STAY

ETAP ALTINEL BÜYÜK BERK
AYVALIK BEACH HOTEL
ALEYNA APART OTEL
ALTAY PANSİYON
MAVİ PANSİYON
ALİ GÜR APART
HOTEL APART BİLLURCU
KELEBEK PANSİYON
ÖZAK OTEL
AYVALIK HOLIDAY HOUSE

 

ALTAY-PANSIYON

WHAT TO EAT

You can have cool salads with main meal. You can have salad of everything. They use vegetables like cabage, corn, tomatoe, paprika, olives, rice, mashrooms, green pea... Then they add some mayo or acid double cream, or some fish, eggs, sliced sausages or chicken breasts. The food is rich and you can have open buffet in hotels.

AYVALIK TOAST

Ayvalik toast is very famous. You can even see places which serve this toast in Istanbul. It is really special because of its bread and cheese. The bread is a local product. It consists of big slices baked together in fire of wood. It has a particular smell. The cheese is a local product, too. A mixed Ayvalik toast contains cheese, sausage, salami, sucuk (a product like chorizo, but from veal), fresh tomatoes, ketchup and mayonnaise. First, bread is heated with cheese and sucuk inside. Salami and sausage is cooked separately. After the toast is cooked, they open it and add salami, sausage, slices of tomatoes and ketchup&mayonnasie. You can eat Ayvalik toast in every café or tea garden here. Do not forget to order a tea or sage tea as well

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HOW TO GET THERE

It is possible to arrive to Ayvalık from Balıkesir and other cities by the road.
Bus Station Tel: (+90-266) 312 11 00

Turkey's primary international airports, Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, and Dalaman are connected by many scheduled airlines all over the world. Turkish Airlines (THY), Turkish State Railways and a number of intercity bus services are the main modes of travel. Though somewhat crowded, the local buses, share-cabs and minibuses are dependable. Dolmus (share taxis) are cheapest, and they take and drop passengers at different places daily from 7 AM till midnight depending on itinerary. Taxis (all yellow cars with controlled taximeter), more expensive than Dolmus, are readily available everywhere.

During summer, ferry service is available for the Greek island Lesvos. Most vacation passengers prefer other Greek-Turkish ferries from Çesme to Chios, Kusadasi to Samos, Bodrum to Kos, or Marmaris to Rhodes.