Ayvalık is a charming coastal town in northwestern Turkey, in the province of Balıkesir, on the shores of the Aegean Sea opposite the Greek island of Lesbos.
It is famous for its ancient architecture, olive groves, islands, clean beaches and cozy atmosphere, which harmoniously combines Turkish and Greek traditions.

Ayvalık is a place where time flows slowly, where you can smell fresh bread, fried fish and olive oil, and the streets are drenched in bougainvillea and history.

📍 Geography and climate

• Region: Turkey's Aegean coast, Balıkesir province

• Population: about 40,000 inhabitants (up to 200,000 in summer)

• Nearest cities: Edremit (45 km), Izmir (150 km), Bursa (250 km)

• Climate: mild Mediterranean.

  • Summer: +30°C, dry and sunny

  • Winter: +10-15°C, rainy

• Special feature: the city is surrounded by more than 20 islands, and olive plantations and vineyards are scattered around it

🏛 History

Ayvalık has ancient roots - its history dates back more than 2,000 years.

• In antiquity, the Greek city of Kydonia (Kydonia) was located here.

• Later the territory was part of the Byzantine Empire, and then the OttomanEmpire.

• Until 1923, it was predominantly Greek, which can be seen in the architecture and culture.

• After the population exchange between Turkey and Greece, the city became Turkish, but the Greek heritage remained in every street.

Today Ayvalık is an open-air museum where stone houses, Orthodox churches and old schools are reminders of centuries of history.

🏙 Main attractions

🏛 Old Town of Ayvalık

• Narrow cobblestone streets, red stone houses, wrought iron balconies and neoclassical doors.

• Over 1000 historic buildings, many of which have been restored.

• Cafes, craft stores and antique stores at every turn.

⛪ Churches and museums

• Taksiyarhis Church is the city's main symbol, now a museum.
  Majestic architecture and unique acoustics.

• Ayvalık Rahmi M. Koç Museum - a branch of the famous Industrial Culture Museum, located in an old church school.

🏝 Ayvalık Islands

• An archipelago of 22 islands, most are uninhabited.

• Cunda Island (Cunda Adası) is the largest and most famous.
  Connected by a bridge to the mainland, it is famous for its cozy streets, Greek taverns and seafood.

• Lale Island (Lale Adası) is a green oasis with beaches and panoramas.

🌅 Şeytan Sofrası ("Satan's Table") observation deck

• A volcanic mountain with a circular panorama of the sea, islands and sunsets.

• A place of legends, where the footprint of the devil's foot is said to have been left.

• One of the most popular sunset views of Turkey.

🏖 Beaches of Ayvalık

Ayvalık offers some of the best beaches on the northern Aegean Sea - clean, calm and uncrowded.

1. Sarımsaklı Plajı - 7km of soft sand, ideal for swimming, water sports and walking.

2. Badavut Beach - more secluded, clear water, soft sand.

3. Patriça Beach (on Junda Island) - green slopes, quiet, crystal clear sea.

4. Altınova Beach - a quiet beach away from the city, with cafes and minimal buildings.

The sea here is unusually clear and the beaches are marked with Blue Flags.

🍽 Cuisine of Ayvalık

Ayvalık is famous for its olive oil, seafood and Aegean cuisine.
The local gastronomy is a symbiosis of Turkish and Greek flavors.

Be sure to try:

• 🐟 Ayvalık tostu - the famous local sandwich with sausage, cheese and sauce.

• 🐙 Octopus salad - octopus salad with lemon and olive oil.

• 🧀 Lor peynirli börek - pie with soft cheese and herbs.

• 🫒 Greens marinated in olive oil and local meze.

• 🍷 Homemade wines and raki are the perfect accompaniment to the dishes.

🫒 Olive oil is the gold of Ayvalık

Ayvalık is considered one of the centers of olive oil production in Turkey.
Thousands of hectares of olive groves surround the city and the local oil is considered one of the best in the world.

• An annual olive oil festival is held

• You can visit ancient oil mills and cold-pressed factories

• Stalls sell olive-based oils, soaps, cosmetics and delicacies

🎭 Atmosphere and lifestyle

Ayvalık is a city of slow rhythm, art and inspiration.
Here one loves to:

• Sitting in cafes by the sea with a cup of Turkish coffee

• Walk along the streets of Junda

• Watch sunsets to the sound of bouzouk

• Buy olive soap and antiques.

Ayvalık has become a favorite destination for Turkish artists, writers and musicians.
It retains the spirit of the past, yet lives a modern life.

🏨 Where to stay

• Cunda Adası - boutique hotels and romantic atmosphere

• Ayvalık Old Town - restored mansions

• Sarımsaklı - beach hotels and family vacations

🚗 How to get there

• ✈️ The nearest airport is Edremit (40 km) or Izmir (150 km).

• 🚗 By car - excellent highway from Izmir and Bursa

• 🚌 Regular buses from Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa

• 🛥 Sea route - ferries and yachts from Greece (Lesbos Island) in summer.

✅ Why go to Ayvalık

✔ Greek architecture and the atmosphere of old Aegea
✔ Olive groves and delicious oil
✔ Clean beaches and clear sea
✔ Cozy streets and the island of Junda
✔ Gastronomy and peace of mind
✔ One of the most photogenic cities in Turkey

📌 Conclusion

Ayvalık is Turkey with a Greek heart and an Aegean soul.
A town where you can forget about time, enjoy the scent of the sea, wine at sunset and life in its simplest, real form.
It is not noisy, not in a hurry, not trying to be a tourist center - it is simply beautiful, sincere and eternal.