At the tip of a peninsular jutting out into the Aegean, Cesme is a relaxed resort dominated by a Genoese castle facing across a narrow strait to the Greek island of Chios. Famous for it's ice cream - made with pine gum or sakiz in Turkish- on warm summer evenings the main street is crowded with Turkish holiday makers. During the day most people head out of town to the sandy coves of Altinkum, 10 km south beyond the village of Ciftlikoy, or the much longer beach at Ilica, 6 km away. Nearby Alacati - once a quaint village of stone house but now surrounded by summer house developments - is one of Europe's top windsurfing spots.
Cesme is famous for it's kumru, toasted sesame seed rolls packed with cheese, tomatoes and salami, which are available from kiosks all over town. For a more refined meal try the excellent fish restaurants of Dalyankoy, 5 kilometres north of Cesme.
Always a popular holiday spot with families from nearby Izmir, in recent years Cesme has become the in place for young, wealthy Turks from Istanbul and Ankara to come to relax and party. Plush bars and nightclubs - which come in and out of vogue - dot the surrounding countryside.
Getting There
Cesme is a 45 minute drive from Izmir airport.
There are buses every 30 minutes from Izmir’s Uckuyular bus station.
There are ferries to the Greek island of Chios, as well as the Italian ports of Venice and Brindisi.