Ayvalık is a town in Balıkesir province on Türkiye’s northern Aegean coast, set on a bay ringed by olive groves, stone houses and islands. We made our video chapter by chapter for first-time visitors: location and climate, getting there, where to stay, food, the sea and sightseeing. This article follows the same order; you can jump to the matching parts of the video from the “Video stops” list above.
Location and climate: What makes Ayvalık different?
The Bay of Ayvalık holds 22 islands of various sizes, known as the Ayvalık Islands. Most are inside a national park and closed to development; the inhabited and most-visited island is Cunda, officially Alibey Island, which is linked to the mainland by road.
Summers are hot, but breezes from the Kaz Mountains usually keep evenings pleasant. Winters are mild and rainy. As we emphasize in the video, early June and September are the most balanced times if you want to swim and sightsee without wilting in the heat. If you’re coming just to explore and eat, spring and fall offer an Ayvalık free of crowds.
How do I get to Ayvalık?
The nearest airports are Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport in Edremit and Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, which has more flight options. Ayvalık is about two to two and a half hours by road from Izmir. To compare flights: flights to Izmir and Edremit.
There are direct buses to Ayvalık from major cities such as Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara. From Istanbul, taking the ferry to Bandırma and continuing by road is another popular option. With your own car you can easily get around between central Ayvalık, Cunda and Sarımsaklı; without one, there are dolmuş minibuses and municipal buses.
In summer, ferries run from Ayvalık harbor to the Greek island of Lesbos (Lesvos). Sailing days change every year, and since Lesbos is in the Schengen Area, visa requirements depend on your passport; check with the ferry operators and official sources.
Where to stay
As we explain in the accommodation chapter of the video, your choice in Ayvalık mostly depends on the kind of vacation you want:
- Central Ayvalık: Guesthouses and boutique hotels among the stone houses, within walking distance of the bazaar, harbor and restaurants.
- Cunda: Sunset views, fish restaurants and quieter evenings.
- Sarımsaklı and Badavut: Beachfront hotels on long sandy beaches; the most practical choice for a beach-focused trip.
To compare places to stay: hotels in Ayvalık.
What to eat in Ayvalık
Ayvalık’s cuisine revolves around olive oil. Top of the local specialties is the loaded Ayvalık toast, a toasted sandwich stuffed with just about everything. Add olive-oil-braised wild greens and meze, Cunda’s fish restaurants and, for dessert, lokma (fried dough in syrup) and mastic-flavored sweets to your list. Taking home olives, olive oil and olive oil soap is an almost essential part of any visit.
Tip: Instead of restaurants on the touristy waterfront, the esnaf lokantası (tradesmen’s restaurants) and breakfast spots in the back streets of the bazaar are cheaper and more local.
Where to swim
- Sarımsaklı Beach: Miles of fine sand and shallow water; the easiest choice for families with kids.
- Badavut Beach: A continuation of Sarımsaklı, a bit quieter and more natural.
- Cunda’s coves: Smaller, calmer coves around the island.
Keep in mind that the sea in Ayvalık is cooler than in the southern Aegean; expect a refreshing swim even in July and August.
Things to see
Şeytan Sofrası (“the Devil’s Table”), on the hill above Sarımsaklı, is a viewpoint over the bay and islands. Ayvalık’s most famous sunset is watched here; it gets crowded on summer evenings, so arrive a little before the sun goes down.
On Cunda, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum, housed in the former Taxiarchis Church, is one of the island’s most important cultural stops. In central Ayvalık, the historic Taksiyarhis Church and the Saatli Mosque are easy to add to your route as you wander the stone streets.
Beyond the sea and culture:
- Island-hopping boat tours: The easiest way to see the islands and coves of the national park from the water. To compare tours: boat tours in Ayvalık.
- Cycling: You can rent a bike on Cunda and ride the island’s quiet roads.
- The Kaz Mountains: A day trip toward the Gulf of Edremit for nature lovers.
For mobile data during your stay: eSIM options for Türkiye.
A sample two-day plan
Day 1: A morning walk through the stone streets of central Ayvalık and an Ayvalık toast at the bazaar; swimming at Sarımsaklı or Badavut in the afternoon; sunset at Şeytan Sofrası.
Day 2: A morning island-hopping boat tour; in the afternoon, head to Cunda for the Rahmi M. Koç Museum and the island’s back streets; fish dinner on Cunda.
This plan covers almost all the main spots you see in the video and leaves some downtime each day.
Budget tips
- July and August are the most expensive months; the same accommodation is usually cheaper in early June or September.
- Choosing public beaches over beach clubs cuts your daily spending considerably.
- You can save on transportation by combining Şeytan Sofrası and Cunda in the same evening.
Final word
Even on a short getaway, Ayvalık shows off its islands, beaches, food and sunsets. Watch the video first, then bring this guide along. For a shorter list of things to do in Ayvalık, check out the video “10 Things You Have to Do in Ayvalık” on our channel.
