Ayvalık Travel Guide
Everything you need to plan a trip to Ayvalık — a northern Aegean town of 19th-century Greek stone houses, olive groves and seafood, facing the Greek island of Lesbos across a narrow strait.
Ayvalık is a coastal town in Balıkesir province on Turkey’s northern Aegean shore, built almost entirely in the 19th century by the Greek Orthodox community that lived here as Kydonies until the 1923 population exchange. That history is still visible everywhere: rows of stone town houses with wooden shutters, narrow lanes running down to the harbour, and former churches such as the clock-towered Saatli Camii, converted to a mosque after the exchange but recognisably built as a Greek Orthodox church. Across a short causeway sits Cunda (Alibey Island), a smaller version of the same story, with its own stone streets, waterfront fish restaurants and the deconsecrated Taksiyarhis Church, now used as a cultural space.
The hills around both the town and the island are covered in olive groves, and Ayvalık’s olive oil and olive-oil soap are a long-standing local industry, not a tourist prop. The coastline adds its own draws: Şeytan Sofrası, a viewpoint above the bay, is the place locals go for sunset over the scatter of small islands offshore, while Sarımsaklı, a few kilometres south, is a long sandy beach that turns Ayvalık into a straightforward summer beach base as well as a historic town. In summer, a passenger ferry crosses to the Greek island of Lesbos, visible from the shore on a clear day.
This guide covers the top things to do in Ayvalık and on Cunda, the best time of year to visit, how to get there, and where to base yourself between the old town, the island and the beach.
Top things to do in Ayvalık
Spend a morning walking Ayvalık’s old town, where 19th-century Greek stone houses line narrow streets down to the harbour, and step inside Saatli Camii, the clock-towered former Ayios Yannis church. Cross the causeway to Cunda (Alibey Island) for a slower pace, its own stone lanes, and a row of harbourfront seafood restaurants; the former Taksiyarhis Church there now hosts exhibitions rather than services. Drive or take a boat trip out to Şeytan Sofrası for the classic sunset view over Ayvalık’s bay and its cluster of small islands. Try the local ayvalık tostu, a grilled sandwich the town is known for, and look out for cold-pressed olive oil and olive-oil soap, made from the groves that cover the surrounding hills. If you want a straightforward beach day, Sarımsaklı’s long sandy shore is a short drive south.
When to visit Ayvalık
Summer, roughly June to September, brings warm, swimmable weather and the busiest version of both the old town and Sarımsaklı beach. Spring, particularly April and May, is quieter and mild, good for walking the stone lanes and visiting Cunda without the summer crowds. Autumn brings the olive harvest through October and November, an interesting time to see the groves at work, with pleasant if cooler weather. Winter is calm and low-key, with many seasonal restaurants and beach venues closed.
How to get to Ayvalık
The nearest airport is Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (EDO), around 40–50 km away, putting Ayvalık roughly 40–50 minutes from the terminal by road. Because EDO has fewer route options than İzmir or Istanbul, many travellers instead fly into İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) and drive north for about two hours, or arrive from Istanbul by road. However you come in, there is no airport within the town itself, so a transfer of some length is part of the trip.
Where to stay in Ayvalık
The old town is the choice for travellers who want the stone-house architecture, the harbour and Saatli Camii within walking distance, with restaurants and cafés along the same streets. Cunda, across the causeway, offers a quieter, more island-paced stay with its own seafood-restaurant strip, at the cost of a short crossing back to the mainland town. Sarımsaklı, a few kilometres south, suits a straightforward beach holiday with a long sandy shore, and works well for families who want swimming as the main activity alongside day trips into Ayvalık’s old town.
Know before you go
Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (EDO) is the nearest airport, about 40–50 minutes from Ayvalık by road.
İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is a common alternative, roughly two hours’ drive north.
The old town’s 19th-century Greek stone houses and Saatli Camii, a former church, are the signature sights.
Cunda (Alibey Island), reached by a causeway, has its own stone lanes and harbourfront seafood restaurants.
Şeytan Sofrası is the classic viewpoint for sunset over Ayvalık’s bay and its scattered islands.
Sarımsaklı, a few kilometres south, is a long sandy beach for a straightforward summer stay.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ayvalık worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for travellers who want 19th-century Greek stone-house architecture, olive groves and seafood on the northern Aegean coast, combined with an island crossing to Cunda and a sandy beach at Sarımsaklı, all in one area.
What is Ayvalık known for?
Its 19th-century Greek Orthodox stone-house architecture, olive oil production from the groves in the surrounding hills, Cunda (Alibey Island) across the causeway, and the Şeytan Sofrası viewpoint over the bay.
How do you get to Ayvalık?
The nearest airport is Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (EDO), about 40–50 minutes away by road. Many travellers instead fly into İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) and drive roughly two hours north, or arrive by road from Istanbul.
Is Cunda the same place as Ayvalık?
No. Cunda, also known as Alibey Island, is a separate island connected to Ayvalık by a causeway, with its own stone streets and seafood restaurants. Most visitors treat the two as a single day out.
What is the best time to visit Ayvalık?
June to September gives the warmest, most swimmable weather, though the busiest. April–May is quieter and mild for walking the old town and Cunda, while the olive harvest through October–November adds a seasonal interest of its own.
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