Overview
Alaçatı is a town on Turkey’s Çeşme Peninsula, on the Aegean Sea. It’s known for its beaches, old stone houses and winemaking tradition. In the south, Port Alaçatı Marina is a renowned water sports center, thanks to its constant winds.
Description
To the northwest is the Ottoman Çeşme Castle, built in the early 16th century and now housing historical artifacts. The Greek island Chios is a short ferry ride away. A mere two decades ago this rather unassuming erstwhile Greek village some 10km southeast of Çeşme was known predominantly for its excellent olive oil and world-class windsurfing. But thanks to some forward-thinking hoteliers, who transformed many of its dilapidated taş evleri (stone houses) into high-end boutique accommodation, Alaçatı has become one of Turkey’s hottest destinations for the free-spending middle class. A walk along Kemalpaşa Caddesi in Merkez (the centre) showcases the town's main attractions: world-class boutique hotels, restaurants specialising in Aegean cuisine, sleek cafes and high-end boutiques catering to glamour pusses of both sexes. In the high season (May to September), it's a crowded, often-chaotic and always-chic place to spend a few days.