Alaçati (pronounced "Ala - Cha - Ti") is the most picturesque small town just a hop, skip and jump away from Izmir on the west coast of Turkey. The beautiful cobblestone streets of Alaçati are line with cafes, boutique stores and galleries
This charming town is a hidden gem that most people haven't heard of, or if they have heard of it, the 1st time visitors will leave Alaçati off their Turkey itinerary.
HOW TO GET TO ALAÇATI
Izmir to Alaçati : The closest airport to Alacati is in Izmir – Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (airport code: ADB) – the drive from Izmir to Alacati will take you approximately 45 minutes.
You can then rent a car from ALAMO and get here.
Parking in Alacati is next to impossible, but double check with your hotel if there is free on-site or street parking nearby as you will mostly be walking around the old town on foot.
We had taken a road trip from Istanbul to Alaçati. The route is very scenic and totally worth the hours you spend driving or just sitting besides. You can spot windmills and olive farms throughout the way.
BEST TIME TO VISIT ALAÇATI
SPRING (March to May) is a good time to go to Alacati because the weather is nice and relatively dry. It is a great time to be outdoors and exploring the old city because the sun is not as bright as in summer.
SUMMER (June to September) are the driest months of the year. Temperatures go up and the weather is perfect for beach. That said, this is also a busy time for Alacati. Prices go up and it is hard to get the best deals on stay and tours.
WHERE TO STAY IN ALAÇATI
Alacati is cool. It’s hip, stylish and chock-full of boutique hotels. We were lucky to snag one of the few rooms at one of the best new boutique hotels in Alacati, GAIA ALACATI.
The design is flawless – chic yet cozy, with plenty of warm earthy tones. One of the best parts of the small boutique property is the enclosed internal courtyard-slash-restaurant where you can get your fix of mouthwatering food and drinks. Make sure you try their stunning breakfast spread – believe me when I say that it tastes even better than it looks.
There are also lots of other boutique hotels in Alaçati that you can stay in.
WHAT TO DO IN ALAÇATI
1. EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN
Quaint, cobbled streets run through this Instagrammable town in every possible direction. Old stone houses draped with hot pink bougainvillea dot every lane. Pastel-colored doors and window shutters make Alcati’s homes absolutely photogenic. Add to that numerous cozy, alfresco cafes and you almost feel like you’ve arrived in Greece.
2. SPOT SOME STREET ART
Not everyone tells you this, but the streets of Alacati have an amazing collection of art. From cute little pandas, flowers, and birds, to interesting representations of food – you’ll find all kinds of street art here. Just wander the alleys and spot your favorite piece.
3. SEE THE WINDMILLS
Perhaps, the most historic thing to do in Alaçati is to visit the town’s windmill park. 4 stone windmills stand tall at the highest point in the city center. They were built in 1850 and have become the symbol of Alacati today.
The Aegean coast of Turkey gets strong gusts of wind, almost throughout the year. Having windmills in this area is quite natural. Even though these 4 windmills don’t function now, you can see several more modern ones right across the historic windmill park of Alacati.
4. HAVE LUNCH AT A CHARMING CAFÉ
After all the climbing and walking around city center, I am sure you are hungry and looking for a good lunch. Step into one of Alacati’s many al-fresco cafes and dig into some authentic Aegean cuisine.
You’ll find an abundance of tomatoes, olives, beans, eggplants, and of course, the sun and the sea in your food at Alacati.
Now that your lunch is done, how about some icecream and bombas?
Alacati has a number of dondurma (Turkish ice cream) shops that serve delicious local flavors. You’ll find a couple on every street. They have painted walls, cute furniture, and good looking (as well as the best-tasting) desserts. A couple of the most popular dessert places are DONDURMINO GELATO, YOMUMU AND ALAKOY and for Bomba you can go to KUMRUCU KALE FIRIN AND CAFÉ
BOMBA is a local dessert of Alaçati that is only found in Izmir. It is made up of bread stuffed with loads of chocolate. IT IS CRAZY. BELIEVE ME!
But unfortunately I don't have a good picture of Bomba. But ill put it up anyways. Sorry about that though!
5. HEAD TO THE BEACH
The best part about Alacati is that it is extremely close to the coast. Therefore, there are several white sand beaches nearby. You can literally spend a day just beach hopping.
Some of the most popular beaches nearby are Delikli Koyu, Spiaggia Grande, Ilica Beach, and Wyndy Beach.
We had time to check just one. So we headed to DELIKLI KOYU, to check out the white limestone cliffs and rocky beach. Also it is less popular amongst the tourists. So less crowded.
And when we reached. We were amazed at the beauty!
PRO TIP : If you’re headed to Delikli Koy, bring your own towel as there are no changing facilities, and make sure you have sufficient ground clearance on your vehicle and avoid the sand dunes so your car doesn’t get stuck.
6. SHOP FOR SOUVENIRS
Wrap up your day in Alacati with some souvenir purchases from Turkey. Pretty souvenir stalls line every Alacati street. They stock everything including ceramics, keychains, wall hangings, handmade soaps, evil eyes, and dried herbs and flowers.
ALAÇATI TRAVEL TIPS
1. Alacati gets super hot during the day even in early spring and fall. Be sure to carry water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and your hat.
2. Do not forget to get your swimming kit. The beaches and the pools at the hotels are gorgeous and so inviting.
3. Get a good pair of walking shoes because there’s a lot to explore on foot. The more you walk, the more you’ll see in Alacati.
' fill='%23359391'%3e %3cpath d='M46.1538462%2c43.5714286 L41.5%2c50 L36.8461538%2c43.5714286 L36.8670256%2c43.5714286 C36.3173077%2c42.7142857 36%2c41.6851429 36%2c40.5714286 C36%2c37.4854286 38.4535641%2c35 41.5%2c35 C44.5464359%2c35 47%2c37.4854286 47%2c40.5714286 C47%2c41.6851429 46.6826923%2c42.7142857 46.1329744%2c43.5714286 L46.1538462%2c43.5714286 Z M41.4294872%2c39 C40.6150641%2c39 39.9487179%2c39.675 39.9487179%2c40.5 C39.9487179%2c41.325 40.6150641%2c42 41.4294872%2c42 C42.2439103%2c42 42.9102564%2c41.325 42.9102564%2c40.5 C42.9102564%2c39.675 42.2439103%2c39 41.4294872%2c39 L41.4294872%2c39 Z' id='Location-white'%3e%3c/path%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
