Alacati is a charming old Greek town located on Turkey’s Cesme peninsular roughly 1 hour from the city of Izmir.
I first discovered this cute town back in 2011 when my dad and I went on a last minute staycation getaway to Cesme. We jumped on the dolmus to explore the area one day and ended up in Alacati. In those days there wasn’t as much going on as there is now – There wasn’t as many people or restaurants or adorably decorated shop fronts but it was still charming enough for me to want to go back again and again…
When I first started Instagram, right after that trip infact, it was all my holiday photos of Çeşme and Alaçatı that I posted.
Turquoise crystal clear waters and pastel coloured buildings adorned my feed and I fell in love with Cesme and Alacati all over again. It’s been a 6 year love affair and every Summer I visit as often as I can.
According to the history books Alaçati was originally settled by the Ottoman Greeks in the 17th century. The Greek population of Alaçatı was forced to leave in 1914 but most of them returned in 1919 during the Greek administration of Smyrna (Izmir) The majority of the Greeks hastily fled with the retreating Greek Army following Greece’s defeat in the Turkish Independence War, whilst others fled from the shores of Izmir.
First and foremost Alaçatı has always been a popular destination for windsurfers. It’s only in the last couple of years that it’s turned into a must see and be seen holiday resort full of beautiful boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants.
It’s the perfect place to wander around the cute, cobbled streets that are littered with beautifully restored rustic stone houses and bright pink bougainvillea.
Be prepared to snap photos left, right and center because it’s so instagram-able! Check out my other Instagram account dedicated to Cesme and Alacati here ⇢ @Cesme.biz
Dash into little boutique shops and cafes to sip homemade lemonade, relax in one of the trendy beach clubs or if you fancy something more adventurous…try windsurfing at Alacati’s world famous beach, whatever you choose to do it’s so easy to while away the days in this charming town.
When the sun goes down and darkness descends on this cute little village, that’s when it really comes alive.
The cobbled streets are bustling and the atmosphere buzzing with people enjoying the fashionable restaurants and bars.
It’s laid back, relaxed vibe make Alacati an ideal holiday destination and a must visit if you ever come to Turkey….
Here are a couple of my photos that i’ve taken of my favourite Turkish town over the years…
All images © 2017 Jennifer Tuffen
