Discover Ayvalık: Culture, Islands and Nature

When choosing a hotel in Ayvalık, it helps to start by asking which themes you want to shape your stay: the city’s history in the center, museums and island attractions on Cunda, or nature and water experiences in the district. These places differ not only in theme, but also in whether they are in the city center or the wider Ayvalık area.

Churches and city history

Saatli Cami is located in the İsmet-Paşa neighborhood in central Ayvalık. Local Greeks built it as a church in the second half of the 19th century; after 1928, it was converted into a mosque. The former bell tower later became a clock tower—hence the name Saatli Cami. Çınarlı Cami was also built in the second half of the 19th century: Greeks living in Ayvalık built it and converted it into a mosque after the proclamation of the Republic. It is located in the Hamdibey neighborhood in the city center. Hamidiye Cami is in the Sakarya neighborhood and is the only mosque in Ayvalık originally built as a mosque.

The Taksiyarhis Memorial Museum is housed in a church built in 1844 in the İsmet-Paşa neighborhood in the city center. The church was restored by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and opened as a museum in February 2013. The streets around the museum form a cohesive ensemble of neoclassical civic architecture and traditional houses. Ayvalık is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List under the title “Ayvalık Industrial Landscape”; this is a nomination, not a World Heritage inscription.

Alibey (Cunda): Museums and island views

The Taksiyarhis Rahmi M. Koç Museum is located on Alibey (Cunda). It opened in 2014 as Ayvalık’s first private museum, in the historic Taksiyarhis church building. The building is a single-nave, rectangular basilica with a neoclassical-style dome; its walls are made of local Sarımsaktaşı stone. The collection ranges from tin toys and steam-powered mechanical models to strollers and timekeeping devices. The building can therefore be appreciated as a church, while the museum offers a wide variety of objects to explore.

The Sevim and Necdet Kent Library is also on Cunda, on Âşıklar Tepesi, and offers panoramic views of both sides of the island. Two bridges connect Alibey (Cunda) to the mainland. The area’s history extends beyond individual buildings: Alibey Island and the surrounding area of Ayvalık were designated a natural and historic protected area in 1976 for their natural beauty and historic buildings. The protected area covers 17,900 hectares and includes Ayvalık and its surroundings.

Views, nature and cuisine

Cennet Tepesi, located within the city, is a viewpoint from which to take in Ayvalık’s landscape. In Ayvalık Islands Nature Park, which is in Ayvalık district, visitors can hike through woodland and scrubland, observe plants and animals, and take landscape photographs. There are no facilities in the park. This is a practical detail to bear in mind when planning activities there. Şeytan Sofrası is also in the district: the 17-hectare area was designated a wetland of local importance on January 24, 2017. It is suitable for birdwatching and photography in Ayvalık Islands Nature Park.

The cuisine of Ayvalık district includes Ayvalık toast, Lor dessert and Papalina fish. Meze and olive oil dishes are important parts of the regional cuisine because of the area’s seaside location. These specialties offer another way to experience the district, alongside its historic buildings and natural attractions.

Diving and boat trips

Diving is considered a year-round activity in the Ayvalık area. Underwater, visitors can observe red corals, sea snails and more. Day trips by excursion boat to the Ayvalık Islands depart from Cumhuriyet Square in the city center and from Cunda between 10 and 11 a.m. Return times are approximately between 6 and 7 p.m., so the trip takes up much of the day. Times and operators may change, so check the details before making plans. The trips include a typical regional fish for lunch; the offering may vary by operator.

For planning your trip, this distinction is useful: historic buildings and Cennet Tepesi are in the city, while Cunda, the nature park and other excursion destinations are in Ayvalık district.

Discover more destinations: Sındırgı, Erikli Village, Çamdibi Village, Narlı Village, Demirkapı, Kıranköy Village, Susurluk, Pamukçu.

View the broader travel overview: Balikesir.