Alaçati: A Sophisticated Seaside Town
Alaçati (pronounced “Ala-cha-ti”) has a rich history mostly as a result of its Greek past dating back to the 17th century. Though the Greek population of Alaçati was forced to leave beginning in 1914, the remaining Orthodox Greeks in Turkey were removed in a formal population exchange with Greece in 1923. The town was declared as a historical site in 2005, and the traditional Greek stone houses are still well protected and remain on bougainvillea-framed cobblestone streets today.
Alaçati is a small town in the wintertime, with a population of around 10,000 year-round residents. In the summer, though, it becomes a different story. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey, Alaçati bustles with activity starting in spring, hosting thousands of tourists in small stone houses converted into boutique hotels.
Alaçati winters are mild, between 13 to 15°C, and around thirties in the summer. Its strong winds make it an ideal spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing, yet it is shallow enough that even beginners feel safe taking a spin in the blue-green waters. 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. In 2019, there were 169,736 arrivals by foreign nationals to Izmir through Çesme seaport, and 174,379 departures, which is a record. Add to those local tourists and foreign tourists coming in through Istanbul, and the actual number is much higher.
