Ayvalık
Ayvalık is an Aegean town where you walk old stone streets, eat seafood by the harbor and take a boat to Cunda Island.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Ayvalık is a fishing town on Turkey's north Aegean coast, in Balıkesir Province. Its old quarter is built of stone houses, many dating from the town's time as a Greek-speaking community. Olive groves surround the town. Its narrow lanes are best explored on foot. Cafés line the seafront, so the harbor is a natural place to start.
Most visitors come for slow days: walking the stone lanes, eating mezes and fish by the water, and taking boats to Cunda Island. Cunda is reached by a causeway road or by boat. Bergama, home to the ruins of ancient Pergamon on a hilltop, is a common day trip inland. Spring and early autumn suit walking and swimming best, while summer is hot and busy. Plan at least two or three nights if you want time for both the town and the island.
Ayvalık in five
- Stay in town if you do not driveThe old quarter has the lanes, the harbor and the restaurants within a short walk, and minibuses reach Cunda and the beaches. A car matters only if you plan several coves or Bergama in one day.
- Spend an afternoon and evening on CundaCunda (Alibey) island is linked to the mainland by a causeway and is known for seafood restaurants on the water. Go in the afternoon and stay for dinner; it is also an easy overnight if you want quieter evenings.
- Add Pergamon on the way southThe ministry lists the Bergama Acropolis and Asklepion open daily, 8:30 to 17:30. The Aegean MuseumPass (€95, 7 days) covers both and Ephesus, which pays off only if you add several more sites.Aegean pass
- Visit outside August for quiet lanesWeekends and August bring Turkish holidaymakers and traffic to Ayvalık and Cunda. May, June and September keep the sea warm and the harbor calmer.
Things to do in Ayvalık
See all attractions in Ayvalık
Need to know
- Airport
- Edremit Koca Seyit (EDO) is nearest; Izmir (ADB) has more flights
- Getting there
- About 2 hours by road from Izmir; buses from Istanbul and Izmir
- Getting around
- Walking in town; minibuses to Cunda and the beaches
- Best base
- Old town; Cunda for a quieter night
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryCool, wet
- FebruaryCool, wet
- MarchCool
- AprilMild
- MayWarm
- JuneHot, beach
- JulyHot, busy
- AugustHot, busy
- SeptemberWarm sea
- OctoberMild, olives
- NovemberCool
- DecemberCool, wet
Right now in Ayvalık
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Ayvalık
11:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°14°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue18°15°98%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed18°13°83%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Thu14°9°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri13°8°0%Friday: Clear. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat14°9°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun14°7°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 11:17 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 49.94 TRY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Bergama (Pergamon)about 1 hour by carA hilltop acropolis and the Asklepion, both listed by the ministry as open daily.
- Çanakkale and Gallipoliabout 2.5 hours by roadThe strait, ferries and the battlefield sites to the north.Read the guide
- Izmirabout 2 hours by roadThe big Aegean city and the gateway to Ephesus.Read the guide
Before you go to Ayvalık
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Ayvalık, checked
- The ministry lists the Bergama Acropolis and Asklepion open daily, 8:30 to 17:30, with ticket offices closing at 17:00.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- MuseumPass The Aegean: €95 for 7 days, covers Ephesus, Bergama, Aphrodisias, Hierapolis and more than 40 sites. Not valid at night museums.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Ayvalık
The Aegean port and the ruins of Ephesus
Read the guideEphesus travel guideRoman ruins about three hours south
Read the guideGallipoli PeninsulaBattlefields and memorials north across the strait
Read the guideGetting around TürkiyeFlights, buses and rail between regions
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical cover and cancellation terms
Read the guideAll of TürkiyeCities, coasts and entry basics for a Türkiye trip
Read the guideÇanakkaleTroy and the strait, about 2.5 hours north
Read the guideAyvalık FAQ
Is Ayvalık worth visiting?
Yes if you like old stone streets, seafood and low-key beaches. It is a food and wandering town, not a sightseeing one, so pair it with Bergama or Ephesus if you want ruins.
How many days do you need in Ayvalık?
Two nights cover the old town, an afternoon and dinner on Cunda and a beach morning. Add a third night for Bergama or a boat trip around the islands.
Is Cunda Island worth a night?
It is worth an evening at least, for the waterfront restaurants and the quiet after day trippers leave. Stay a night if you prefer a village feel over the busier town.
How do you get to Ayvalık?
Fly to Izmir and take a bus or car north, about 2 hours, or fly to Edremit and drive. Buses also run from Istanbul and across the Aegean; check current schedules.
When is the best time to visit Ayvalık?
May, June, September and October for warm water and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and crowded, and winters are mild but wet and many seasonal places close.