Cesme holidays

It’s all about the Aegean Sea on holidays to Cesme, with a historic harbourfront and nearby windsurf-ready beaches.

Turkey’s little secret

Cesme is the kind of place Turkish locals have been holidaying at for decades – despite flying relatively low on the international radar. It’s a smart resort on the Turkish Riviera with a restored military fortress, natural thermal springs, and a yacht-filled marina. What started off as a windsurfing hotspot has gradually transformed into a stylish weekend beach resort for those living in Izmir, complete with laidback beach clubs and a promenade-ready waterfront.

Watersports central

The Cesme peninsula has long been a haven for watersports like windsurfing. It boasts crisp pool-blue waters and a gentle breeze that’s perfect for beginners. The gentle waves of the Aegean Sea are also popular with paddleboarders and snorkellers – head to Ilica Beach in nearby Alacati for the best choice of rentals, and water fed by thermal springs.

Cesme Castle

The sand-coloured walls of Cesme Castle dominate the resort’s waterfront – an impressive relic of the Ottoman Empire. It dates back to the early 16th century, and you can climb its sturdy stone turrets for sweeping views over the Aegean Sea. There’s a small museum inside, where long-ago wars fought at sea are brought to life through old weaponry, and you can see artefacts from excavations of a nearby Bronze Age settlement.