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District and municipality in İzmir, Turkey
Photo: David Broad, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Çeşme (pronounced chaysh-may) is a beach resort in the Central Aegean region of Turkey. It's at the tip of a peninsula 85 km west of Izmir, but only 10 km from the Greek island of Chios. It's the largest town in a municipality taking in several smaller resorts and villages, which in 2022 had a population of 48,924.
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The Genoese probably built the first stone citadel, but after the town was twice attacked by Venice it was rebuilt in 1508 under Sultan Bayezit II. It was bombarded along with the rest of town during the 1770s war with Russia. The small museum within explains this history, and you can wander round the battlements.
Slick clean place on the waterfront.
Showing its age, but a simple acceptable hotel on the town central plaza.
Pleasant small hotel run by the newer Ridvan. Some street noise.
Smart efficient hotel on Ilıca beachfront, good service, with spa and wellness facilities.
Chain hotel on Ilıca beachfront, cleanliness and maintenance erratic. Two swimming pools and spa.
Charming friendly little pansiyon a short walk to Çiftlik waterfront.
By bus
Buses and dolmuses from Izmir run frequently round the clock, taking 30 min to Çeşme along the fast dual carriageway O-32. The local bus line is Çeşme Seyahat .
By boat
Ferries from the Greek island of Chios are either fast cats taking 20 min or standard vessels taking 45 min. Operators are Erturk Lines, Turyol and Sunrise.
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Chios Island · Regional · JKH
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