Shopping: Cesme’s main street is full of shops

selling a variety of items - leather goods, carpets,

souvenirs, trinkets and jewellery.
Nearby Ilica holds a weekly antique market from

Monday to Friday throughout summer. There is a

fascinating display of old swords, guns, furniture

and paintings from the Ottoman and Selcuk periods.
Alacati hosts a similar bazaar on weekends, while

its regular shops are to be found on the main strip

of the town.

Activities: The Genoese Castle is well worth a visit.

Built in the 14th century, the picturesque castle houses

an interesting museum that exhibits weaponry from

the height of the Ottoman Empire.
Ayios Haralambos is a large Greek basilica near the

town’s shopping district. The space is now used as

a cultural centre. Boat tours are a favourite pastime

here. During summer, daily trips leave from the main

harbour in Cesme. They make stops at several different

islands, including Donkey Island. Lunch is served

on-board. Watersports are predictably popular, too.

Particularly notable are surfing, windsurfing, kayaking

and kitesurfing.

Restaurants: The Cesme Peninsula is famous for

its olives, grapes, melons, artichokes and mastic

(gum used in anything from jam and ice cream to

chewing gum and elastic). There are plenty of good

restaurants in the harbour area, but for a change

of scenery, try heading out of town to Dalyan, just

north of Cesme, a fishing village said to have the

best restaurants in the region around its marina. 

Alternatively, try eating your fish in a converted

windmill on the hill above Alaçati - there are several

to choose from.

Nightlife:  Much of Cesme’s club and bar scene has

moved into the neighbouring towns of Ilica and

Alacati. Yildiz Burnu, made up of waterfront bars

and lounges, is the happening part of Licia.
Acik Hava Tiyatrosu is Cesme’s impressive open-air

theatre. It hosts several Turkish concerts in summer.

Many of the surrounding eateries stay open all

night to accommodate after-show dinners.