7 replies to this topic

[Cassie]

i am going to cesme for the first time and looking for some advice if that's alright. i am going alone which is daunting but an adventure. i have tried on tripadvisor but they dont help over there so i have been looking for other forums. i have been to turkey 3times before, istanbul, marmaris and kas and now i am going to cesme for 2 weeks and then im going to greece for a further 2 weeks and flying home from athens.

i really hope someone is able to take the time to answer some final questions i have,

i will be staying near the center of town and i want to visit a turkish market (that sells fresh produce,clothes,jewelry) and i heard there is an antique market...any info on those pls .. where they are and on what days?

also how do i get to the new swanky marina? and port alacati?

i will be interested in buying some summer clothes,sunglasses when there, where is the best place to buy them? is there a specific shopping area? (i dont like buying clothes from the markets or tourist aimed stores)

wheres the best place to book a boat trip? and is there only 1 available? or do different boats go to different areas? is there a boat trip that doesnt have loud music, i want peace not a booze cruise?

how busy is it in cesme now-a-days?

how expensive is windsurfing and is alacati the place to do that?

whats is the best restaurant to eat wholesome turkish food that wont break the bank?

thanks so much i just want to be prepared and enjoy cesme to the fullest.

[Abi]

Hi Cassie and welcome to our forum, we do have several members who live in Cesme who should be able to answer your questions. I hope you have a wonderful time

[sunny]

Welcome to our forum Cassie. I will do my best to answer your questions, in return could you go to Meet and Greet and tell us a bit about yourself?

The best market in the area is held in Alacati on a Saturday. You can get a dolmus that starts at the bus station and stops at various places to pick up passenger(if it has room) then goes to Ilica, pronounced ulija, (where one of the best beaches is) then on to Alacati.
There are smaller markets in Cesme on Sunday and Ilica on Thursday.

The Marina in Cesme is easy to find. You walk down the main street , where most of the sort of shops you want are, when you reach the bottom you have the castle on your left, cross the road and go left and the Marina will be on your right a few hundred yards along.
If you carry along the main road there you will come to Ibo's bar by the traffic lights, where most of the expats and holidaymakers meet. Quiz night is Monday at 8.30. Maybe I'll see you there?

Alacati marina is smaller. I'm not sure if there is a dolmus to it, as it's a couple of miles south of the town and the wind surf area which is a bit further along. I'm going to Alacati this morning so I will ask the dolmus people. If not you'll have to take a taxi.

I don't know if these are this years prices but it will give you some idea. There are several wind surf schools there. Wind surf price list

It depends on when you are coming as to how busy Cesme is. If you come before schools finish around the middle of June until the second week in September it will be a lot quieter than if you come in the school holidays when it gets very busy. Weekends are busy even now and if you want a boat tour it's best to go during the week. As far as I know the boats all offer the same trip to Donkey Island and Blue bay with maybe the odd other place thrown in. Unfortunately most of the boats are the double decker variety and they do play loud music. There is one gulet that operates but whether that plays loud music or not I don't know.

Food wise, if you are looking for reasonably priced Turkish food in Cesme, find the Vakif bank, (if you come down the main street from the top about 100 yards down on the right is a taxi rank (all yellow cars)turn right there and you will see the bank on your left) If you walk around the block that the bank is in you will find a few little locantas that serve a variety of Turkish food.

I hope I've covered everything, if not just ask again.

[dande]

Hi again Cassiie,

About 20 minutes ago, I replied in detail to your similar questions on TripAdvsor. I spend some time on this forum, too!

Hope you receive the replies before you fly out here today. Have a great holiday in our lovely town.

[Cassie]

Thank u so much to you both thats a great help i am somewhat more prepared now.

is there a hamam in cesme and would you recommend it?

[sunny]

There is a hamam just along from the castle and karavan saray but I've never been to it so couldn't say if it's good or not, sorry.

Hope you have a great holiday.

[Cassie]

ty, ty. where is the best place to exchange my money in cesme? it is important.

[sunny]

Well, I usually use ING bank in the town square. They used to have the best rates but as I don't do this often I don't know the going rates and haven't compared them for a while.
There is an exchange/Dovis buro at the top of the town opposite the the fountains. Just go in and ask the exchange rates, it's normal to do this.
In ING bank there are several people who speak English.

Will we see you at quiz night tonight at Ibo's?