Cesme Things to Do

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Alas the web site is well out of date but it gives you an idea and at the office in town were big free brochures giving you lots of local info, alas now a bit smaller.
Opening times Monday to Friday 08.30-12.00, 13.00-17.30
Saturday 09.00-12.00,13.00-17.00

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Restored and almost disappointing but the views are worth it. Built in 1508 during the reign of Sultan Beyazit 2nd and displays some artifacts from Erythrai and around in the archaeology museum. Also a small naval museum just near the entrance also, which is probably the best bit.
Entrance is 2ytl for adults.
See travelogues for more pictures and views from the castle.

Many day cruises charge average of 20,000,000 TL and itenrary is similar to below.
Island Hopping:
-Donkey Island (40 wild donkeys on an island) There isn't much to see besides the donkeys.
-Black Island (nice swim)
-Blue Lagoon (nice swim and view)

Lunch:
choice between Chicken/Beef or Fish.
You pay for beverages.

Entertainment:
Live DJ and dancer if you're lucky.

All along the waterfront you will also find Turkish Gulets (wooden sailing boats) touting their daily cruises, mainly to the Donkey Island and taking in swim stops at secluded lagoons where you can cool off and dive in crystal clear Aegean waters. The price for the 8-hour cruise includes lunch, which is typically Barbecued Fish, Bread, Salad, Fruit and wine or a soft drink but meat and chicken dishes are also available.

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If you opt for a cruise, it is advisable to take some Sun protection, a Hat, Sun Oil and Sun Block, preferably waterproof. 8 Hours on board with little or no shade is a lot of exposure to take. During the cruise you will also get a chance to snorkel so if you have the equipment take it along. One final word of caution is please be wary of Sea Urchins. If you have them wear swim shoes, Urchins are painful if you step on them and the spines are difficult to remove. If you do fall foul to an Urchin attack do yourself a favor and seek expert advice.
Budget permitting, you can also hire a Gullet for the day in which case you can cruise the lagoons at your own pace Swim, Scuba, Fish and Relax. The captains know the surrounding waters like the back of their own hands and are able to advise what is of interest

The Castle is now used to house an Exhibition Center / Art Gallery, Restaurant and Bar whilst the Karavan Saray is a Hotel and Restaurant. It’s worth taking a walk around the Castle or even having a meal or drink in there, the place is full of atmosphere and there is a collection of Cannons, Stone Cannon Balls and other weaponry to interest the kids.
For the more adventurous ones, breaking away from the main shopping street you can find a warren of side roads and alleyways to explore and take in the architecture of Old Cesme. You needn’t worry too much about getting lost though, just head towards the sea and you will soon recalibrate your position.

During the day there are plenty of places to visit, in and around the Cesme Peninsular, Historical Villages, Thermal Pools and Secluded Bays. In the larger settlements of Alacati, Dalyan and Ilica you can find shopping and all manner of water sports. Further afield but within easy reach of a day trip you can find Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, Bergama and the cosmopolitan City of Izmir.

I am thinking some of you are going, "What the heck is a beach club?" Well in the last 3-4 years Turkish enterprenuers came up with this idea that are great for many domestic tourists, who wants to be hanging out in a private/isolated beach along with certain type of selected crowd. Since the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger and bigger in Turkey every day, the people with more money are willing to spend more in these certain places, that makes them feel more comfortable. One of the best ways to seperate these two kinds of crowds are to have these beach clubs in locations where you can't access easily. You need to drive there to begin with, and once you get there, you'll usually have to pay a cover charge and go through the friendly & professional bodyguards. One more time - these places are charging excessive amounts of money for drinks and food, so it only attracts people with certain amount of money and are willing to spend it there with no problems. Seaside Beach Club is just one of them.

Down by the harbour, you can arrange a boat trip anytime you like. And I must say that you have to try this! Its very cheap and you get some great food on the trip. You also meet a lot of places where you can swim. The people on the boats are very great and very helpfull. Dont miss it!! Its a must if you go to Cesme!