North Aegean road trip: a 5-day route from Bozcaada to Ayvalık
The essentials
- Duration: 5 days
- Best time: May–June, September–October
- Getting there: Your own car + Geyikli ferry
- Where to stay: Stone houses and boutique hotels
- Our number one tip: If you’re buying olive oil in Adatepe, ask whether it’s cold-pressed and which harvest year it’s from.
One car, one bag, and five days. Roads winding through olive groves, stone villages and sunsets have made the North Aegean a classic we love to repeat every year.
Day 1: Istanbul to Bozcaada
Cross the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge to the Geyikli ferry port. In summer, car lines can get long, so either set off early or leave your car across the water and rent a bike or scooter on the island.
Day 2: Bozcaada
In the morning, explore the castle and the narrow lanes of the Greek quarter. At midday, go for a tasting along the vineyard roads, then spend the afternoon by the sea at Ayazma or Habbele Cove. End the day with sunset at Polente Lighthouse.
Day 3: Assos (Behramkale)
The view of Lesbos from the ruins of the Temple of Athena is one of the most impressive moments of the route. Have dinner in front of the stone hotels in the small harbor below.
Day 4: Adatepe and Küçükkuyu
A coffee break in the village of Adatepe, with its stone houses, followed by an olive oil tasting in Küçükkuyu. It’s also an ideal day for a cool walk at the foot of the Kaz Mountains.
Day 5: Ayvalık and Cunda
A morning that starts with Ayvalık toast, a stroll among the old Greek houses, and lunch by the sea in Cunda. Before heading back, catch one last sunset at Şeytan Sofrası.
Places in this story
- Şeytan Sofrası (Devil’s Table) (Ayvalık, Ayvalık) — Viewpoint. On the hill overlooking the Ayvalık islands, one of the North Aegean’s most-loved sunset spots. Be there half an hour before the sun goes down. Must try: Sunset
Frequently asked questions
How many days should a North Aegean road trip take?
Five days is ideal for Bozcaada, Assos, Adatepe–Küçükkuyu and Ayvalık–Cunda.
When is the best time to visit the North Aegean?
May–June and September–October, when the weather is mild and crowds are smaller.
How do you get to Bozcaada by car?
By ferry from Geyikli port. Car lines can get long in summer, so go early or leave your car across the water and rent a bike or scooter on the island.
Authors
This story was written by Tuğba & Burak. We have been traveling together for 13 years and we visit every place we recommend ourselves. Instagram: @gezsekdedik