Places to visit
Things to do in Balıkesir
60 destinations, each with a description, how long it takes and where it sits on the map.
In short
toroti’s catalogue holds 60 described destinations within Balıkesir. The themes that come up most: Faith heritage, Coast, Nature, History, Local culture, Museum.
Districts of Balıkesir
Şeyh Lütfullah Camisi
Şeyh Lütfullah Mosque was built in 1429. It is thought to have been commissioned by Şeyh Lütfullah, one of Hacı Bayram Veli’s friends. The mosque, which could not survive to the present day in its original location, was renovated in 1907. It is a rectangular cut-stone structure. The narthex is reached by a three-step staircase. Its facade has a two-storey appearance because of the women’s gallery, which corresponds to the upper part of the narthex.
45 minutes
Sarımsaklı Plajı
Sarımsaklı Beach is located in the town of Küçükköy, in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir province. It is 8 km from the district center. The beach, which has a sandy shore 7 km long and 100 m wide, has many accommodation facilities, cafeterias, restaurants especially selling seafood, and casinos.
60 minutes
Haydar Çavuş Camisi
The mosque, a plain structure with a square plan and a single dome, was commissioned by Haydar Çavuş in the early 19th century. The mosque, which burned down in 1873, was rebuilt in the neo-classical style.
45 minutes
Manyas Kuş Cenneti
Towards the end of winter, the waters of Kuş Gölü begin to rise and cover the small willow grove on its northwestern shore and the reeds around it. In the days when winter turns to spring, migratory birds that spend the cold periods in southern countries choose the quiet Kuşcenneti Milli Park as a nesting place. They lay eggs in their nests and brood them.
60 minutes
Sutüven Şelalesi
If you follow the dirt road descending to the left from the entrance of Beyoba village, you can reach the picnic area after 2 km. There is a facility in the picnic area where you can eat and drink something. But what is more appealing is that when you proceed upstream along the creek from the waterfall, you can come across villagers selling local foods and, depending on the season, fruit and vegetables. Sutüven Şelalesi is on Kızılkeçeli stream, which rises from Sarıkız plateau.
45 minutes
Bigadiç Kalesi
On a hill to the east of Bigadiç district of Balıkesir, there are the ruins of Achyraos Castle, built by the Byzantines in the 6th century AD. The outer walls of the castle, which was used as headquarters during the Greek occupation period, have survived to the present day despite the destruction of the years.
45 minutes
Şahinler Köyü Camii
Estimated to be approximately 150 years old, the mosque is a very distinctive mosque in the Turkish-Islamic world, with no old calligraphy examples inside, but with decorated domes consisting of the village cemetery, Rezelli Mill, and various nature and fruit frescoes. Among the figures in the decorations are the Egyptian pyramids, views of the Istanbul Bosphorus, nature scenes, and fruits such as grapes, figs, melons, and pineapples.
20 minutes
Zağnos Paşa Camii
It is located in the city center, in Mustafa Fakıh Mahallesi, within the bazaar. It is a külliye consisting of a mosque, tomb and rabbi. It was commissioned in 1461 by Zağnos Mehmed Paşa, one of the viziers of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Of the külliye, only the bath has survived to the present day in its original state. The mosque and tomb, which were demolished in 1897, were rebuilt in 1908 by Balıkesir mutasarrıfı Ömer Ali Bey.
20 minutes
Leka Panaya (Koruyan Meryem) Manastırı
The structure, stated to have been built in 1835, rising from within the olive forest, among all the beauties on the coast, on the edge of the strait, continues to display its monumental architecture due to having undergone restoration. The spaces that make up the monastery, such as the church, dormitory, kitchen, library, rooms related to administrative affairs, laundry room, and guest rooms, are positioned in a certain order.
30 minutes
Pordoselene Kulesi
It is the tower on top of Maden Island, indicated as the site of the Pordoselene Civilization. It was built to watch over Lesbos Island, the surrounding islands, and the Edremit Gulf. It is recorded that it was rebuilt in the VIIIth century A.D. Pordoselene actually symbolizes Pirgos Keneti. This tower, built in its time to be able to see enemies, was destroyed by Cilician pirates.
20 minutes
Sarıkız Türbesi (Tepesi)
The Sarıkız Legend is an Islamic folk tale extending as far as Iran, found in the legends of the Turkmen villagers of Kaz Dağı. The most famous legend of the Kazdağları is the Sarıkız belief. There are various versions of the Sarıkız legend, which appears in the legends of the settled Turkmen villagers in the Kazdağları and is a fine example of the folk tale genre in folkloric oral literature.
20 minutes
Taylıeli Köyü
Taylıeli Village, which is 7 km. from the district center and 1,5 km. from İskele Mahallesi, is a unique place of relaxation for Burhaniye, not only for its historical importance but also for its panoramic view dominating the entire gulf and its natural village atmosphere. During the day, a thousand and one shades of green, in the evening the magnificence of the sunset, and at night the sparkle of the gulf lights on the sea can best be watched from here.
60 minutes
Ayazma (Faneromeni) Kilisesi
Its name means “holy water.” The pediment at the entrance of Ayazma Kilisesi bears the date 1890. It is a late-period structure of Ayvalık. The church was built on this date. The height of the church is 12 m. Unlike the other churches, it was built in the northeast–southwest direction without religious concerns being taken into consideration.
20 minutes
Hamidiye Cami
It was commissioned by Sultan II. Abdülhamit in the eclectic style in the second half of the 19th century. The mosque, with a plan close to a square, is made of red cut stone. It has a last congregation area with four columns and a brick dome resting on a cylindrical drum. It is not important in terms of decoration.
20 minutes
Achyraos Kalesi
The ruins of Achyraos Castle, built by the Byzantines in the 14th century AD, are located on the hill to the east of Bigadiç district. The outer walls of the castle, which was used as a headquarters during the Greek occupation, have survived to the present day despite the destruction of the years.
20 minutes
Tavşan Kulakları Tepesi
Tavşan Kulakları Tepesi: The hill right next to Şeytan Sofrası. When you climb the hill, you encounter two rocks in the shape of rabbit ears, 3 human heights tall. Their bases are not in the soil; they stand on a horizontal plate-like rock.
30 minutes
Balıkesir Büyükşehir Belediyesi Altınkum Halk Plajı
Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Altınkum Public Beach is a public beach candidate included in the 2025 Blue Flag official list.
90 minutes
Hisarköy Antik Kalıntıları
The area around Hisarköy is covered with ancient ruins. Considering the vaulted bridge and tunnels, pedestals, theater and inscriptions within the village, it indicates that this place was an important thermal spring center in the Roman period.
30 minutes
Kisthene (Kız Çiftliği) Antik Kenti
A historic farmhouse on a mound on the shore of the bay between Antarak Burnu and Kara Tepe Burnu in Edremit Gulf, 3 km. northwest of the district center, is worth seeing with its natural structure.
45 minutes
Ayvalik Ayazması
What is an ayazma? The name ayazma comes from the Greek word “Hagiasma,” meaning holy place. Ayazmas are structures belonging to Orthodox culture. They are generally found under or next to Orthodox Churches, either independently or as separate structures. It is believed that ayazmas provide healing for illnesses and help wishes come true. In Turkey, the richest city in terms of ayazmas is Istanbul.
45 minutes
Yıldirim Camii Ve Külliyesi
The mosque, located in Yıldırım Mahallesi, is Balıkesir’s oldest Ottoman structure. There is no construction inscription. However, it is understood from various sources and its endowment deed that it was commissioned by Yıldırım Beyazıt in 1388. Within a rather large courtyard, it forms a külliye together with a madrasa and imaret. It underwent repairs in 1818 and after the 1897 earthquake. The interior of the mosque has a rectangular plan and is divided into three naves by two rows of five columns each.
45 minutes
Dağcilik
Mountaineering activities in our province were started in 1988. At present, we have three clubs, namely Baldak (Balıkesir Mountaineering Club) in the provincial center, Bandak in Bandırma, and one at Balıkesir University.
45 minutes
Zağnos Paşa Camisi Ve Külliyesi
Zağnos Paşa Mosque is located in the city center of Balıkesir. It was commissioned in 1461 by Zağnos (Zağanos) Paşa, one of the viziers of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Of the külliye consisting of a mosque, tomb and bath, only the bath has survived to the present day in its original state. The mosque and tomb, which were destroyed in 1897, were rebuilt in 1908 by Balıkesir Mutasarrıfı Ömer Ali Bey. The square-planned mosque was built of smoothly dressed and cut stone.
45 minutes
Yeşilli Cami / Hisariçi Camisi
The founder of Hisariçi Camisi is unknown. It is understood only from the inscription on the mosque that it was repaired in 1786 by Külahçızade Hacı Mustafa Efendi. The mosque is a small rectangular-plan structure with a wooden roof. Since it was painted green, it is also known among the public by the name Yeşilli Cami. The mosque, which is slightly elevated from the ground, has a two-winged last congregation area. From a staircase here, one goes up to the women’s gallery on the upper floor.
45 minutes
Aya Nikola Kilisesi
Aya Nikola Church is one of the most important historical structures on Cunda (Alibey) Island, in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir. Dedicated to the guardian archangels Gabriel and Michael, the church is therefore also known as Taksiyarhis Church. TGA The single-domed, basilica-type, rectangular-plan structure was built in the neoclassical architectural style, which was widely used in its period. Garlic stone extracted from the region’s quarries was used in its construction.
45 minutes
Çinarli Cami
Çınarlı Cami is located in the district center of Ayvalık. It was built as a church by the Greeks in the second half of the 19th century. Its original name is Agia İorgi (Aya Yorgi) Church. It was converted into a mosque in 1923. Described as the most magnificent of the historical structures in Ayvalık, the monument has a striking architecture. Its architectural plan is in harmony with Aya Yanni Church and is a domed cross plan. The plan of the structure, built with rubble stone and cut stone materials, is rectangular.
45 minutes
Kuş Cenneti Milli Parkı
Kuş Cenneti National Park is located within the borders of Balıkesir’s Bandırma and Manyas districts. It is of vital importance for the many bird, plant and fish species it hosts, as well as for various reptile species. TGA National Park holds the Council of Europe Class A diploma, which is of international importance and is a protected area specifically for birds.
45 minutes
Kirazli Manastiri
Kirazlı Monastery is located on an ارتفاع between the villages of Yukarıyapıcı and Ballıpınar (Kocaburgaz), in a place close to the northeastern coast of the Kapıdağ Peninsula, six kilometers west of Ballıpınar village. The monastery at the foot of the mountain known in antiquity as Mount Didumus is a complex consisting of a church and groups of buildings. According to the wall construction technique, it is understood to be a religious monumental structure used by the Greeks in the 19th century.
45 minutes
Tahtakuşlar Köyü Müzesi
The Tahtakuşlar Ethnography Museum, established on the foothills of the mythological Ida Mountain, is a UNESCO-awarded place that reveals the culture and art of the Turkmens. 6 km. after Akçay, when you turn onto the Çamlıbel road, the left road takes you to Tahtakuşlar, and the right road takes you to Çamlıbel. Then, 1-2 km. later, when you enter Tahtakuşlar Village, the Ethnography Gallery appears before you.
45 minutes
Daskyleion Antik Kenti
The Ancient City of Daskyleion is located near Kuş Cenneti, one of Balıkesir’s natural beauties. In the excavation works carried out in the city, which takes its name from the famous Lydian King Daskylos, who settled here in the 7th century BC, archaeological remains from different periods have been uncovered.
45 minutes
Ayişiği Manastiri
Ayışığı Monastery is located on Cunda Island in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir. Although its exact date is unknown, it is thought to have been built in the 18th century. The monastery, whose surroundings are enclosed by walls, has its church in the courtyard. The church located within the courtyard was built facing east, with a dome and a rectangular plan. The entrance door of the church was built of sarımsak stone.
45 minutes
Değirmenboğazi Tabiat Parkı
Değirmenboğazı Nature Park is in Balıkesir’s Karesi district. While it was managed with the status of a recreation area, it was declared a nature park in 2011. It is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. The entire park has the status of state forest. The day-use areas in the park make it possible to have picnics. Activities such as basketball, volleyball, nature walks, and nature photography can be done.
45 minutes
Bandirma Müzesi
The museum, built for the purpose of exhibiting finds from the ancient cities of Kyzikos and Daskyleion and the surrounding area, contains two exhibition halls as well as a laboratory, library, and conference hall.
45 minutes
Balikesir Saat Kulesi
The Clock Tower is located in Balıkesir near the Kuva-yi Milliye Museum. It was commissioned by Giritli Mehmet Paşa in 1829. When it was destroyed due to an earthquake in 1897, it was rebuilt in its present form in 1901. The square prism-shaped building was made of white cut stone and decorated with relief workmanship. Its top floor was covered with a dome and a large bell was added there.
45 minutes
Arkeoloji Müzesi
In the museum, artifacts belonging to the historical periods that prevailed in the region from the Early Bronze Age to the beginning of the 20th century are exhibited. The great majority of the works exhibited in the display halls of the museum, which has 1149 inventoried artifacts, are artifacts unearthed in the scientific excavations carried out at Daskyleion Ören Yeri and Kyzikos Antik Kenti. The emphasis in the artifacts is on the Persian and Roman Periods, and B.C.
45 minutes
Saatli Cami
Saatli Cami is in the İsmet Paşa neighborhood in the center of Ayvalık district. It was built as a church by local Greeks in the second half of the 19th century. Its original name is Agia İanni (Aya Yanni) Church. It was converted into a mosque in 1928; it took the name Saatli Cami because of the clock placed in the bell tower. It is a rectangular-plan structure, and entry is through a four-columned, porticoed door decorated with acanthus leaves.
45 minutes
Taşli Manastir / Timarhane Adası
Located directly opposite Çamlık Koyu, Tımarhane Adası was used as a psychotherapy center in earlier times. On the island there is a monastery that the Greeks called Aya Paraskevi Monastery and the Turks called Taşlı Monastır. However, only a small part of the monastery has survived to the present day.
45 minutes
Suçikti Mesire Alanı
Although the historical location of the spring in the past is not known, it is estimated that it may have a history of at least 10 centuries, according to the thickness and shapes of the lime deposits it left in the direction of its flow. The ages of the plane trees in this picnic area also confirm this estimate. It is among the foremost places of rare beauty in our country that everyone should visit and see. There is a cafeteria and a trout restaurant here.
45 minutes
Antandros Antik Kenti (Roma Villası)
The Ancient City of Antandros was founded by the Pelasgians, 4km. east of Altınoluk Town in Edremit District, on the foothills of Mount Ida (Kazdağı). The city, which had a strategically important military position on the Adramytteion (Burhaniye-Ören) – Assos (Behramkale) road, B.C.
30 minutes
Eybek Kulesi
The Eybek forest fire lookout tower was built in 1980. It is affiliated with the Çınarlıhan Forest Management Chiefdom. The area where the tower is located, at an altitude of 920 metres, is called the ‘kale’ locality. The whole of the Edremit and Havran Plain and the ruins of the City of Thebe can be seen from here. It is surrounded by black pine, oak and, in places, chestnut trees.
45 minutes
Sualti Dalış - Maden Adaları
Although most of the diving areas of the island located at the tip of the Ayvalık peninsula are closed to diving, dives carried out with special permission have always given divers excitement. With special permits obtained at times, one can come by road to the very tip of Cunda Adası and from here go by a fishing boat for diving in the Maden Adaları area.
45 minutes
Sarıkız Heykeli
The Sarıkız Legend is an Islamic folk tale extending as far as Iran, found in the legends of the Turkmen villagers of Kaz Dağı. The most famous legend of Kazdağları is the Sarıkız belief. There are various versions of the Sarıkız legend, which takes place in the legends of the settled Turkmen villagers in Kazdağları and is a fine example of the folk tale genre in folkloric oral literature.
20 minutes
Hasanboğoldu Şelalesi
This area is a place with a pleasant view within kazdağları. Although it decreases in the summer months, there are wooden picnic tables by or in the water flowing from a small stream. With its lush green nature and waterfall, Hasanboğuldu pond, which is a very pleasant picnic spot, cannot be reached further by vehicle. However, from here it is also possible to go on trekking walks into nature.
60 minutes
Şadirvan
It is located near the clock tower. It is thought to have been built in 1908 during the time of Ömer Ali Bey. There is an onion-shaped dome resting on seven columns of pink granite. Above the columns connected by arches, there is a horizontal molding and an eave.
45 minutes
Taksiyarhis Kilisesi
It is understood from an inscription on the church wall that it was built in 1844. It was built on an area slightly higher than the road by leveling a sloping hill and filling it. Although the total area of the church is 1200 m², the church was built on an area of 500 m². The height of the church is 16 m, while the height of the bell tower is 30 m.
30 minutes
Sualti Dalış - Kerbala-ayvalik
In our province, it is possible to see the beauties and riches of the seabed, formed over thousands of years, in the Ayvalık Islands, which constitute an ecological niche in terms of underwater flora and fauna.
45 minutes
Koca Çinar
The plane tree, 850 years old and with a circumference of 12 m., is located in Ulu beyler Köyü, 8 km. from our Gömeç District. Source: Retrieved on 03.07.2014 from the website of the Balıkesir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, at the address.
45 minutes
Çınarlı (Agios Georgios) Kilise Camii
Çınarlı Mosque is located in the center of Ayvalık, on Alibey Street in Hamdibey Neighborhood. The church was built during the autonomy period, when the people of Ayvalık were at their strongest economically and politically. (It was completed in the 1790s.) The building was converted into a mosque in 1923.
20 minutes
Şahinderesi Kanyonu
The canyon, which enables air exchange in the region, acts as a kind of chimney by distributing the pine-scented air it draws from the mountain to the plain, while carrying the iodine-scented air it receives from the sea up to the mountain. The canyon, which provides mutual air circulation, is 27 kilometres long and 600 metres high.
45 minutes
Hayrettin Paşa Camii
Hayrettin Paşa Camii is located in Hayrettin Paşa Mahallesi, which bears the same name. The mosque, formerly a church, was built in 1850. It is one of the first churches of Ayvalık. In the Republican Period, it was converted into a mosque and took the name Hayrettin Paşa Camii.
20 minutes
Kasaplar Camii
It is located in Kasaplar Mahallesi. According to its inscription, it was built in 1649, was damaged by earthquakes, and was repaired in 1811, 1894 and 1901.
20 minutes
Alaca Mescit Camii
Since its inscription has not survived to the present day, its construction date and patron are unknown. It underwent its last restoration in 1911. In the mosque, which is important historically, the first decisions of the Kuvay-i Milliye Movement in Balıkesir were taken (1919).
20 minutes
Karaoğlan Camii
It is in Karaoğlan Neighborhood. It is said to have been commissioned in 1356 by someone named Karaoğlan who crossed into Rumelia with Gazi Süleyman Paşa. It has not survived to the present day in its original form, and the present structure dates to the years 1908.
20 minutes
Kurşunlu Cami / Hekimzade Yusuf Sinan Camisi
Kurşunlu Cami is located in the Edremit district of Balıkesir. According to the tomb inscription of the mosque’s patron, Mevlâna Yusuf Sinan, it is thought to have been built before 1300. Stone and brick were used as construction materials in the building. In keeping with this alternating masonry, the sawtooth eaves are noteworthy. It is a single-domed mosque. The capitals of the columns supporting the arches on which the dome, set on an octagonal base, rests are highly ornate.
45 minutes
Yeşilli Camii
REPEATED Source verification: Culture Portal ().
30 minutes
Ayışığı (Agios Dimitrios Ta Selina) Manastırı
Located at the very tip of the Pateriça peninsula on the northern side of Cunda (Alibey) Island, Ayışığı Monastery stands at the point where a steep hill (299 elevation) meets the sea. The construction date of Ayışığı Monastery is not known for certain. (It is said that the dates 1771 and 1795 are written on two stones.
30 minutes
Alibey Adası Plajı
Alibey Adası Plajı is a public Blue Flag beach on the coast at Ayvalık.
60 minutes
Küçükköy Plajı
Küçükköy Plajı is a public Blue Flag beach on the coast at Ayvalık.
60 minutes
Ören Plajı
Ören Plajı is a public Blue Flag beach on the coast at Burhaniye.
60 minutes
Hacı Bayram Camii
Hacı Bayram Mosque was built between 1490 and 1491 and is located in the center of Altınova, Ayvalık.
20 minutes