This industrial Turkish city has an active port, multiple historic mosques including the grand Selimiye, and sits near the ancient ruins of Pergamon.
Balıkesir sits between the Marmara and Aegean seas in northwestern Turkey. In the city center, you can walk through the 15th-century Yıldırım Mosque complex, browse handmade copper items at Karesi Bazaar, or relax in the 600-year-old Pasha Hamami thermal baths. The surrounding region stretches from Lake Manyas, where you can spot Dalmatian pelicans and purple herons, to the olive-covered islands of Ayvalık and the pine-forested beaches of Altınoluk.
Getting to Balıkesir
You can reach Balıkesir by train or bus from major Turkish cities. Koca Seyit Airport in Edremit, 87 km from the center, serves international routes. Coaches run frequently from Istanbul (4 hours), Ankara (7 hours), and Izmir (2.5 hours). Within the city center, most sites are within walking distance, while local buses and taxis can take you to outlying areas.
Ancient Thermal Springs
The 600-year-old Pasha Hamami still operates in its original stone building, where you can soak in 39°C mineral-rich waters. Each thermal area has distinct properties: Pamukçu's waters contain high levels of calcium, while Ilıca's springs are rich in sulfur. At the Gönen springs, 55 km from Bandırma, you can see a preserved 5th-century Roman mosaic while enjoying the thermal pools.
Local Food Specialties
The region's Kelle Peyniri, a granular cheese, has gained recognition in France, Germany, and Britain. Local cooks use it to make hoşmerim, a sweet dessert combining the cheese with eggs and sugar. Farmers in the region grow wheat, sunflowers, sugar beets, melons, and grapes, which you'll find fresh in the local markets.
Arts and Culture
Local dancers perform Bengi, Guvende, and Balikesir Zeybeği at cultural events throughout the year. The National Photography Museum displays over 1,000 historical cameras and photographs. In the old town's bazaar area, you can explore several 15th-century inns and mosques, including the Yıldırım complex with its distinctive lead dome.
Coastal Areas
Along the Aegean coast, you'll find the beach towns of Edremit, Burhaniye, Gömeç, and Ayvalık. The Marmara coast includes Marmara Island, Erdek, Gönen, and Bandırma. Near Ayvalık, 22 small islands dot the waters, surrounded by olive groves. The air in Altınoluk contains exceptionally high oxygen levels thanks to its location between the sea and dense pine forests.
Natural Attractions
Lake Manyas hosts 266 bird species, including colonies of Dalmatian pelicans and purple herons. You can watch birds from several observation points around the lake. At Kazdağı (Mount Ida), hiking trails lead past ancient ruins and through pine forests. The area also contains some of the world's largest borax deposits, with active mining operations you can learn about at the local mining museum.
