Türkiye

Ayvalık

A charming Aegean town of stone houses, olive groves and islands, facing the Greek island of Lesbos.

Destination story

A place with its own rhythm.

Ayvalık is known for its old stone houses, narrow streets and former Greek churches turned into mosques, telling a rich shared history. Nearby Cunda Island, the Şeytan Sofrası viewpoint and the beaches of Sarımsaklı make it one of the most beautiful corners of the northern Aegean.

For WOFA participants, Ayvalık offers a relaxed seaside festival with authentic local life. Groups can perform in a picturesque town and enjoy its famous olive oil, seafood and sunsets.

Photo: Esther Lee, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ayval%C4%B1k,_Turkey.jpg License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 Image resized and compressed.

Why groups love Ayvalık

01
Historic stone-house old town
02
Cunda Island and Aegean bays
03
Famous olive oil tradition
04
Sunsets from Şeytan Sofrası
05
Sandy Sarımsaklı beach
06
Authentic, relaxed atmosphere

Things to experience

01Ayvalık old town streets
02Cunda (Alibey) Island
03Şeytan Sofrası viewpoint
04Sarımsaklı beach
05Olive oil factories and museums
06Boat tour around the Ayvalık islands

Plan your arrival

Travel & Logistics

Closest airports

Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (EDO) — ~45 km (about 45 min)
Mainly domestic connections via Istanbul
İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) — ~160 km (about 2 h)
Budget airlines serving this airport: Pegasus, AJet, SunExpress

Train & coach arrival

• Ayvalık Otogar (coach station) — coaches to İzmir, Istanbul and Çanakkale

Ferry & port connections

• Seasonal ferries from Ayvalık to Lesbos (Mytilene), Greece

Organised by WOFA

• Airport & port transfers: available on request — share your flight or ferry details and our team will send a quote and coordinate private group transport to your hotel. • Local group coaches: private transport can be booked on request for concerts, performance venues and day trips. • Excursions & guided tours: tailored sightseeing and activities can be arranged for your group with upfront pricing. • All additional services are optional and priced on request, based on your group size and schedule.

Contact WOFA