Things to Do in Balya: 8 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Balya

• 3 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 1 Museum
• 1 Nature
• 2 Other

While you are in Balya, you can also see the highlights of Balıkesir province. These places are in other districts.

• Ayvalık Old Town — A coastal town of stone houses, narrow streets, old churches and olive-oil factories, on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2017. In antiquity it was known as Kydonia ('wild quince').
• Cunda (Alibey) Island — The only inhabited island of Ayvalık's 22 islands and the fourth-largest of Türkiye's Aegean islands, it is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
• Taksiyarhis Church — A metropolitan church built in 1873 on Cunda by the Greek Orthodox community in the name of the archangels Gabriel and Michael; it is the island's most important monument.
• Şeytan Sofrası (Devil's Table) — A table-shaped hill formed from the lava deposits of an extinct volcano, 8 km south of Ayvalık.
• Ayvalık Islands Nature Park — A 17,950-hectare nature park established in 1995 and covering 19 islands, where 752 plant species and 671 marine species have been recorded.
• Zağnos Paşa Mosque — Built in 1461 by Zağnos Paşa, vizier of Mehmed the Conqueror, this is the largest mosque in Balıkesir and the symbol of the city.

Practical Information for Visiting Balya

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

8 places

• 🍲

  Keşkek

  Keşkek, prepared by slow-cooking and pounding crushed wheat and lamb, is the traditional dish of weddings and festive meals in Balya.

• 🧀

  Höşmerim

  Höşmerim, prepared by frying fresh curd cheese in butter and sweetening it with sugar, is Balya's traditional dessert. It is served warm.

• 🍜

  Ev Eriştesi

  Noodles cut from hand-made dough, served with chicken broth or a yoghurt sauce. It is one of the basic dishes of Balya's rural cuisine.

• 🍽️

  Balya Tereyağı

  A butter product bearing the name of Balya, with a protected geographical indication.

• 🍽️

  Wine (Ilıca town)

  Wine is produced in Ilıca town from grapes grown in the vineyards of Çukurcak Neighbourhood.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Balya

• ⛏️

  Madencilik Mirası

  Balya is a settlement known in the Ottoman period for lead and silver mining. Mines run by French companies in the 19th century brought a cosmopolitan population and modern infrastructure to the district.

• ⛺

  Yörük Kültürü

  Yörük communities living in the mountainous parts of Balya continue the tradition of nomadic livestock farming. Yörük festivals and traditional crafts are living examples of this culture.

Local Products

• Balya Tereyağı — Balya Tereyağı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 15 August 2023 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1449). Product group: solid and liquid fats, including butter. Registered by: Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality.
• Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı — Olives grown in the southern parts of Balya are turned into oil using the traditional stone-press method.
• Bal — Pine honey obtained from beekeeping in the wooded areas of the district, known for its rich aroma and dark colour.

Economy

Balya's economy is based on agriculture, livestock and forestry. Olive growing, grain production and small livestock farming are the main sources of livelihood. The district, which was enriched by mining in the Ottoman period, turned to farming when the mines closed. Beekeeping and organic farming are developing sectors in recent years.

How to Get to Balya

Balya is 55 km from Balıkesir city centre. Travel is by road. Regular minibus services run from the Balıkesir intercity bus terminal. The nearest airport is Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (60 km).

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Balıkesir

Balya: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Balya Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Balıkesir The province's 17 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Balıkesir

• Altıeylül 6 places Değirmenboğazı Nature Park, Zağnos Paşa Mosque and Balıkesir Clock Tower
• Ayvalık 12 places Cunda Island (Alibey Island), Şeytan Sofrası (Devil's Table) and Ayvalık Old Town
• Bandırma 7 places Kuşcenneti National Park, Kyzikos Ancient City and Bandırma Vapuru Museum
• Bigadiç 5 places Bigadiç Boron Mine (Bigadiç Bor Madeni), Bigadiç Hot Springs (Bigadiç Kaplıcaları) and Achyraus Ancient City Ruins (Achyraus Antik Kenti Kalıntıları)
• Burhaniye 7 places Ören Coast, Adramytteion Ancient City and Pelitköy Olive Oil Museum
• Dursunbey 7 places Alaçam Dağları (Alaçam Mountains), Suçıktı Mesire Yeri (Suçıktı Picnic Area) and Ulus Dağı (Ulus Mountain)
• Edremit 8 places Kazdağı (Mount Ida) National Park, Altınoluk Beach and Akçay Beach
• Erdek 5 places Kapıdağ Peninsula, Kyzikos Ancient City and Erdek Beach
• Gömeç 11 places Gömeç Shore, Madra Mountain and Karaağaç Cove
• Gönen 5 places Gönen Hot Springs, Asepsus Ancient City and Gönen Hot Spring Park
• Havran 5 places Havran Plain, Tebai Ancient City and Havran Castle
• İvrindi 8 places Mount Kaz, Mount Madra and İvrindi Castle
• Kareşi 9 places Balıkesir Castle (Karesi Castle), Zağnos Paşa Mosque and Complex and Balıkesir City Museum
• Kepsut 4 places Kepsut Plain, Çataldağ and Kepsut Plain and Peach Orchards
• Manyas 5 places Manyas Lake, Kuşcenneti National Park and Lake Manyas (Bird Lake)
• Marmara 9 places Marmara Island, Saraylar and Ancient Marble Quarries
• Savaştepe
• Sındırgı 5 places Hisaralan Hot Springs, Yağcıbedir Carpet Museum and Sındırgı Castle
• Susurluk 6 places Susurluk Ayran Stop, Susurluk Bazaar Mosque and Susurluk Plain