Things to Do in Bandırma: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Bandırma

• 2 Historic
• 1 Museum
• 3 Nature
• 1 Attraction

1 🌳 Nature

Kuşcenneti National Park

A national park covering 24,047 hectares around Lake Manyas, south of Bandırma, home to 239 bird species.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Kyzikos Ancient City

Kyzikos, dating to the 8th–10th centuries BC, was one of the most important cities of the ancient region of Mysia. Remains of the Temple of Zeus and the settlement of Daskyleion have been revealed through archaeological excavations. It was taken from the Persians by Alexander the Great in 334 BC.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Bandırma Vapuru Museum

A replica of the Bandırma steamship, on which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk boarded to travel to Samsun on 19 May 1919, serves as a museum. The ship, which symbolises the beginning of the War of Independence, is one of the most important symbols of Turkish history.

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4 🌳 Nature

Kapıdağ Yarımadası

The Kapıdağ Peninsula, stretching out into the Sea of Marmara, is an ideal route for nature lovers, with its olive groves, small coves and fishing villages. The village of Belkıs on the peninsula and Ocaklar Cove are known for their clean sea water.

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5 📸 Attraction

Bandırma Limanı ve Sahil Şeridi

Bandırma Port, Türkiye's fifth-largest port, is the second busiest port in the Sea of Marmara after Istanbul. With an annual trade volume of 800 million dollars, it accounts for 90 per cent of Balıkesir's exports.

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6 🌳 Nature

Kuş Cenneti Milli Parkı (Manyas Gölü)

South of Bandırma lies Lake Manyas, also known as Kuş Cenneti (Bird Paradise). The area around the lake was declared a national park in 1959.

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7 🖼️ Museum

Bandırma Archaeology Museum

The museum holds finds from Daskyleion and various excavations in the region.

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While you are in Bandırma, you can also see the highlights of Balıkesir province. These places are in other districts; Bandırma is about 115 km from the provincial centre.

• 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 Bandırma

Suggested time

2-3 days

Best time to visit

Spring (bird migration season) and summer

Places to visit

7 places

• 🫓

  Bandırma Pidesi

  Bandırma pide, with its thin dough and generous fillings, is the district's best-known speciality, served in minced meat, kaşar cheese and egg versions. It is baked in a stone oven and served hot.

• 🐟

  Kuş Gölü Levreği

  Freshwater sea bass from Lake Manyas, prepared grilled or steamed. The bass, which grows in the clean waters of the lake, is prized for its delicate flavour.

• 🍲

  Keşkek

  Keşkek, made by slow-cooking crushed wheat and lamb, is the traditional dish of special occasions in Bandırma. It is served with butter and red pepper.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Bandırma

• 🚢

  Bandırma Vapuru ve Milli Mücadele

  Bandırma was one of the starting points of the War of Independence. The Bandırma steamship, on which Atatürk boarded to travel to Samsun, is the city's most important historical symbol.

• 🦩

  Kuş Gözlemciliği Geleneği

  Thanks to Kuşcenneti National Park, Bandırma is known as the bird-watching capital of Türkiye. Every year, thousands of domestic and foreign bird watchers visit Lake Manyas.

Local Products

• Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı — Olive oil from the olive groves of the Kapıdağ Peninsula is an important agricultural product of Bandırma.
• Manyas Pirinci — Rice grown in the wetlands around Lake Manyas is the region's traditional farm product. The Osmanlı Baldo and Karacadağ varieties are cultivated.

Economy

Bandırma's economy is made up of port trade, industry, agriculture and tourism. Bandırma Port, Türkiye's fifth-largest port, with an annual trade volume of 800 million dollars, is the engine of the regional economy. The food, chemicals and machinery sectors operate in the organised industrial zone. Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University strengthens the city's education and research capacity.

How to Get to Bandırma

Bandırma is reached from Istanbul by sea (fast İDO ferry) in 2 hours. It is 115 km from Balıkesir city centre. Accelerated train services between İzmir and Bandırma run daily, with a ferry connection. There are regular ferry services to Tekirdağ and Istanbul. Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport is 120 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Balıkesir

Bandırma: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Bandırma 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
• Balya 8 places Balya Mine Workings, Balya Castle and İlyaslar Canyon
• 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