Things to Do in Bigadiç: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Bigadiç

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 2 Other

While you are in Bigadiç, 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 Bigadiç

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

5 places

• 🍲

  Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

  Keşkek, prepared by cooking cracked wheat and lamb for a long time and pounding them, is the traditional dish of wedding and holiday tables in Bigadiç.

• 🥟

  Mantı (dumplings)

  Bigadiç mantısı is prepared by boiling small pieces of dough filled with minced meat, then pouring over garlic yoghurt and sizzling butter.

• 🫓

  Gözleme (savoury flatbread)

  Thinly rolled yufka dough filled with cheese, spinach or potato and cooked on a griddle; one of the basic flavours of Bigadiç's rural cuisine.

• 🍽️

  Bigadiç Güveci (Bigadiç casserole)

  Closely associated with the district, this casserole is also known as kid casserole; it is made with kid and lamb meat.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Bigadiç

• ⛏️

  Mining Tradition (Madencilik Geleneği)

  Bigadiç's economic and cultural identity has been shaped by boron mining. The presence of Eti Maden İşletmeleri has brought a skilled workforce and modern infrastructure to the district.

• ⛺

  Yörük Culture (Yörük Kültürü)

  The Yörük communities living in the mountainous parts of the district continue traditional livestock farming and handicrafts. Yörük festivals and rug weaving are living examples of this culture.

Local Products

• Boron Mineral (Bor Minerali) — Bigadiç holds a significant part of the world's boron reserves. Boron is a strategic mineral used in the glass, ceramics, agriculture and energy sectors.
• Olives and Olive Oil (Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı) — Olives grown in the southern parts of the district are turned into olive oil by traditional methods.

Economy

Bigadiç's economy is based on mining, agriculture and livestock farming. In the district, which holds the largest boron reserves in the world, the facilities of Eti Maden İşletmeleri operate. Agriculture produces olives, grain and pulses. Small livestock farming is an important source of livelihood in rural areas. Efforts are being made to develop its thermal tourism potential.

How to Get to Bigadiç

Bigadiç is 60 km from Balıkesir provincial centre and is reached by road. Regular minibus services run from the Balıkesir intercity bus terminal. The nearest airport is Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (65 km).

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Balıkesir

Bigadiç: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Bigadiç 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
• Bandırma 7 places Kuşcenneti National Park, Kyzikos Ancient City and Bandırma Vapuru Museum
• 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