Things to Do in Dursunbey: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Dursunbey

• 1 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 4 Nature
• 1 Attraction

While you are in Dursunbey, 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 Dursunbey

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

7 places

• 🍲

  Keşkek (pounded wheat and meat)

  Keşkek, made by cooking pounded wheat and lamb for hours and then pounding it, is the traditional dish of wedding and holiday tables in Dursunbey.

• 🥘

  Çullama (lamb on yufka)

  Prepared by frying lamb with onion and pepper and serving it poured over yufka flatbread. It is one of the distinctive flavours of Dursunbey's rural cuisine.

• 🧀

  Höşmerim

  A traditional dessert made by melting fresh cheese in butter and cooking it with sugar. In Dursunbey it is served hot, especially in the winter months.

• 🍽️

  Alabalık (trout)

  Served in trout restaurants in the Suçıktı and Saz areas. Those with kaşar cheese and mushrooms are cooked in a clay casserole.

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  Tahin helva (tahini halva)

  A dessert made in a clay casserole after the trout meal in Dursunbey.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Dursunbey

• ⛺

  Yörük Geleneği (Yörük Tradition)

  Yörük communities living in the mountainous parts of Dursunbey continue their nomadic livestock tradition. Yörük festivals, the traditional setting up of goat-hair tents and yoghurt making are living examples of this culture.

• 🌲

  Ormancılık Kültürü (Forestry Culture)

  The district's extensive forests have shaped the way of life of its people. Woodcutting, beekeeping and gathering forest products are traditions maintained for generations.

Local Products

• Dursunbey Yatık — A product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected geographical indication (mahreç işareti).
• Çam Balı (pine honey) — Pine honey, obtained from beekeeping in the extensive pine forests of Dursunbey, is known for its dark colour and intense aroma.
• Kestane (chestnut) — Chestnuts grown in the forested areas of the district are gathered in autumn and sold fresh and dried in markets.

Economy

Dursunbey's economy is based on forestry, agriculture and livestock. Extensive pine forests provide timber and resin production. Beekeeping is an important source of income. Grain, pulses and vegetables are grown in farming. Small livestock farming is the main livelihood in rural areas.

How to Get to Dursunbey

Dursunbey is 70 km from Balıkesir city centre. Transport is by road. There are regular minibus services from Balıkesir bus terminal. The nearest airport is Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (75 km).

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Balıkesir

Dursunbey: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Dursunbey 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
• 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
• 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