Things to Do in Edremit: 8 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Edremit

• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious
• 1 Museum
• 2 Nature
• 2 Beach
• 1 Attraction

🌳 Natural Wonders 2

i Photo: Elelicht (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

4 🌳 Nature

Kazdağı (Mount Ida) National Park

An important national park within the district's boundaries.

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5 🌳 Nature

Kazdağı National Park

The national park within Edremit district, covering the southern face of Kazdağı.

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While you are in Edremit, you can also see the highlights of Balıkesir province. These places are in other districts; Edremit is about 15 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.

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  Edremit Zeytinyağı (Edremit olive oil)

  Edremit Zeytinyağı was registered as a protected designation of origin on 13 December 2017 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 273). Product group: solid and liquid fats, including butter. Registered by: Edremit Chamber of Commerce.

• 🫒

  Edremit Zeytinyağlı Yemekleri (vegetables cooked in olive oil)

  Olive oil-cooked artichokes, barbunya pilaki and stuffed vine leaves, prepared with Edremit's world-famous olive oil, are among the finest examples of Aegean cuisine.

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  Kazdağı Alabalığı (Kazdağı trout)

  Trout grown in the clear streams of Kazdağı, served grilled or pan-fried. Trout freshly caught and served at mountain restaurants is one of the region's most distinctive flavours.

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  Peynir Helvası (cheese halva)

  Made by roasting fresh lor cheese with flour and sugar, peynir helvası is Edremit's traditional dessert. It is served warm and sprinkled with cinnamon.

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  Papalina Tava (fried papalina fish)

  Small papalina fish from the Edremit Gulf, coated in corn flour and fried in olive oil. Served with rocket and lemon, this dish is a classic of the seafront restaurants.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Edremit

• 🎭

  Tahtacı Turkmen Culture

  After the Battle of Çaldıran in 1514, the Tahtacı Turkmen who settled at the foot of Kazdağı contribute to the region's cultural diversity with their distinctive beliefs and traditions. Semah ceremonies and traditional handicrafts are living examples of this culture.

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  Olive Growing Heritage

  The Edremit Gulf is a region where olives have been grown for thousands of years. The olive-growing tradition, from ancient Adramytteion to the present day, forms the basis of the region's economic and cultural identity.

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  Sarıkız Legend

  The legend of Sarıkız, which gave its name to the highest peak of Kazdağı, tells the story of an innocent girl who was slandered. The traditional walk to Sarıkız Hill held every August is one of the region's most important cultural events.

Local Products

• Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini (Edremit Gulf green olives) — Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini was registered as a protected designation of origin on 31 July 2015 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 189). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Edremit Chamber of Commerce.
• Edremit Zeytinyağı (Edremit olive oil) — Edremit olive oil with a geographical indication is among Türkiye's finest natural extra virgin olive oils. Oil from the olive groves around the Edremit Gulf has won awards in international competitions.
• Kazdağı Kekik Balı (Kazdağı thyme honey) — Honey from the rich flora of Kazdağı, known for its light colour and aromatic taste. It is produced using organic beekeeping methods.
• Zeytin Sabunu (olive soap) — Olive oil soaps made in Edremit with traditional methods are in demand at home and abroad as natural skincare products.

Economy

Edremit's economy is based on olive growing, tourism and agriculture. As one of Türkiye's largest olive oil production centres, Edremit earns significant income from summer tourism through its Altınoluk and Akçay beaches. The Güre hot springs contribute to thermal tourism. Kazdağı eco-tourism has been developing rapidly in recent years.

How to Get to Edremit

Edremit is 450 km from Istanbul and 220 km from Izmir. Edremit Koca Seyit Airport is 15 km from the district centre and offers flight connections to many cities, especially Istanbul and Ankara. There are regular bus services from Istanbul and Izmir.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Balıkesir

Edremit: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Edremit 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
• Dursunbey 7 places Alaçam Dağları (Alaçam Mountains), Suçıktı Mesire Yeri (Suçıktı Picnic Area) and Ulus Dağı (Ulus Mountain)
• 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