Things to Do in Assos

Although our visit to Burhaniye lasted only 3 days, as you can see, it was quite productive, and we had the chance to see many places, one of which was Assos. Assos is a town full of ancient ruins, and since it also offers great seaside options, it is quite touristic. Assos is significant because it was the site where the first school of philosophy was established in 340 BC, with philosophers like Aristotle invited. It’s no coincidence that it is still chosen as a place for philosophy meetings today.

Getting to Assos

Assos is about a 5-hour drive from Istanbul and around 3 hours from Izmir by car. Another option is to take the ferry from Istanbul to Bandırma and then drive to Assos.

If you prefer to fly, it’s 60 km from Edremit airport and 90 km from Çanakkale airport.

Places to Visit and Beaches in Assos

Kadırga Bay

The only thing I remembered from my previous trips to Assos years ago was Kadırga Bay. However, if you ask if it looked the same as I remembered, I’d say not quite. There are quite a few beach clubs now, and although it is generally a public beach, I found it somewhat occupied. The sea can be quite wavy in windy weather, but it’s a beautiful, clean, blue-flag beach.

Behramkale

Apart from the ancient ruins, Behramkale has become a place filled with street vendors. Finding a quiet street to take photos is difficult.

Research shows that the first settlement in Assos dates back to 2000 BC, and it has hosted many civilizations. During the Ottoman period, between 1881-83, excavations were carried out by American architects, and a third of the findings were taken to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, while two-thirds were left to the Ottomans.

The upper part of the ancient city requires an entrance fee, but you can enter with a Museum Card. When you enter, you will first see the remains of the Temple of Athena on a hill. The view here is more untouched compared to the view from the Zeus Altar in Adatepe Village. From here, you can also photograph the Ancient Harbor. As you start descending from the Ancient City towards the harbor, you’ll find an ancient theater and many other ruins, which you can access for free through turnstiles. Just outside the ancient city is the Hüdavendigar Mosque, which doesn’t have much to offer inside, but you can take photos of the village from its courtyard.

Ancient Harbor

This is where many fishing boats are docked, and the stone houses around it have preserved their texture. The streets are very narrow, so I don’t recommend driving all the way down. Even if you do, since the lower parts are usually full, you’ll likely have to drive back up. If it’s not too hot, you can walk down from Behramkale, but don’t forget that every descent has an ascent 🙂 Since it’s a small place, it won’t take much of your time if you’re only going to explore.

There is also a beach right next to the Ancient Harbor, which likely belongs to some facilities, so there’s an entrance fee. Still, it’s another beach option you can consider.

Camping sites among olive trees

Another beach option could be the camping sites among olive trees that you’ll come across as you head from Assos to Küçükkuyu. Some of them have very nice beaches. You can go in, check them out, and if you don’t like them, you can leave. We paid 10 TL per person for entry, didn’t pay extra for the car, and also used sun loungers.

Eating, Drinking, and Shopping in Assos

As I mentioned earlier, Behramkale Village is very suitable for shopping, offering a variety of options from souvenirs to local products.

For food, you can sit in one of the many café-restaurants in these streets. We ate at Kale Restaurant, which had an authentic interior and serving utensils. Overall, we were satisfied. There are also many seafood restaurants around the Ancient Harbor. From the menus we saw, they weren’t overly expensive, but I can’t say the same for the tea garden-like place right by the shore.

Accommodation in Assos

For accommodation, you can choose boutique hotels within the stone houses at the Ancient Harbor or seaside hotels at Kadırga Bay. Since the Ancient Harbor is small and crowded, some may find it a bit stifling. Kadırga Bay, on the other hand, offers a wide beach, and you can enjoy the fresh mountain air on your balcony in the morning.