Ayvalık is a small Aegean port town on Turkey's northern Aegean coast, about 170 km south of Çanakkale. The town occupies a sheltered bay dotted with small islands, and its old Greek quarter — preserved from before the 1923 population exchange — has narrow cobbled streets lined with stone houses, many converted into boutiques, cafes, and small pensions.
The town has a relaxed, slightly bohemian atmosphere and is increasingly popular with Turkish city-dwellers. The olive groves and olive oil production here are among the best in Turkey. Cunda Island (Alibey), connected by a causeway, has the most atmospheric restaurants right on the water.
Ayvalık also serves as a ferry crossing point to the Greek island of Lesbos (Mytilini), with regular boats in season — making it a practical entry or exit point for travellers moving between Turkey and Greece.