Türkiye’s Cittaslow towns offer travellers a chance to discover the country’s local traditions, historic sites, regional food and rural landscapes away from the crowds of its major cities.
While Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia attract international visitors, smaller towns across Türkiye offer a different perspective on the country’s culture and everyday life. From Aegean fishing villages and Black Sea mountain communities to lakeside settlements in Anatolia, these destinations invite visitors to spend more time exploring local heritage and less time rushing between attractions.
Cittaslow, an international movement founded in Italy in 1999, promotes a more considered approach to urban life, with an emphasis on local identity, traditional food, environmental protection and the preservation of cultural heritage. The movement encourages towns to protect the qualities that make them distinctive rather than allowing local character to disappear under the pressure of rapid development.
According to the source article, Türkiye has 29 Cittaslow-designated towns among 310 participating towns worldwide. Their appeal lies in the variety of experiences they offer, including traditional markets, archaeological remains, agricultural landscapes, historic architecture and access to some of the country’s less-visited natural attractions.
Along the Aegean coast, Seferihisar stands out for its citrus orchards, olive groves, vineyards and organic markets. It became Türkiye’s first Cittaslow town, and agriculture remains an important part of its local economy. The surrounding countryside offers a closer look at the region’s farming traditions, with fields of vegetables and fruit trees shaping the landscape.
History is also within easy reach. The ancient city of Teos lies a few kilometres from Seferihisar’s centre, providing a link to the area’s past. The town also serves as a starting point for exploring the Teos Vineyard Route, where local wine production continues alongside old olive trees, and the Ionian Route, a trekking path connecting sites associated with the ancient Ionian League through the Aegean landscape.
Further south, Akyaka sits beside the Gulf of Gökova and is known for its natural setting and distinctive architecture. The town’s buildings draw inspiration from traditional designs associated with the Muğla region and Ottoman-era houses. Turkish architect Nail Çakırhan helped shape Akyaka’s architectural identity, incorporating features such as wooden shutters, balconies and double staircases.
Nature is central to the experience in Akyaka. The nearby Azmak River runs through the Gökova Plain, creating a clear-water setting for boat trips, birdwatching and walks along its banks. The surrounding area is protected, making it an appealing destination for visitors interested in the relationship between tourism and conservation.
Off Türkiye’s western coast, Gökçeada offers another perspective on the country’s quieter destinations. It is Türkiye’s largest island, located in the Aegean Sea near the western end of the mainland. Its island setting adds to the range of landscapes and local communities travellers can explore beyond the country’s better-known resort centres.
The Black Sea region offers a markedly different environment, with steep mountains, forested hillsides and rivers. Near the Georgian border, Şavşat lies among the peaks of the Karçal Mountains in Artvin province. Its cultural history reflects the presence of both Georgian and Turkish communities, while the surrounding landscape combines historic remains with extensive woodland.
A castle believed to date from the ninth century provides a glimpse into the area’s past. Elsewhere, coniferous trees, chestnuts, rhododendrons and firs cover the hillsides. Autumn brings a particularly striking change in colour as the foliage turns gold, making the town an option for travellers seeking mountain scenery and quieter walking routes.
Further west along the Black Sea coast, Gerze is known for its fishing heritage, traditional markets and small-town atmosphere. The settlement is described in the source article as one of Türkiye’s happiest places. Its history is said to extend to 1400 BCE, and it joined the Cittaslow network in 2017.
Local life remains visible in its shops and markets. Artisans sell hand-carved wooden toys, while the Friday farmers’ market brings together produce from the surrounding region. Fresh seafood reflects Gerze’s longstanding connection to fishing, giving visitors an opportunity to experience local food traditions rather than relying solely on restaurants catering to tourists.
There are historical and outdoor attractions beyond the town centre. The Çeçe Sultan Tomb, once an important pilgrimage site, is about 15 kilometres away. Nearby Yelken Tepe attracts paragliders willing to make the climb to its 400-metre elevation. The source article describes a flight route of around 15 kilometres, which it identifies as Türkiye’s longest.
Vize, near the western end of the Black Sea region, offers a different kind of visit, centred on archaeological remains and historic architecture. Its past includes connections to the ancient Thracian world, while later periods left traces of Roman and medieval settlement. Among the reported attractions are the remains of a Roman theatre, sections of a fortress believed to have been built around 72 BCE, and sixth-century water-supply infrastructure associated with the route towards Istanbul.
Away from the coast, Türkiye’s lakes offer another setting for slower travel. Among the country’s inland destinations, Eğirdir is particularly appealing to visitors interested in lakeside scenery, local food and historical sites. The town sits on the southern shore of Eğirdir Lake, identified in the source article as the country’s fourth-largest lake, between the Anatolian plateau and the Mediterranean region.
The lake’s green-blue waters are surrounded by apple orchards and mountain scenery. Two islands, Can Ada and Yeşil Ada, sit close to the town and are connected to the mainland by a causeway. Yeşil Ada, whose name means “green island” in Turkish, has a history stretching back to the Eastern Roman period and retains architectural features associated with its former Greek Orthodox communities.
Eğirdir itself rewards visitors who take time to explore on foot. The remains of a castle, believed to have originated under the Lydians and subsequently modified during Roman, Eastern Roman and Seljuk rule, reflect the town’s long history. Hızırbey Camii is another notable landmark. Local restaurants serve freshwater fish and other lake-sourced dishes, while boat trips, paddleboarding and swimming at Halk Plajı provide ways to experience the lake beyond its shoreline.
Lake Van, Türkiye’s largest lake, offers a more expansive landscape in the east of the country. Covering approximately 3,755 square kilometres, it has extensive shorelines and a long history of human settlement. Among the Cittaslow destinations in the region is Ahlat, a town known for its historic sites and views across the lake.
Ahlat’s heritage spans several periods, with archaeological remains and historic burial grounds among its most significant attractions. The Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery contains thousands of carved tombstones and is widely recognised for its importance to Turkish-Islamic funerary art. The surrounding area also has ancient caves and other traces of early settlement, offering visitors a way to explore the region’s history beyond its natural scenery.
Together, these destinations show how Türkiye’s Cittaslow towns bring local food, architecture, archaeology and landscapes into the travel experience. They are not interchangeable stops on a single itinerary: each reflects a different region, from the agricultural traditions of the Aegean to the forested mountains of the Black Sea and the historic settlements around Anatolia’s lakes. For travellers willing to venture beyond the country’s main tourist centres, they provide opportunities to understand Türkiye through the places where its regional character remains part of everyday life.
