UnApologetically Mel

Alaçatı is an Instagrammer’s dream — a burst of colour and charm, with bougainvillea spilling from the walls of Greek-like stone houses, old windmills, and effortlessly chic cafés and restaurants … add in the charming boutiques, bustling markets, and you’ve got a village so beautiful it makes you stop and stare every few steps — and, of course, oversnap everything, because you don’t want to miss a thing (and secretly want to remember it all forever).

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There’s such a strong Greek influence here — in the architecture, the culture, even the laid-back charm — that it almost feels like Turkey’s very own Santorini (minus the donkeys!). The town has this dreamy, bohemian soul that’s impossible not to fall in love with.
 

By midday, the heat hit a sweltering 40°C (no exaggeration!), so we did what any sensible person would do — escaped to Port Alaçatı Marina. Within minutes, our feet were buried in silky white sand, and we were cooling off in the most pristine, turquoise waters. It was super busy, and we decided to skip the trendy beach clubs — I mean, dragging my poor mum into a blaring beach party? Can you imagine? 

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As evening rolled in, Alaçatı shimmered to life — families and tourists filled the cobbled streets, as packed and buzzing as Santorini itself. I’ll admit, it was overwhelming at times (crowds aren’t always my thing!), and unless you’ve booked in advance, you’re likely waiting 45 minutes to an hour for a table.

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Thankfully, we stumbled upon the most incredible little restaurant with out-of-this-world food — and having our South African friends visiting from Istanbul (aka our insider guides!) made all the difference. Their local tips were gold.

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We laughed, feasted, and wandered until our feet ached… and to top it all off, we watched the Euros final in the town square — pretty sure we were the only English supporters for miles! 🇬🇧 We even got gifted a massive fruit platter as a “condolence gesture” — cheeky, but well received!