Places to Visit in Cunda – Cunda Island Travel Guide

Cunda Island, also known as Alibey Island, is famous for its beaches and places to visit. There are so many beautiful spots here that I recommend you stay for at least 2-3 days. Cunda Island is a popular holiday destination during the summer months, but I don’t suggest visiting during public holidays or religious festivals. It is one of the best places for a calm and peaceful holiday.

Another thing that makes Cunda special is its Cretan cuisine and streets filled with Greek heritage. If you want to feel free, peaceful and relaxed, Cunda Island is a very good choice. Now, let’s have a look at the places to visit in Cunda, how to get there, and its beaches.

Where is Cunda?

Cunda Island is one of the peaceful villages of the Aegean, located in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir. This island is only a few minutes away from Ayvalık and is known for its natural beauty, historical stone houses and calm atmosphere. With roads surrounded by olive trees, a sparkling sea and a village square decorated with typical Aegean architecture, Cunda feels like a place where time moves slowly. You can easily reach this lovely island from Ayvalık by ferry. It’s a wonderful destination for those who want to enjoy the sea or explore the area’s historical and cultural treasures.

How to Get to Cunda Island?

Reaching Cunda Island is very simple, but the most recommended option is to travel by private car. Because if you want to visit every corner of Cunda Island, you’ll need a vehicle. The distance from Istanbul to Cunda Island by car is about 436 km and takes around 5 hours.

To travel to Cunda Island by bus, you first need to take a bus to Balıkesir. After arriving in Balıkesir, you can take another bus or a minibus to Ayvalık. From there, you can reach Cunda Island by taking one of the ferries departing from Ayvalık Port.

For air travel, you can fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport. The flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. From the airport, it takes around 1 hour 30 minutes by taxi or bus to reach Ayvalık.

When to Visit Cunda Island?

In my opinion, Cunda Island can be visited in every season. However, the best time is between May and September. It’s a good option for a summer holiday, ideal for swimming and sunbathing on the beaches. But since it’s the high season, it can get quite crowded, which is not a reason for me to visit at that time. The most suitable period for Cunda is September and October.

Accommodation in Cunda Island

How to Get to Cunda Island?

Getting to Cunda Island is very simple, but the most recommended option is to travel by private car. This is because if you want to explore every part of the island, you’ll need a vehicle. The distance from Istanbul to Cunda Island by car is around 436 km, and it takes about 5 hours.

If you prefer to travel by bus, you first need to take a bus to Balıkesir. From Balıkesir, you can catch another bus or minibus to Ayvalık. Once you arrive in Ayvalık, you can reach Cunda Island by taking one of the ferries departing from Ayvalık Port.

If you choose to travel by plane, you can fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport. The flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. From the airport, it takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by taxi or bus to get to Ayvalık.

When to Visit Cunda Island?

In my opinion, Cunda Island can be visited in any season. However, the best time to go is between May and September. It’s a great period for a summer holiday, ideal for swimming and sunbathing on the beaches. But since it’s the high season, it gets quite crowded, which is not my personal preference. I would say the most suitable time to visit Cunda is during September and October.

Accommodation in Cunda Island

List of Places to Visit in Cunda

• 1Cunda Streets
• 2Agios Yannis Church
• 3Cunda Taksiyarhis Church/Rahmi M. Koç Museum
• 4Sevim and Necdet Kent Library
• 5Panaya Church
• 6Cunda Despot House
• 7Cunda Windmill

Cunda Places to Visit Map

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Places to Visit in Cunda

Cunda Streets

Ah, those colourful streets leading to the sea! The narrow, winding streets of Cunda are lined with beautiful, brightly painted Greek houses. One of the nicest activities you can do in Cunda is to wander through its charming streets. Especially in the evening hours, Cunda’s streets become lively. You can sit at the cafés and restaurants along the streets and enjoy the atmosphere of the island.

The best time to explore the streets of Cunda is in the early morning, when the sun is still low and the crowds haven’t arrived yet. At this hour, you can truly feel the island’s peaceful and calm atmosphere. With both its historical and natural beauty, Cunda’s streets are definitely worth seeing.

Agios Yannis Church

Agios Yannis Church in Cunda was built in the 18th century and is located at Aşıklar Tepesi, the highest point of the island. After the Treaty of Lausanne was signed between Turkey and Greece in 1923, the church was left to the Greek community. By the 1960s, it had fallen into disuse.

In 2006, the church was purchased by the Rahmi Koç Museum and carefully restored. It was then converted into a library and opened to visitors in 2007 under the name Sevim ve Necdet Kent Library. Inside, you can find not only books about Cunda and Ayvalık but also church artefacts and icons on display.

Taksiyarhis Church / Rahmi M. Koç Museum

The Taksiyarhis Church in Cunda is a Greek Orthodox church and museum built in 1844. In 1927-1928, it was converted into a mosque without a minaret and was later damaged by a storm in 2003. In 2012, the church was restored by the Rahmi M. Koç Museum and turned into a museum. Today, it displays various historical and cultural artefacts from Cunda Island.

Sevim ve Necdet Kent Library

The Sevim ve Necdet Kent Library is located at Aşıklar Tepesi on Cunda Island. It was restored by the Rahmi M. Koç Museum and opened in 2007. The library consists of an 18th-century Greek church and a 19th-century windmill. The church now serves as the reading room, while the windmill is used as a café and exhibition hall.

The library is open to visitors every day from 09:00 to 18:00, and entry is free.

Panaya Church

Panayia Church is a Greek Orthodox church built in 1863, located in Mithatpaşa Neighbourhood on Bakkal Street in Cunda Island. After the population exchange in 1923, the church was abandoned and today remains in ruins.

On the surviving walls of the church, you can still see motifs from its period. For example, on the north side of the church, above a window, there is a pediment featuring a cross and two angel figures. Although in ruins, Panayia Church is one of the island’s important historical structures and is still open to visitors today.

Cunda Despot’s House

The Cunda Despot’s House was built in 1862 by a Greek clergyman. After the population exchange in 1923, it remained abandoned for many years. In the 2000s, it was carefully restored and started to serve as a hotel.

Cunda Windmill

The Cunda Windmill is one of the popular spots for visitors to the island. It is believed to have been built between 1600 and 1650. The windmill was used for grinding wheat for many years but was damaged in the 1944 earthquake. The location of the windmill offers a fantastic view of both Ayvalık and Cunda Island—a perfect place to enjoy the scenery!

Places to Swim in Cunda Island

One of the best daytime activities in Cunda is swimming in the sea. If you’re looking for places to swim in Cunda, this blog post is for you!

We’ve reached the end of this article on Places to Visit in Cunda. See you in the next article.

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