Ayayorgi

Ayayorgi is a small bay a few minutes from Çeşme town, reached by a road that drops sharply to the water. There is little sand — the shoreline is rock and platform — and the appeal is the depth and clarity of the water, plus the clubs built along it.

The rhythm is predictable and part of the pleasure: swim and lunch in the early afternoon, the bay fills as the light softens, music rises through the evening, and dinner happens where you already are. Reservations and a minimum spend are normal in high season.

It suits travellers who want the peninsula's social summer rather than a quiet beach day. Come early for space, or late for the atmosphere.