UrlaStory N° 18
Urla Wine Valley — Turkish Aegean Wine Tour
Discover Turkey's finest boutique wineries on the sun-drenched Urla peninsula with Aegean views, ancient ruins and olive groves
The itinerary.
3 days · 9 stops
Friday
Day One
Arrive İzmir, drive to Urla and check into a boutique vineyard hotel
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Urla Old Town
Charming Aegean town with old Greek houses, olive presses and narrow streets. Walk the Kalealtı neighbourhood at sunset for the best light.
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Urlice Winery
Urla's pioneering winery that started the Turkish Aegean wine renaissance. Their Bağcı series is the benchmark for local grape varieties like Bornova Misketi and Foça Karası. urlicewines.com
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Lal Restaurant Urla
Excellent Aegean cuisine using local ingredients — wild herbs, fresh fish, Urla artichokes. Great natural wine list.
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Hotel
Taş Otel Urla booking.com · AI hotel ratings: hotelist.com
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Getting around
- Rent a car for the 3-day trip (40 km to Urla, 35 minutes)
Saturday
Day Two
Winery hopping day — three of the peninsula's finest producers
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Sofa Winery
Excellent boutique winery in the hills above Urla. Their Karasakız is one of Turkey's best red wines. Tasting room has panoramic Aegean views. Book tasting in advance at sofawinery.com
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İziz Winery
Family-run producer specialising in local varieties. Their Bornova Misketi white is extraordinary — fragrant and fresh. Small group tastings only.
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Çeşme Peninsula Beach
After wine tasting, cool off at Çeşme's crystal Aegean beaches. Altınkum Beach has the finest sand and calmest water on the İzmir coast.
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Hotel
Taş Otel Urla booking.com · AI hotel ratings: hotelist.com
→
Getting around
- Drive between wineries on the Urla peninsula (compact, 20-30 km total)
- Drive from Urla to Çeşme (35 km, 35 min)
Sunday
Day Three
Sığacık old town, İzmir market and departure
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Sığacık Kalesi
Venetian-built castle in the lovely fishing village of Sığacık (15 km from Urla). Sunday market by the castle is excellent for local produce, hand-woven textiles and antiques.
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Teos Ancient City
Ruins of the ancient Greek city of Teos, birthplace of the poet Anacreon. The Temple of Dionysus is remarkably well preserved and very few tourists visit.
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Kemeralti Bazaar İzmir
The world's largest traditional market for dried figs, sultanas, olive oil and Aegean spices.
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Urla Wine Valley — Turkish Aegean Wine Tour?
3 days. The itinerary runs from Friday to Sunday and covers 9 curated stops across 3 days.
How much does Urla Wine Valley — Turkish Aegean Wine Tour cost?
Mid-range — €150–300 per day per person.
Where do you stay during Urla Wine Valley — Turkish Aegean Wine Tour?
Taş Otel Urla is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Urla Wine Valley — Turkish Aegean Wine Tour itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 9 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Urla.
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