In the summer of 2022 we visited our beloved Lesvos and thought it would be a good idea to travel to Ayvalik and Moschonisia.
Since the distance by sea from the port of Mytilene is less than an hour, we thought we could not miss this opportunity and so we bought two ferry tickets to visit Ayvali and Moschonisia. And since we received several questions for tips and information about this particular excursion, we decided to compile them in this article to help those who want to travel to the coast of Asia Minor.
How to get to Ayvalik and Moschonisia.
Unfortunately there are no direct flights to Ayvalik and Moschonisia. However, you can fly to Izmir from El. Venizelos airport with a direct flight to Izmir.
Here we should note that from September 2022, ferry services from the port of Thessaloniki to Izmir started, which is a nice idea for a long road trip to the coast of Central Asia.
In our case, we booked tickets from the port of Mytilene just two days before our departure. In the summer, there are daily boat departures from the port of Mytilene to Ayvalik, so you will definitely find a place to travel.
In this link you can read about Lesvos Island and the top 13 things you have to see in this beautiful Greek Island.
Unfortunately, in the winter there is a chance that there are few or no services. At least, this has been the case in recent years due to covid. And just this year, in the spring of 2022, the Mytilene-Ayvalik connection with a Turkish ferry company started again.
Read also about Chios Island for the sights, the beaches and the places you have to visit by clicking on this link.
The cost of buying tickets has also increased compared to the past, with the price of a ticket (including return) reaching 35€/person. If you have a vehicle, you pay the appropriate fee.
Documents required for Turkey.
No special documents are required to enter Turkey. You can enter the country with your identity card (if you are Greek) or passport. You just have to pass the formal customs check.
You can read also:
Moschonisia: A jewel on the coast of Turkey
Transportation. Taxi or bus?
We would say that if you are several people, have enough luggage and want to avoid the crowds, you can take a taxi. After first doing the necessary bargaining for the cost of the trip you want to take. We were charged 7€ for the ride from the customs office to Moschonisia. But we preferred to use public transportation, namely the bus.
You can read also: 5 things to do in Ayvalik on one day trip from Lesvos Island
Opposite the customs office is the bus stop. Actually, there are minibuses that go all the time to Ayvalik and Moschonisia. You pay for the bus on the spot to the driver. You don’t need a public transport card or tickets as you will see many people with them. The cost if you have Euros is 0.50€/person and in Turkish Liras it is 7.5 TR/person. Don’t worry about which bus number to take. The destination is indicated on each one.
Do I need to change currency?
Our advice is that it’s best to change currency when you arrive in Ayvalik and Moschonisia. Not only it is more advantageous to spend the local currency to avoid losing the exchange rate, but also they don’t accept Euros everywhere. Officially, they wouldn’t accept our credit card at any of the museums. So we did all our transactions in Turkish Lira.
You can get your own Revolut card and use it for all your transactions in Greece and abroad by clicking this link.
You will find several places in Ayvalik and Moschonisia to change money, but it is more convenient if you are a Revolut holder to withdraw money directly from a bank ATM without losing any commission.
Mobile network & Internet
Turkey is outside the Schengen area, which means that your phone connection will not work if you want to talk or use data from your package. The expensive solution is to roam or buy a cheap package, but nothing is cheaper than buying a SIM card. So make sure you buy a SIM soon (there are several shops on Atatürk Blv. near the market) if you plan to stay in the country for several days.
Book your stay now in either Ayvalik or Moschonisia and discover the beauty of the coast.
Language of communication with locals.
There’s no need to be nervous here either. Several people have asked us if we have any difficulties in communicating. The truth is that we never get frustrated. You will always find a way to communicate in a foreign country.
In our case, even though Ayvalik and Moschonisia are tourist places, we met people who did not speak English. Others were fluent in English and we even met two people who knew Greek quite well, so don’t worry about communication. Either way, all the people were polite, smiling and willing to help.
Ayvalik and Moschonisia: A day trip to Minor Asia
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