Geyikli, Turkey: Beaches, the Bozcaada Ferry Port and Where to Stay

Geyikli is the town on Turkey’s northern Aegean coast where you catch the ferry to Bozcaada. It’s also a place where the destination you enter on your map makes a real difference. Search for Geyikli Belediyesi Halk Plajı if you want a swim, Odunluk İskelesi for the old waterfront and Geyikli Yükyeri İskelesi to board the ferry. With a few hours to spare, choose one coastal stop before sailing. With a night on the mainland, you can visit an ancient port city and still have the evening free to watch the sun go down over the island.

Where is Geyikli, and which part should you visit?

Geyikli lies in the district of Ezine, south of Çanakkale. The town centre is inland, about 12 km from the centre of Ezine. It’s a useful stop if you want breakfast supplies or something local to take home. Beside the municipal building, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Park has a century-old olive tree. If you’re looking at bottles of oil afterwards, the name to look for is Geyikli Zeytinyağı: it’s a registered Turkish designation of origin for the area’s olive oil.

If you’re arriving by bus or minibus, ask whether it goes all the way to Yükyeri İskelesi. A destination board saying “Geyikli” may get you to town when you actually need the waterfront. Travelling with luggage, it’s also worth deciding where you want to be dropped off before you set out: the beach and the ferry terminal serve very different purposes.

Geyikli’s public beach and the old pier at Odunluk

For a beach day on the mainland, head for Geyikli Belediyesi Halk Plajı. Halk plajı means “public beach”, and this one has a sandy shore. It’s a good choice if you want to spend the afternoon swimming without taking the car across to Bozcaada. Outside the main holiday season, check which facilities are open if you’re counting on a changing area or a parasol. For a walk along the water, all you need is the beach itself.

Odunluk has a different story. Its name comes from the wood once sold here to steamships travelling to and from the Dardanelles. Acorns were also shipped from this stretch of coast, and island passengers once left from the old pier. These days, come for the view back across to Bozcaada. If you’re spending the night nearby, save Odunluk for the end of the day: you can watch the light change over the island without having to leave for a sailing.

Catching the ferry from Geyikli to Bozcaada

Today’s ferries leave from Yükyeri. You may see Bozcaada called “Tenedos” in English guidebooks; the name on the ferry route is Bozcaada. The crossing takes about 35 minutes on the water. Parking, joining the vehicle queue and boarding all come before that. If you’re planning a swim first, work backwards from the time you need to be at the port, rather than the published departure time.

Taking the car makes sense if you need it for your plans on the island. For a day spent around Bozcaada town, you can also leave it near Yükyeri and cross on foot. Check the parking terms if you’ll be away overnight. Our guide to the Bozcaada ferry from Geyikli covers the two options in more detail. Check the operator GESTAŞ’s service notices on the day you travel, especially in windy weather.

Two ways to spend your time on the mainland

A short stop before your sailing

Choose the public beach if you have swimwear to hand and time to change afterwards. If your bags are packed for the island, make Odunluk your one stop instead. A stroll by the old pier gives you a view of where you’re heading without getting everything out of the car. If you’re arriving late or the vehicle queue is building up, go straight to Yükyeri and save the coast for your return.

A full day: Alexandria Troas, Dalyan and an evening at the beach

Start in the village of Dalyan in the Ezine district. When searching for directions, add “Ezine” or “Çanakkale” to the name so you don’t select Dalyan in southwestern Turkey. The main reason to come here is Alexandria Troas, once a major port city. The surviving walls of the Roman baths give a better sense of its scale than a map can. Our visitor’s guide to Alexandria Troas explains what to look for as you walk through the site.

Follow the ruins with a visit to the former inner harbour, now known as the Pink Lake. The water isn’t always pink, and the heart shape seen in aerial photographs is much harder to make out from the shore. The connection to the city is reason enough to visit: you’re looking at the water where ships once unloaded their cargo. Read when the Pink Lake changes colour if photography is a priority. Afterwards, return to Geyikli for a swim and finish at Odunluk.

Where to stay near Geyikli

If you want to walk from your room to the beach, look along the Geyikli coast. If Bozcaada is one day of a longer drive that also takes in Troy or Ezine, a mainland base on the Çanakkale–İzmir road is a practical alternative. Our hotel, Yükseloğulları Hotel, is in the village of Bozeli, about 15 km (9 miles) from Yükyeri ferry port. Breakfast is included, and we have free guest parking and an electric vehicle charging point. You can view our rooms in Ezine or enquire about a stay for your travel dates.

Frequently asked questions about Geyikli

Is Geyikli on Bozcaada?

No. Geyikli is on the Turkish mainland. Bozcaada is the island opposite, reached by ferry from Yükyeri.

Can you swim in Geyikli without taking the ferry?

Yes. Look for Geyikli Belediyesi Halk Plajı, the sandy public beach on the mainland.

Are Odunluk pier and the Bozcaada ferry port the same place?

No. Odunluk is the historic trading pier. For the ferry, enter Geyikli Yükyeri İskelesi as your destination.

Is a day enough for Geyikli and Alexandria Troas?

Yes, if you’re spending the day on the mainland. Visit the ruins in the morning, then head back to the coast. With a ferry to catch the same day, a single beach or waterfront stop is the more comfortable plan.