Türkiye's Best-Known Cittaslow (Slow City) Towns

Cittaslow is a movement that arose in opposition to fast food — hence the "slow" moniker. It focuses on cities that promote a high-quality, sustainable lifestyle in contrast to an urban lifestyle that harms the environment and the people who live within it. It promotes cultural diversity and uniqueness in each city and region, and is firmly against the homogenising tide of globalisation. Not surprisingly, Türkiye has quite a number of Cittaslow member cities, as the Turkish lifestyle tends to fit very much within its mandate. Here are the best-known, where you can really just sit back and enjoy "the good life."

Seferihisar is a seaside paradise along the Aegean in the province of Izmir, a little along the road towards Çeşme. What qualifies it so perfectly for Cittaslow is its historic beauty — the ancient Carian city of Teos was founded here 4,000 years ago. The food — particularly its famous clementines — is outstanding, and the town gets most of its energy from solar, geothermal and wind sources. A truly lovely place to discover both the ancient past and a very sustainable present.

Gökçeada is the largest island in Türkiye — but that does not mean it is heavily developed or fast-paced. It is heavily wooded and amazingly self-contained for an island off a major coast, housing 94 traditional recipes local to the island using 16 indigenous products. The food you eat here is grown on the island itself, and Gökçeada really represents a world apart from mainland Türkiye — an amazing place to spend a long weekend entirely away from it all.

Akyaka is only just beginning to be discovered as a touristic treasure. Located in the south-west of the country in the province of Muğla right on the Mediterranean coast, it was once part of ancient Caria. Despite its remarkable history, it still carries the air of a small fishing village on the water, as if nothing has changed for centuries — with the added pleasure of excellent windsurfing on the Azmak River delta and perfect summer swimming in crystal-clear waters.

Halfeti is a lovely little farming village, much of which is now submerged in water following the construction of the Birecik Dam. You get to stay in a traditional village, half of which is underwater — the flooded stone houses, mosques and streets are visible beneath the Euphrates River, accessible by boat. Halfeti is also the only place in the world where the famous black rose (siyah gül) grows naturally — a dark crimson rose that appears almost black in the summer months.

Şavşat is a Black Sea coastal town that sits on the edge of a gorgeous lake and national park. Because it has so many bodies of water — including nearby streams and pools — the fish are plentiful and delicious. It gets wonderfully cold in winter, making it the ideal time to visit when the whole landscape is covered in snow and looks at its most pristine. The national park is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers in every season.

Eğirdir is a lakeside town named after Lake Eğirdir in the Turkish Lakes Region (Göller Yöresi). Surrounded by apple and rose orchards and tucked into the Taurus Mountains, it is one of Türkiye's most underrated travel destinations. A peninsula jutting into the lake is lined with old wooden houses and a Seljuk-era caravanserai, and the sunsets over the water are spectacular. Fresh lake fish restaurants and hiking trails into the mountains round out the perfect slow-travel experience.

Göynük is a small historic town in Bolu province in north-western Türkiye, set in a lush valley surrounded by forests. Its well-preserved Ottoman architecture — timber houses with overhanging upper floors, a historic mosque complex and traditional çarşı — gives it an authentically timeless character. Göynük is also the birthplace of the famous Ottoman statesman Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha (Çandarlı), and its local cuisine, particularly its tarhana soup and lamb dishes, reflects the rich food culture of the Black Sea region.

In a world of over-tourism and fast-paced itineraries, Cittaslow cities offer something profoundly different — a chance to slow down, eat well, connect with local people and understand the authentic rhythms of Turkish life. Turquaz Travel can incorporate any of these destinations into a custom Türkiye itinerary — start planning here.