A New Investment at Çandarlı Port
In June 2026, Turkey's Ministry of Industry and Technology announced a major investment for the port area at Çandarlı: shipbuilding group Tersan Tersanecilik will build a floating offshore wind turbine platform production facility there, with a fixed investment of roughly 21 billion Turkish lira. Tersan, led by Osman Nurettin Paksu and active in shipbuilding, maritime, steel and energy, was chosen from five applicants for the project.
A Quiet Fishing Town's Changing Profile
Until now, Çandarlı was mostly known as a summer town for holidaymakers heading north along the Aegean coast, with a calm bay and a Genoese-era castle. The new investment adds an industrial dimension to the town, and business travel to the area is expected to grow over the coming period — putting Çandarlı on the map for meetings and site visits, not just holidays.
Getting from the Airport to Çandarlı
A private transfer from İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Çandarlı takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, roughly 95 km (59 miles), passing the edge of the Aliağa industrial zone. For business travellers, flight-tracked pickups matter most — the driver waits at the terminal and times the transfer to your meeting schedule. Route and vehicle options are on the Çandarlı VIP transfer page.
When to Go and What to Plan For
In summer, Çandarlı is still very much a holiday town — restaurants around the bay fill up at lunch and dinner. For business visits, entering the port area itself may require a company appointment and ID check, so confirm the details with your host beforehand. Small shops in town still favour cash, though card payment is available in more places now, especially away from the smaller waterfront cafés.
Who It Suits
Çandarlı now works for business travellers coming for investment meetings, supplier visits or site inspections — not just holidaymakers. It also suits couples looking for a short, quiet stop away from crowds. Travellers wanting nightlife, shopping or a big beach won't find enough here; Foça or Çeşme cover that need better.
Combining It with Aliağa and Dikili
Çandarlı sits on the route north toward Aliağa and Dikili and fits easily into the same day as either. For a programme that also covers Aliağa's industrial zone, see our Aliağa business travel guide. If you're curious about the castle's history and how it compares with Dikili's, our Dikili and Çandarlı castles guide has more detail. As the port project develops, expect Çandarlı to matter more for both holiday and business travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the trip to Çandarlı take?
A private transfer from İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Çandarlı takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, passing the edge of the Aliağa industrial zone.
What do you need to enter the port area?
For business visits, entering the port area itself may require a company appointment and ID check, so confirm the details with your host beforehand.
Can you pay by card in Çandarlı?
Small shops in town still favour cash, though card payment is available in more places now, especially away from the smaller waterfront cafés where it's worth keeping this in mind.
Who is Çandarlı a good fit for?
It suits business travellers coming for investment meetings, supplier visits or site inspections, as well as couples looking for a short, quiet stop away from crowds; travellers wanting nightlife, shopping or a big beach will find Foça or Çeşme a better choice.
What other stops can be combined with a visit to Çandarlı?
Çandarlı sits on the route north toward Aliağa and Dikili and fits easily into the same day as either, making it simple to plan more than one stop on a single trip.