Things To Do
in Lapseki

Freshly caught, simply grilled and served with lemon and salad; available at seaside restaurants and fish grills along the promenade.

Must-Try!

A variety of small dishes—hummus, ezme, stuffed vine leaves, and local olive oil salads—perfect for sharing at taverns and fish restaurants.

Renowned locally for quality; find them at markets and fruit stalls in late spring/early summer and used in desserts or sold fresh.

Common breakfast or snack options sold at bakeries and cafés—flaky filled pastries and sesame ring bread with tea.

Weekly and daily stalls selling seasonal fruit (cherries in season), vegetables, olives, cheeses, and snacks—great for sampling local produce and buying picnic supplies.

Buy freshly landed fish or have it prepared at nearby restaurants; seasonal variety depends on local catches.

Use polite greetings (merhaba) and accept offers of tea when visiting small shops or homes; Turks value hospitality and warm interaction.

Dress modestly in conservative areas and when visiting mosques—women should have shoulders covered and carry a scarf for head covering if entering a mosque.

Remove shoes when invited into private homes, avoid loud or boisterous behavior in small-town settings, and ask permission before photographing people up close.

Be mindful of prayer times during Ramadan and avoid eating or drinking in public during fasting hours if you want to be especially respectful.

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory; in restaurants leave ~5-10% if service was good, round up taxi fares, and tip hotel porters a small amount. For small cafés and lokantas leaving change or rounding up is common.

Turkish lira (TRY) is the local currency; cards are widely accepted in restaurants and shops, but carry cash for markets, small eateries and ferry kiosks. ATMs are available in town; inform your bank before travel to avoid card blocks.

Mild temperatures, blooming orchards (cherry blossom and fruit trees), fewer tourists—excellent for outdoor walks and photography. Occasional rain; pack a light jacket.

Warm to hot and dry, busiest season with seasonal visitors and more open restaurants; great for swimming, boating and outdoor dining but expect higher prices and busy ferries on holiday weekends.

Cooling temperatures and falling tourist numbers; pleasant weather for hiking and exploring local markets with late-season fruit and olive harvest time.

Mild, wet winters with chilly breezes off the strait; many tourist services reduce hours but the town remains calm—bring a waterproof jacket and layers.

The closest regional airport with domestic flights to Istanbul and seasonal routes; roughly a 45–75 minute drive depending on route and traffic.

Serves domestic flights and is a convenient option for western arrivals; approximately 1.5–2 hours by car.

Major international gateways with frequent domestic connections; expect a 3.5–5 hour drive or bus journey to Lapseki from Istanbul depending on traffic and ferry schedules.

Another regional international airport offering connections to Lapseki by car or bus in around 3–4 hours.

Vegetarian options are available but limited compared to large cities—ask for vegetable stews, salads, mezes, gözleme, and cheeses. Many lokantas can adapt dishes if you explain (vejetaryen).

More challenging but possible: rely on vegetable mezes, tomato/cucumber salads, stuffed vegetables (sebzeli dolma) and bread. Bring snacks if you have strict needs.

Traditional dishes often include bread or pastries; grilled fish and salads are safe choices, but cross-contamination is common—communicate needs clearly (glutensiz).

Language cards explaining allergies in Turkish are useful; small kitchens may not manage severe allergy handling as reliably as larger hotels.