What to do on the beach

The main draw is simple: swim in the sheltered water, sunbathe on the sand, and take a long barefoot walk along the cove, where the green hills meeting the sea make it a pleasant spot for photographs and quiet. Picnicking is the local habit here—you are welcome to bring your own food and drinks and settle in for the day, and the gentle surf makes it an easy beach for children.↗↗

Just steps from the water sit a handful of family-run seafront cafés and restaurants, several facing straight onto the beach. They range from casual breakfast-and-tea spots serving toast and home cooking at the table on the sand, to proper meyhane-style fish restaurants where locals recommend the seabass, seafood meze and grilled fish with the sound of the waves. Staying for an evening tea or a seaside dinner is an easy, popular way to end the day.↗

Facilities and honest expectations

This is a natural beach rather than a fully equipped resort, so keep expectations grounded. Public showers are available at the cove, but sun loungers and umbrellas are not reliably provided as standard—some years a few rentals appear at the seafront cafés, while other visitors find none and bring their own. Food and drink options exist along the shore but are limited in number and range, and local reviewers have long pointed out that seating and dining facilities don't always keep up with demand.↗↗↗

The swimming area is relatively narrow, so on hot summer weekends and public holidays the cove fills quickly and can feel crowded. If you want space, come on a weekday or arrive early. A useful safety note: although the bay protects the water on most days, when strong northerly winds pick up the waves and nearshore current can rise sharply—respect the sea and avoid swimming when it looks rough.↗↗

Getting there

Çeşmeönü sits on the coast road just west of Perşembe's town centre, roughly 3–4 km from the square and about 19 km from Ordu city centre—only a 15–20 minute drive, which makes it a classic half-day escape from the city. Coming from Ordu, follow the Samsun–Ordu / Bolaman coast road toward Perşembe and keep west along the shore; the beach is signposted and reached directly off the coastal route. Ordu-Giresun airport lies about 35 km away. Perşembe is also served by shared minibuses (dolmuş) from Ordu, and there is parking along the road near the beach.↗↗↗

Nearby: making a day of it in Perşembe

Combine the beach with Perşembe's other coastal treasures. The tiny harbour town of Perşembe itself is worth a wander and a seafood lunch, while nearby Hoynat Adası—an islet that is a sanctuary for cormorants and gulls—is best admired from safe viewpoints along the shore. The Yason Burnu peninsula, with its old stone chapel framed by sea and forest, is one of the region's most photographed spots, and the white-sand Çaka Plajı offers another, calmer swimming alternative farther along the coast.↗↗↗

A pop-culture footnote for Turkish travellers: this stretch of Kaleyaka coast is known as a filming location for the TV series Kuzey Yıldızı, so the beach and its seafront houses may look familiar on arrival.

Best time to visit

Summer (June–August) brings warm, settled weather and the best swimming, but also the biggest crowds—go early or midweek. Spring and early autumn (April–May, September–October) are milder and quieter, ideal for beach walks, picnics and tea by the water. Even in the cooler months the cove stays peaceful for a sea-air stroll, though swimming is seasonal.↗

Black Sea weather turns fast: bring a light rain layer and comfortable shoes, and check current sea and wind conditions on the day if you plan to swim.↗