Balikesir is a city in Turkey and is the capital city of Balikesir Province. Balikesir is located in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 338,936. Between 1341–1922, it was the capital of Karasi.

The capital of Balikesir province contains many historical buildings;

• The Saat Kulesi (Clock Tower) is the symbol of the city, built by Mehmet Pasha in 1827. It is a smaller version of the Galata Tower. It destroyed in 1898 as a result of the big earthquake and rebuilt in 1901 in its final form.
• Sadirvan (The Historical Fountain) is a popular fountain built in 1908 near the Saat Kulesi.
• Zaganos Pasha Mosque built by and named after the Grand Vizier of Mehmet the Conqueror, Zaganos Pasha in 1461, was once part of a great complex. Today only the mosque and baths remain. The Zaganos Pasha Mosque Complex and Yildirim Mosque are popular spiritual areas.
• Yildirim Mosque is the oldest remaining work from the Ottoman period in Balikesir city. Bayezid I had it built in 1388 in the second half of the 14th century.
• Umurbey Mosque has an epitaph of three lines engraved on marble using a special script called Sülüs. The date is 1412.
• The Karesi Bey Mausoleum was built in 1336. It contains the cenotaphs of Karesi Bey and his five sons. Karesi Bey's sarcophagus is decorated with Sufic script.
• Balikesir's Historical Windmills are in Karakol village which is 25 km (15.53 mi) from Balikesir, there are seven historical windmills. But only three windmills remain. Hunting and tracking are the best sports, accompanied by windmill views.
• Degirmen Bogazi (means strait of a mill) is a forest area 10 km from Balikesir on the way to Bursa, lies nestled between two hills; on holidays and weekends families flock to this scenic spot. This picnic place contains tea gardens and restaurants.
• Atatürk Parki (Balikesir City Park) is a park which has been in service since the 1960s. The ground is covered with grass. There is a poolside café and rest facility. Celtis (Hackberry) and pine trees are all over the park.
• Balikesir Local-Civil Houses are the city's oldest districts (Aygoren and Karaoglan district) have historical and traditional houses which show the economy and lifestyle of the city until the 1500s.
• Thermal Resorts or thermal springs are very famous in Balikesir. The major thermal spas are Pamukçu, Ilica, Kepekler and Hisaralani.
• Balikesir National Photography Museum is the only photography museum in Turkey.
• The Museum of National Moment exhibits historical memories of the city.