Foça Travel Guide - Special Places to See in Foça

Named after the seals, Foça is a holiday resort in Izmir that has managed to preserve its nature and history to this day and has not yet been completely untouched compared to other holiday resorts in the Aegean.
Unlike crowded tourism centers, Foça is a holiday destination for those who want to find peace and escape from the crowds of metropolitan cities. It is a small and charming fishing town, a little smaller than other holiday resorts, not fully developed in terms of tourism, especially preferred by Norwegian and Swedish tourists.
#apikrediadiosilegeziyos #adiosrotalari and Foça trip starts...🎒🤗

Foça district emerged as an Ionian city in ancient times, taking the name Phokaia from the seals living in the surrounding seas, and this name has come to us as Foça. Seals are still one of the symbols of the city. The town was one of the most important settlements of the Ionians. On the ruins of the Ionian city, Foça, even today, many important historical remains can be found underground.

The famous historian Homer also mentioned Foça in his works. Apart from seals, one of the symbols of Foça, which has been the subject of mythological legends, is the rooster. Foça resembles an island town today, surrounded by many large and small islands. You can explore these islands by joining boat tours.

Foça has been protected with its natural and archaeological sites, and since tourism has not developed much, its nature remains untouched, offering tranquility with its blue seas and lush greenery. The friendly people of Foça welcome their guests as if they were their own friends. Although not highly developed in terms of tourism, it is truly a peaceful holiday destination.

Foça hotels offer comfortable accommodation options to their guests. Although there are large accommodation facilities in Foça, hotels mainly consist of boutique and small hotels. There aren't many large resorts in Foça, hence the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. Foça hotels are mostly concentrated in the area called Old Foça. You can find charming hotels by the seaside, nestled in nature, or in the streets. Whichever hotel you stay in, you will be quite close to the center.

Hotels open for service starting from the beginning of the summer holiday season in April and continue until almost the end of October. They offer almost all modern amenities. Their restaurants serve Turkish and international cuisine throughout the day.

Foça hotel prices are quite reasonable compared to many famous holiday resorts. There are accommodation facilities suitable for every guest's budget and taste.

If you are planning a beautiful holiday in Foça this year, you can visit our website to get information about Foça hotels, Foça hotel prices, and affordable price options. If you are going in the summer months, don't forget to make a reservation in advance.

Places to Visit in Foça:

• Don't leave without buying a book from @ezop.kitabevi!
• I recommend those going to Foça to definitely take a boat tour and see Atatürk Island.
• When you go to Foça, one of the places to visit is the Persian Monumental Tombs. They are worth seeing, although they are 7 km away from Foça. The oldest theater in Anatolia is also in Foça.
• Those who want to explore Foça's undiscovered blue coves can take a boat tour to visit the coves. You can also visit small and large islands, and even swim in some of them.
• You can see the Windmills. There are only two windmills left today out of the windmills that were active 40 years ago. These windmills were used by Turks and Greeks to grind grains in the past.
• You can visit the Fatih Mosque. The building, which was originally built as a church, was converted into a mosque during the Fatih Sultan Mehmet period. There is a stone minaret and madrasa in its courtyard.
• You can visit the Ottoman Cemetery. This cemetery, dating back to the period of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, is still in use today. It is even possible to come across graves dating back to the year 1059.
• You should also see the Greek Cemetery. It is said that this cemetery, located in the Maşatlık area, belongs to a Greek prince and princess.
• You can go to Frigya Hill. The most beautiful hill of Foça is waiting for you for a romantic sunset view.
• Don't leave without going to the Siren Rocks. These rocks, which are the subject of Homer's famous Odyssey, were formed as a result of the erosion of waves and winds. These small islands near Foça are generally known as the Siren Rocks. Swimming here is prohibited to preserve natural life, as this is also the habitat of famous seals.
• Foça Aqueduct. The aqueduct, built in the Middle Ages to meet the water needs of Foça, still exists today. Finally, don't leave without seeing the Foça Ancient Theater.

Where to Swim in Foça:

• *Hanedan Beach: One of the most preferred places to swim in Foça among locals. It is a facility with food and beverage service, sun loungers, and umbrellas.
• *Voodoo Beach: A beach especially preferred by young people.
• *Sazlıca Beaches: Another point where several facilities are located on the same bay, and the color of the water is magnificent. It is located on the road between Old Foça and New Foça.
• *Q Beach: It is located in Mersinaki Bay near Old Foça. Q Beach offers guests a quality environment where they can spend quality time within the unique beauty of Mersinaki Bay.

Where to Stay in Foça:

There are nice options to stay in Foça. You can see our recommendations by clicking on the link. https://www.boutiquesmallhotels.com/foca-hotels

Where to Eat in Foça:

Foça's cuisine generally reflects the characteristics of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. Olives and olive oil, salads, and greens are prominent. We can generally say that it is a healthy cuisine for local cuisine. Among the local flavors, artichoke stands out, and you can try dishes such as artichoke stew with sour herbs, yogurt fish, stuffed squid, fish head soup, stuffed fish, fish soup, grilled sardines, and lamb artichokes.

You can also taste stewed or salads made with sour herbs such as wild celery, purslane, field pennyroyal, dill, chicory, and turnip greens. Besides all these dishes, due to the touristic features, you may come across street vendors or sandwich shops in the town. You can find restaurants serving grilled meat and chicken products, as well as dishes like kebab, pita, and more.

If you wish, you can try fresh seasonal fish, yogurt fish, various olive oil dishes, and different seafood at seaside fish restaurants.

*Fokai Restaurant: A place we liked for its appetizers and fish.

*Kavala Cafe & Winehouse: Kavala Cafe is a great spot to watch the sunset. 

*For ice cream: Dörtler Bakery **Liman Restaurant is another fish restaurant. It is favored by the locals.

• Other places you can visit: 
• @rosole_ristorante_italiano, a successful Italian restaurant. 
• Good fish restaurants: Deniz Restaurant and Fokai Restaurant 
• Ege dishes: Kuzina 
• For meat and kebabs, at the entrance of Eski Foça Market: Konya Haranı (delicious Konya cuisine) 
• Grill pub: @focabiberocakbasi 
• Mastic Ice Cream: Giritli Nazmi Usta The only place I recommend for both fun and enjoying a drink; coffee or alcohol: Gatsby Foça
•  For home-cooked meals, Çarşı Restaurant is the best. "Volkan's Place Aheste" is by far the best. İzmir who visit Foça every weekend go straight there. The appetizers are unique to this place and can only be found here.

What to Buy in Foça 

When you visit Foça, you can shop at the Foça District Market held on Sundays, which could be described as world-famous. All products here are natural. You can buy fresh vegetables and fruits, dairy products, and fresh or dried herbs. You’ll also find products like winter paste, tarhana, jams, and marmalades.

In the town center and shops in Foça, you can find original items, souvenirs, decorative items, jewelry, and ceramic figurines. You can also buy textile products, clothing, hand-embroidered tablecloths, and fabrics.

Some special events and festivals organized in Foça are as follows:

Foça Artichoke Festival: Foça is famous for its Artichoke Festival. In this festival, which is held every year in April or May, local artichoke dishes are served, concerts and events are organized.

Foça Sea Festivals: In summer, usually in July or August, Foça Sea Festivals are organized. This event includes sea sports shows, concerts, street theater and other events.

Foça Classical Music Festival: This festival, which takes place every year in September, hosts various concerts for classical music lovers.

Foça Book Days: Foça Book Days are organized for literature lovers. Writers, poets and readers come together, signing days are organized and literature-related events are held.

The dates of these events may change every year, so it is important to check the current dates and details of the events before your visit. 

How to Get to Foça

 If you are traveling by bus, you can find bus services from almost every city to İzmir Bus Terminal or directly to Foça. If you prefer to fly, you can reach Foça from İzmir by minibuses or buses after arriving by plane. If you wish to drive to Foça, you can use the İzmir-Çanakkale road. Here are some travel details:

 o The distance from Manisa to Foça is about 70 kilometers and takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

 oThe distance from İzmir to Foça is about 70 kilometers and takes about 1 hour. 

 o The distance from Istanbul to Foça is about 600 kilometers and takes approximately 8 hours and 15 minutes. o The distance from Bursa to Foça is about 360 kilometers and takes about 5 hours.

 o The distance from Ankara to Foça is about 640 kilometers and takes about 9 hours.