Sirince Travel Guide

When you hear the word Şirin, Şirince is a place of completely different beauty that will make you attribute different meanings. Those who have been to this village once want to go back again. Şirince is really a cute and small village in its own way, as mentioned in its name. Şirince is located in Selçuk district of İzmir and approximately 10 minutes away from the district centre. While it was already a village with enough tourists as a tourism potential, it came to the agenda with the apocalyptic scenarios in 2012 and managed to attract the attention of the whole world. Moreover, in recent years, Şirince is a place visited by many local and foreign tourists not only in the summer months but throughout the year.
In the work of the famous writer Dido Sotiroyo, Şirince is mentioned with the words ‘If there is such a place as heaven on earth, our Kırkınca (Şirince) must be a part of heaven’. You may think that Şirince is a piece of paradise among the olive and tangerine trees and citrus scents that greet you as you enter the village. The people of Şirince are also quite used to tourists. They see them as their guests rather than customers and they are very friendly. It is possible to see local motifs, figures, items or delicious products at every corner. However, one of the first things that come to mind when it comes to Şirince is the delicious and beautiful fruity Şirince wines. You can taste many varieties in almost every shop you enter. They are made from the products grown in the vineyards in Şirince. All of them are quite delicious and beautiful. But my recommendation is blueberry wine. You will not get enough of its taste. 
At the entrance of Şirince, there is a beautiful tea garden surrounded by trees in the centre. Depending on the season, spend some time inside or outside in that garden. You can eat a nice pancake (you can find all kinds of pancakes) and drink a tiredness coffee. In addition, the people of the village will definitely offer you fresh seasonal fruits.

Sirince Boutique Hotels

You also have options for accommodation in Şirince. For example, Şirince Boutique Hotels where you can stay alone with each other and nature. You can stay in the village or in the facilities in Selçuk district, 5 minutes away. Most of the hotels in Şirince have become hotels with the people renting a few rooms of their houses. You can also find pensions and boutique hotels in Sirince. Hotel, house or pension are all in the lap of nature, in the colourful garden and quite old historical buildings. Therefore, the decoration and architectural structures of the rooms are quite authentic. You can see lace decorations, old cabinets. When you stay in Şirince hotels, you start the day with fresh vegetables and olives grown in the region and golden yellow olive oil, regardless of the season. Also flavoured with mountain thyme. During the day, you can taste local flavours either in your hotel or in the restaurants and tea gardens in the village. You should definitely taste the Aegean dishes with olive oil and stuffed squash blossoms. At the corner corners you can see aunts selling their freshly baked, fresh and warm home-made bread.

Places to visit and see in Şirince

Apart from shopping, one of the most important historical buildings in Şirince Village is the Church of St Dimitros at the entrance of the village, which was once used as a mosque, which you reach by climbing the narrow streets. Another surviving historical building is the Church of St John. You can visit these places.    

You can visit the Steam Train Museum, which is about 15 minutes from Selçuk.      

The proximity of Şirince Village to the Ancient City of Ephesus and the Church of the Virgin Mary and Selçuk Castle is also a good opportunity for you. While you are in Şirince, we recommend that you do not come without seeing these historical buildings.

You can see the Temple of Hadrian in the ancient city of Ephesus.

You can go to the famous Pamucak Beach and enjoy the sea and sun here. You will enjoy the sea and the sun in Pamucak, which is a long and clean beach. If you want, you can also participate in daily boat tours.

See the Hodri Meydan Tower. Go to St John Baptist Church. Don't forget to visit this church, which is at least 300 years old. The church garden has an excellent view and there is also a section where you can do wine tasting.

If you wish, you can also visit this 12 metre high tower built in 2011.

Nesin Mathematics Village. This is a utopian learning space that takes mathematics out of the classroom and puts it into life, where teachers and students live together and have a say in the management of the place together, quietly, in touch with nature, non-profit. What it offers: apart from four delicious meals and a bed, maths education, nature, peace and a working environment! Other daily chores such as watering trees and flowers, landscaping, washing dishes, cleaning, laundry, peeling potatoes, chopping sovan, etc. are also carried out by collective labour.
The adventure started with Aziz Nesin's will to establish a Mathematics Institute and continued with Sevan Nişanyan and Ali Nesin's restoration of an olive grove in Şirince in 3 months. The result was an academic camp, which was run entirely on a voluntary basis and attended by world-renowned professors.
You can attend the ‘Vintage Festival’ held in Şirince in October.

You can visit Şirince Stone School Museum. The restaurant, where Artemis Restaurant and Wine House is located, serves in a historical school building. There is also Şirince Stone School Museum in a part of the school building. The building was used as a school building until the early 1990s.

The Theatre Madrasah is a space designed for research, work and relaxation on performing arts. This space, where both amateur and professional theatre artists can come together, is conceived as a real encounter point where artists and audiences can meet and interact.

History of Sirince 

As for the history of Şirince Village, it is said to be quite old. However, there is no exact evidence of when the first settlement started. It is said that some peoples settled here with the dissolution of the city of Ephesus. These dates date back to approximately the 6th century AD. The ruins found in the village today are said to belong to the 11th century. It is known that the old peoples were Greeks. After the 16th century, Turks also started to settle in the village. The water canals in the village today were from the Roman Period. The history of Şirince Village as a name is quite interesting. Greeks called the village Kirkince. According to some, Kırkınca. With the settlement of the Turks, the name began to be called Çirkince, contrary to the nature and atmosphere of the village. In the Republican Period, when the Governor of Izmir, Kazım Bey, went out to visit these places, he said that the name of such beautiful lands could not be Çirkince and that it should be changed to Şirince. After that time, the name of the village started to be used as Şirince.

What to Do in Şirince?

Şirince certainly turns into a more charming village in winter. Take a look at our notes in case you come in winter.

• -After drinking a hot village sahlep, stroll through all the streets of the village. A different story awaits you at every corner.
• -Enjoy gözleme made with Aegean herbs at Ayşe Hanım's place.
• -Have mulberry syrup with coffee in the sand. La Jardin, Artemis, and Üzüm Café are my recommendations.
• -Visit the wine cellars and taste fruit wines, and buy them if you like. There are wines made from all kinds of fruits. My favorites are blueberry and sloe. We tried them at Giritli Wine House. Also, taste the Judgment Day wine.
• -If you don't like fruit wines, make your way to Kaplankaya Wine House.
• -Visit the Church of St. John the Baptist and throw a coin into the pool in the garden to make a wish.
• -Dive into memories of education from the Tanzimat era to the Republic era at the Stone School.
• -Visit Lavender Village Products for authentic olive oil soap.
• -Visit the Mathematics Village. In the past, Şirince Village was much larger. Some say there were almost 2000 households. Today, contrary to these rumors, there are only around 200 houses in Şirince. If you haven't seen Şirince before, you don't have to wait for the summer. Autumn and winter months are also suitable for visiting and having a pleasant time in Şirince. Therefore, I suggest you plan your next weekend trip to Şirince. Moreover, if you consider a stay, you can also seize the opportunity to see historical places nearby like Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary. Since the Aegean Region has a mild climate, there is no such thing as cold winter in Şirince. So, the season conditions are not an obstacle to travel. Pack a few pieces of clothes, your book for peace, your camera, and with your loved one by your side, Şirince is waiting for you.

Where to Eat in Şirince 

Despite being a small and charming town, Şirince harbors a rich history and a kitchen containing different flavors. It is possible to find traces of Aegean and Mediterranean cuisines in Şirince's cuisine. Generally, pies, vegetable dishes, and olive oil dishes are at the forefront. The first thing you will encounter in this beautiful Aegean town of Şirince will undoubtedly be the aunties selling gözleme. You won't be able to pass without tasting gözleme, which comes in various flavors such as herbal, cheesy, potato, and minced meat, emitting that fabulous aroma. If you sit down to eat at a restaurant or café, you will first be welcomed by a plate of village bread and olive oil flavored with local herbs. In addition to these, kebabs on skewers, Efe kebab, appetizers flavored with natural herbs, grapes grown in Şirince, keşkek, çökertme kebab, and carob molasses are among the flavors I recommend you to try. Don't forget to try the delicious stuffed squash blossoms and sautéed herbs grown in the region. For Coffee in the Sand. Don't forget to taste Turkish coffee, which is slowly cooked in hot sand, a tradition synonymous with this village. As you walk through the village, you will come across places with signs saying "coffee in the sand." Take a break in one of them and enjoy a coffee in the sand.

For a delicious meal, you can try Nişanyan Houses Hotel, Dimitros Restaurant, or Şirince Artemis Restaurant. Also, Üzüm Café/Restaurant is a place where you will want to spend hours with its garden, architecture, dishes, and wines. Haven't Tried Mulberry Syrup Yet? We also heard about mulberry syrup for the first time here. A delicious and refreshing drink is produced from the essence of the mulberry flower, which grows by the stream. It also has a property of being good for colds. In some places, it is served with Turkish coffee, while in others, it is served on top of the meal, but the best way to enjoy it is in the café with a panoramic view right at the entrance of the church. Our House Hanımeli Şirince - Located on the road between Selçuk. This home-cooked restaurant offers daily, homemade everything. The friendly staff is also commendable. Its garden is also enjoyable. 

Müştiyan Kahvecisi is a place where you can find take-away coffee in Şirince. It is also a nice place to drink coffee in the sand. You can also find other types of coffee.

One of the things that brings Şirince to the forefront as a tourist attraction is its wines. Since Şirince was originally a Greek village, it had a rich wine culture, but it became more known for its fruit wines. Apple, strawberry, banana, peach, melon... It is said that most of them are not real fruit wines, but flavoured wines.

What to Buy from Şirince? 

In this beautiful and small town of the Aegean, Şirince, there are many things you can add to your suitcase on the way back. Foremost among these are the Şirince wines, which are now famous worldwide, with various types such as blueberry, peach, and blackberry. From the market where the local people exhibit their products, you can buy different flavored soaps, especially olive oil and laurel soap. What will remind you of Şirince when you return home is the magnets and mugs depicting the important features of the region. Don't forget to buy sourdough village bread either. You can also buy olive oil produced in the village. Also, the women of the village sell their handmade lace, tablecloths, scarves, gloves, and other handicrafts both in their homes and at the "Souvenir Market" in the village square. You can buy them from here.

Sedat Kantaroğlu, the owner of the shop Demetrius of Ephesus, produces Hellenistic style jewellery. When the crew of the film Troy came to Turkey to do research, they visited his exhibition at the Selçuk Museum and liked his designs. They then made him an offer to design special jewellery for the film.