Sirince Travel Guide

Şirince is a place with a completely different beauty that will make you attribute different meanings when you hear the word Şirin. Those who have been to this village once want to go back again. Şirince is really as cute and small as its name suggests, a village in its own way.

Şirince Recommendations: www.kesfettik.com

Şirince is located in the Selçuk district of İzmir, approximately 10 minutes away from the district center. Already a village with sufficient tourism potential, it gained worldwide attention in 2012 with doomsday scenarios and managed to attract the attention of the whole world. Moreover, in recent years, it has become a place visited by many domestic and foreign tourists not only in the summer months but also throughout the year.

In the famous author Dido Sotiroyo's work, it is mentioned that "If there is a paradise on earth, our Kirkınca (Şirince) should be a part of paradise." As you enter the village, among the olive and tangerine trees and the scents of citrus, you may think that Şirince is indeed a part of paradise.

The people of Şirince are quite accustomed to tourists. They see them more as guests than customers and are very friendly. It's possible to see motifs, figures, items, or delicious products unique to the region at every corner. However, one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Şirince is the delicious and beautiful Şirince wines made from various fruits. You can taste many varieties in almost every shop you enter. They are made from products grown in Şirince's vineyards. They are all very tasty and beautiful. But my recommendation is the blueberry wine. You won't get enough of its taste.

Right at the entrance of Şirince, there is a beautiful tea garden surrounded by trees in the center. Depending on the season, I suggest spending some time in that garden, either inside or outside. You can enjoy a delicious gözleme (you can find every kind) and have a coffee break. Also, the villagers will surely offer you fresh seasonal fruits.

You also have options for accommodation in Şirince. You can stay in the village or in facilities in the nearby Selçuk district, just 5 minutes away. Most of the hotels in Şirince have become hotels by renting a few rooms in the locals' houses. You can also find guesthouses and boutique hotels in Şirince. Whether it's a hotel, house, or guesthouse, they are all nestled in nature, in colorful gardens, and in buildings with a very old history. Therefore, the room decorations and architectural structures are quite authentic. You can see lace decorations and old cupboards.

When you stay in Şirince hotels, regardless of the season, you start your day with fresh vegetables and olive oil produced in the region. Sweetened with mountain thyme. During the day, you can taste local delicacies at the hotel or in restaurants and tea gardens in the village. You must try the Aegean dishes with olive oil and stuffed squash blossoms. You can see ladies selling freshly baked bread, warm and freshly made, on street corners.

When you arrive at the center of the village, after completing your tour and photo tour in the narrow, stone-paved streets, you should start shopping. Because you may want to buy everything you see in the narrow and small bazaar. Wine, olive oil, olives, and laurel-olive oil soap are my recommendations. Soaps will be good for your skin and hair. You can also buy wines to give to yourself and your loved ones. And you can store as much as you want. If you are curious, you can also buy cupboard decorations and embroidered local textile products.

Apart from shopping, one of the places you must visit when you come to Şirince Village is the Lower and Upper Churches, reached by climbing through narrow streets. You can also visit the historic primary school building. You can also see the historic Şirince houses that you encounter at every corner. You can take a photo in front of the plane tree in the center.

As for the history of Şirince Village, it is said to date back to ancient times. However, there is no concrete evidence of when the first settlement began. It is said that some people settled here after the collapse of the city of Ephesus. These dates go back to approximately the 6th century AD. It is said that the remains in the village today date back to the 11th century. It is known that the ancient people were Greek. Turks began to settle in the village after the 16th century. The water channels in the village today are said to date back to the Roman period.

The history of the name of Şirince Village is quite interesting. The Greeks used to call the village Kirkince. According to some, it was called Kırkınca. With the settlement of Turks, its name started to be called Çirkince, contrary to the nature and atmosphere of the village. In the Republican era, when İzmir Governor Kazım Bey toured these areas, he said that such beautiful lands could not be called Çirkince and should be renamed Şirince. After that, the village's name began 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.

Accommodation in Şirince: Where to Stay in Şirince?

Click here for Şirince Hotels: https://www.boutiquesmallhotels.com/sirince-hotels

Places to Visit in Şirince

 The Church of St. Dimitros, which was once used as a mosque, is one of the most important historical structures in Şirince Village. Another standing historical structure is the Church of St. John. You can visit these places. You can visit the Steam Train Museum, located about 15 minutes from Selçuk. The proximity of Şirince Village to Ephesus Ancient City, the House of the Virgin Mary, and Selçuk Castle is also a great opportunity for you. Since you've come all the way to Şirince, don't leave without seeing these historical structures. You can see the Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus Ancient City. You can go to the famous Pamucak Beach and enjoy the sea and sun there. You will enjoy the long and clean beach of Pamucak. You can also join daily boat tours if you want. See Hodri Meydan Tower. Go to St. John Baptist Church. Don't forget to visit this church, which is at least 300 years old. The churchyard has a perfect view, and there is also a section for wine tasting in the church. You can also visit this tower, which was built in 2011 and is 12 m high.

Mathematics Village of Nesin. This is a utopian learning space that takes mathematics out of class and integrates it into life, where teachers and students live together and have a say in the management of the place, quiet, peaceful, intertwined with nature, non-profit. What it offers: besides four delicious meals and a bed, mathematics education, nature, peace, and a working environment! Other daily tasks such as watering trees and flowers, landscaping, washing dishes, cleaning, laundry, peeling potatoes, and chopping firewood are also done on a collective basis. The adventure that started with Aziz Nesin's testament to establish a Mathematics Institute continued with Sevan Nişanyan and Ali Nesin transforming an olive grove area in Şirince into a camp in 3 months. At the end of the work, an academic camp participated by world-renowned professors was created, operating entirely on a voluntary basis. You can participate in the "Harvest Festival" held in October in Şirince.

 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. 

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.