Sirince Village Guide — How to Get There from Kusadasi? What to Do?

Sirince is a mountain village 8 km east of Selcuk. Before the 1924 population exchange it was a Greek village, so the stone houses, church and narrow alleys still stand. Today it's an essential extension of the Kusadasi-Ephesus route — perfect for a 2-3 hour day stop.

Quick summary

• Distance from Kusadasi: 23 km (mountain road)
• Travel time by private car: 25–30 minutes
• Recommended stay: 2–3 hours (lunch + wine + stroll)
• Best season: Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October)

How to get to Sirince

1. Private transfer (recommended)

Straight from hotel / port door to the village centre. On the return we can continue to Kusadasi or Ephesus. Ideal for the combined tour (Ephesus + Sirince).

2. Bus + minibus

Kusadasi → Selcuk bus (40 min), Selcuk → Sirince minibus (20 min). Total 1.5-2 hours. The last minibus back is usually at 18:00.

3. Car hire

The mountain road is narrow and winding; parking at the village entrance is limited. In high season you may spend 20 minutes looking for a spot.

What to do in Sirince

1. Wine tasting

Sirince's most famous thing is its fruit wine. Beyond classic grape:

• Strawberry wine — the most popular
• Pomegranate wine — intense, sweet
• Blackberry, apple, sour cherry — lighter
• Cherry, cornelian cherry — seasonal

Tasting is free or symbolic (~50 TL, 5 kinds). Bottle prices run 150–400 TL.

Tip: The family-run shops off the main street, on the right-hand side, are more authentic than the big commercial stores. "Meryem's Vineyards" (tasting from small barrels) is a local favourite.

2. Photo walk

• Stone alleys — steep but colourful, a different frame at every corner
• Old church — restored, with a small exhibition inside
• Panorama spot — above the village, looking out to the mountains
• Vineyard houses — some boutique hotels, others museums

3. Shopping

• Soap — organic olive-oil based, small workshops, 50-100 TL each
• Scarves / pareos — some genuine hand-woven, some printed
• Jam — cornelian cherry, raspberry, quince, in small jars
• Cig kofte restaurants — local prices, fresh

Haggling culture is limited — prices are usually fixed.

4. Food

A few restaurants around the village square:

• Artemis Restaurant — village food + views + house wine
• Eski Ev Meyhanesi — meze platter + raki
• Gozleme aunties — open flame, 100 TL for a gozleme + ayran

Average lunch per person 400–700 TL (€12–20).

The best timing

Morning (09:00–11:00)

• Pro: Cool, uncrowded, soft light
• Con: Some shops still closed

Midday (11:00–14:00)

• Pro: All shops open, restaurants serving
• Con: Hot, tour buses arrive, the square is crowded

Afternoon (15:00–18:00)

• Pro: The tours have left, quieter, golden light perfect for photos
• Con: After 18:00 the shops start to close

Best time: 10:00–13:00 (for a full visit)

Suggested day combination

Kusadasi → Ephesus → Sirince → Kusadasi (6–7 hour tour)

| Time | Where | |---|---| | 09:00 | Depart Kusadasi | | 09:30 | Ephesus Ancient City | | 11:30 | Leave Ephesus | | 12:00 | Sirince — lunch | | 13:30 | Wine tasting + shopping | | 15:30 | Return to Kusadasi |

On this route a private 7-seat Vito is €180 (whole day) — split across 4 people €45 each.

Seasonal differences

Spring (April-May)

Red poppies, green vineyards, 20–25°C. Perfect for photos.

Summer (June-August)

Very busy, 35°C+. Go early morning or late evening.

Autumn (September-October)

Grape harvest, soft light, cool evenings. The golden time for wine shoppers.

Winter (November-March)

Quiet, some shops closed. But breathtaking if it snows. Popular around New Year.

Accommodation — should you stay in Sirince?

There are 10+ boutique hotels and 5+ guesthouses in the village. Prices €60-180 a night. Pro: sunset + starry sky + morning mist. Con: no sea, far from Kusadasi.

Recommendation: 1 night in Sirince + 2 nights in Kusadasi is the ideal combination.

What you should know

• Money — big shops take cards, small places TL cash only
• Toilets — paid in the square (10 TL), free for customers in restaurants
• Animal-friendly — there are dogs and cats in the square, children should be careful
• Dress — modest, covered preferred (church + village feel)
• Language — English widely spoken, German understood

Booking

Go to the Sirince tour booking page or message our operator on WhatsApp 24/7. For the combined tour just write "Ephesus + Sirince" in the notes.