Gotta say, this is my first time reviewing an entire city LOL, but I get it. Sirince really is a…read morecombined experience, so it makes sense to think of it in one review. This city (really whole part of Turkey) used to be inhabited by Greeks who later fled during the exchange, and the story goes that the Greeks named this place Çirkince, meaning "ugly," so that no one else would come here (the name was later changed to its current spelling which means "lovely"). The Greeks knew what they were doing!!! Out of my several-week trip in Turkey, this was by far the most picturesque little village I came across. Narrow, cobbled alleys, small cafes, cats running around everywhere, serene farms on the outskirts of town, and adorable B&B's - seems straight out of a movie.
Getting there:
You can take buses from pretty much anywhere for really cheap. I drove my own car (which I very much recommend), and parking is super easy. No autos are allowed in the city, so you can just find a car park on the outskirts and pay a very small fee to park there. A tip though: if you arrive early, you can just park without a fee (that's not official, mind you). Then after parking (or arriving on bus), make your way through the cute alleys.
What to do:
Sirince is known for their wines, and on every block there are probably 5 different wine stores, each trying to get you to buy their product. Sample wines and don't feel obligated to buy just because you tried them!! The value for what you pay varies widely, so try out different wines at different locations before making a decision. They are also known for their unique way of making Turkish coffee wherein they heat the Briki in/on a hot sand bed - I am sure you've seen the Instagram videos. So grab some coffee, find a cute cafe to enjoy a beer and lunch, and just walk around this adorable town.
Things I wasn't huge on:
So this will only apply to Greeks/Orthodox, but it is pretty sad seeing the remains of what used to be a Greek village. That's not to say the village is dilapidated, but rather that there are vestiges of Greek-ness all over that are ignored and falling apart - shadows of a former time. The churches are all falling apart and are now a place where sorority girls take drunk selfies without understanding where they really are, icons are peeling off the walls, and you can almost hear the lost voices singing praises in these hallowed buildings. It was sad enough to leave me melancholy, despite the bustling and happy town I was in. So 5 stars for everything else because I know my experience will only apply to a very small population of tourists!
