Is Sirince Safe? Doomsday Proof Town

Sirince is a town with a population of 570 people. Yet, this place’s uniqueness draws 1,5 million tourists to Sirince every year.

In this post, as a Turkish Local, I will mostly answer safety questions and travel tips.

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I love to visit Sirince with my daughter and my wife.

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Is Sirince Safe?

Sirince is one of the safest places in the world. You can literally feel safety, and the village has a very pleasant aura. This town, also called Ephesus on the Hills, is a historical sanctuary. Sirince welcomed the Virgin Mary, the last remnants of Ephesians, and many more.

Lastly, in 2012, it was claimed Sirince would be the last sanctuary when the apocalypse arrives.

Doomsday shops were everywhere in Sirince. Photo source screenshot from Wall Street Journal

Sirince and Mayan Apocalypse

In 2012 when Sirince became the center of world news. This little town was mentioned in headlines of newspapers like the Guardian, the Telegraph, Wall Street Journal, and the Huffington Post.

At that time, a rumor was spread in international media, claiming that Sirince would be one of the two shelters that could save you from the Mayan Apocalypse that was supposed to destroy Earth in 2013.

It was rumored that some celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise sought refuge from Mayan Apocalypse in Sirince in 2012. (Source- CBS News)

Sirince was mostly known by Turkish locals before 2012.

Yet, this international media attention positively helped Sirince to gain its rightful place among the top Turkish tourist destinations and drastically increased international tourists coming to Sirince.

Is Sirince Safe at Night?

Besides being safe, Sirince something to see at night. With few lights around, you will see the night sky with all its beauty. Enjoy a local wine with the smell of pine forest.

I and my wife occasionally come here to spend a romantic night in Sirince. We were never disappointed by this small village and every time we departed from Sirince, we left the town with a sense of peace and happiness.

Sirince is one of the favorite places of my daughter, Lidya.

Is Sirince Safe to Travel for Solo Female Travelers?

Sirince is perfectly safe for solo female travelers. You would enjoy the town more than the men because Sirince is filled with many artisans producing handcrafted unique accessories.

Please do not wear high heels when you visit Sirince because the town has cobblestone roads which are hard to walk.

Sports shoes will be the best shoes choice.

Sirince is perfectly safe and fun to wander with your family.

Is Sirince Safe to Travel for Families?

Sirince is a fantastic place for families. There are two things that I should warn you about.

Try the zipline on your way to Sirince. I tried it with my wife and my mother; it is an excellent memory creator.

The second thing is baby carriages, I made this mistake once. Baby carriages with wheels don’t work in Sirince because of the cobblestone roads and slopes in the village. The baby carriage becomes extra weight to carry around.

Is it Safe to Drive to and in Sirince?

Sirince is located on the hills of Selcuk province of Izmir.

Driving is scenic, and the roads are in good condition, yet the mountain road has some sharp bends. If you drive slowly and cautiously, it won’t be a problem.

One last caution, though, in Sirince village, you will be spoiled with free test wines; please drink them responsibly. The wines have high sugar content and kick very fast.

If you wish to learn more about driving in Turkey, check my articles on

Driving tips in Turkey
Renting a car in Turkey

Is Food Safe in Sirince?

The food is fantastic in Sirince. I believe the food is the main reason that so many people visit Sirince.

Turkish breakfast is legendary, and they have a diverse selection of different fruits. My favorite is hot chili jam.

You can check my guide to check my post on things to do and eat around Sirince and also, here is my guide about Turkish Food and What to expect in Turkish Cuisine.

Sirince have these minibusses as means of public transport to Selcuk.

Are Taxis Safe in Sirince?

The public transport taxis and dolmuş are pretty safe in this area. Yet, there are no permanent taxi stops in Sirince. Taxis are common in Selcuk town.

There are mini buses called dolmuş in Sirince which go back and forth from Selcuk. These mini buses are comfortable and very frequent in the season. The ticket costs around a dollar, and they travel to Selcuk within 20 to 25 minutes.

Metro is the best way to travel to Izmir.

Check my other guide, if you wish to learn more about Taxis in Turkey and the cost of taxis in Turkish cities, common taxi scams, and more tips.

How Much Taxis Cost in Selcuk

The starting fee of taxis in Antalya is 5,50 TL (0,66 USD), and you will pay an additional 5,80 TL (0,70 USD) per kilometer. The minimum fee applied is 15 TL (1,80 USD).

The Turkish Lira value will change due to inflation, but you can always calculate a rough estimate of your taxi travel.

You can check the distance with Google maps and use the USD numbers above to calculate your rough taxi fare.

Example cost taxi calculation.

A 20 km taxi ride in Selcuk will cost you around 14,66 USD. 0,66 USD (starting fee) plus 14 USD (20 km x 0,70) for 20 km.

Taxi fees do not change day or night or for any other reason.

My daughter Lidya still plays with the knitted dog toy, we bought from Sirince.

Last Word About Travel Warnings about Turkey

You may also wish to check the United Kingdom, United States Government, Australian Government’s travel warnings.

Remember, these warnings are not prepared city-specific, and they are written for Turkey as a whole.

I totally disagree with them in regards to Sirince.

I tried to give you some advice to ensure you will experience better visit this lovely town. Yet, in short, Sirince is one of the best safe havens in the world.