Where to stay in Foça depends on whether you want to stay among the historic sights and waterfront of Eski Foça, in newer Yeni Foça, or near the beaches along the Mersinaki coves. Foça is a coastal district in İzmir Province, and these areas offer different settings rather than one single town centre.
- Historic centre: Eski Foça has historic sights, a port and traditional streets.
- Newer area: Yeni Foça has beaches and accommodation, with settlement that is mostly seasonal.
- Between the two: Mersinaki coves have beaches and accommodation, including hotels and small guesthouses.
- Getting around: Minibuses operate year-round and connect accommodation in different parts of the district with Foça Castle in Eski Foça centre.
Foça Centre and the Waterfront
Eski Foça is the strongest fit if you want to stay near Foça’s historic centre, port and waterfront streets. The official İzmir tourism site describes it as a coastal settlement of fishing boats, stone houses and flower-lined streets. Phocaea was an ancient Ionian settlement, and fishing and tourism remain part of the district centre’s economy.
Historic sights in Eski Foça include Beşkapılar Castle and City Walls, Eski Foça Port, the Athena Temple, the Cybele Open Air Temple, Kayalar Mosque, Fatih Mosque, Devil Bath and the windmills.
Foça Castle is at Atatürk, Aşıklar Cd. No:11, in the centre. For a closer look at the area’s streets and landmarks, use this guide to Foça town centre to shape a walk.
This central area also puts the waterfront setting in the foreground. If historic sites are high on your list, choosing accommodation in Eski Foça keeps the district’s best-known landmarks in the same part of Foça; the trade-off is that it is not the newer beach area of Yeni Foça.
Choosing an Area for Walking and Sightseeing
Eski Foça suits a stay focused on the port and historic sights, while Yeni Foça and the Mersinaki coves offer alternatives with beaches and accommodation. The district’s two named parts are Old Foça (Eski Foça) and Yeni Foça, but the coves along the route between them provide another area to consider.
In Eski Foça, landmarks include the port and castle walls, temples, mosques and windmills. You can make the centre your base for visiting these sights, then allow time to explore the coastal settlement itself. Five Gates is one of the historic landmarks; a short visit to Five Gates in Foça can fit into a sightseeing day in the centre.
Yeni Foça is the district’s newer part, where settlement is mostly seasonal. The official İzmir tourism site identifies beaches and accommodation there, making it a different choice from the historic centre.
Between the two, Mersinaki’s coves combine beaches with accommodation, including hotels and small guesthouses. Consider these areas if being by the coast matters more to your plans than staying beside Eski Foça’s historic sights.
How do you get around Foça beyond the centre?
Year-round minibuses connect accommodation across the district with Foça Castle in Eski Foça centre, so you can consider staying beyond the centre without relying on a car for every trip. Visitors coming from İzmir can take İZBAN to Hatundere station, then use ESHOT buses on the Hatundere–Foça route.
If you are driving, the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality describes the road approach as a left turn from the İzmir–Çanakkale highway shortly after Menemen. Foça is 85 km from İzmir Airport.
Boat trips add another way to see the coast. The Foça District Governorate says you can take day tours around the islands or hire a private boat. The six uninhabited islands off Foça are Orak, İncir, Fener, Hayırsız, Kartdere and Metelik.
Questions to Check Before Booking
Before booking, match the area to the sights and beach setting you plan to prioritise, and check how you will connect with Eski Foça centre. Minibuses serve different parts of the district year-round, while the character of Yeni Foça is mostly seasonal.
Foça centre is about 11 minutes on foot from a guesthouse in Foça. That gives you a concrete reference point if you are comparing the centre with accommodation farther along the coast.
For the Eski Foça sights, think about whether you want to spend most of your time around the port and historic centre or include beaches in Yeni Foça or the Mersinaki coves. Before you go, check the official Visit İzmir site for current transport information.
FAQs
Which part of Foça is the historic centre?
Eski Foça, also called Old Foça, is the historic coastal centre, with the port and sights such as Beşkapılar Castle and City Walls.
Does Yeni Foça have beaches and accommodation?
Yes. Yeni Foça has beaches and accommodation, and settlement there is mostly seasonal.
Can you stay near beaches between Eski Foça and Yeni Foça?
Yes. The Mersinaki coves lie along the route between the two areas and have beaches and accommodation, including hotels and small guesthouses.
Do minibuses connect different parts of Foça?
Minibuses operate year-round within the district and connect accommodation in different parts of Foça with Foça Castle in Eski Foça centre.