Foça, Coastal municipality in İzmir Province, Turkey
Foça stretches along two bays called Büyükdeniz and Küçükdeniz with ancient stone buildings and modern waterfront developments on the Aegean coast. The town blends historic quarters with contemporary residential areas right along the water.
The settlement was founded in the 11th century BC as Phocaea and gained importance by establishing colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including Marseille in present-day France. This founding activity made the town a key trading center in antiquity.
The local fishing culture runs through daily life here, with fishermen bringing fresh catches to harbor markets each morning and traditional boats filling the bays.
Visitors can reach Foça through regular bus services from İzmir city center, with the journey taking roughly an hour and a half along coastal roads. Most attractions within the town are walkable, and the harbor provides good landmarks for navigation.
The waters around Foça form a protected marine area dedicated to preserving the rare Mediterranean monk seal and its natural habitat. This protected zone draws conservationists and observers hoping to see the rare species in its natural setting.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
