Selimiye – Pure hospitality on the Aegean coast of Türkiye
Selimiye is one of those villages in the vicinity of Marmara that have retained their unspoilt character. It welcomes visitors with open arms offering its untouched nature, shady trees and glistening, blue sea.
The tourist resort of Mar maris attracts visitors with long beaches, swanky ho tels and a buzzing shop ping scene and nightlife. If you love the beauty of the Aegean but want some peace and quiet, you don’t have to stray far: the unspoilt fish ing village of Selimiye is around 40 km by car, an insider’s tip for those who look for relaxation in a beauti ful landscape. You don’t have to be afraid of crowds; six years ago just over 1.000 people were living there.
Nonetheless, tourists can find everything they need there: stylish hotels and guest houses, an idyl lic location in a protected bay with crystal-clear water and enchant ing natural surroundings. Restau rants offer excellent cuisine for all palates; especially the sea food and fish dishes will convince eve ry gourmet. If you want to do some shopping, there are several shops in Selimiye and in the evening you can relax in a piano bar.
Paradise for sailing and diving
Selimiye is situated in the Gulf of Hisarönü between the Bozburun and Datça peninsulas in the Aegean Sea, not far from the Greek islands of Rhodes and Symi. There are many idyllic coves on this stretch of the coast which are inaccessible from land. That is why sailors were the first to discover this paradise for themselves. Many restaurants con sequently have piers where skip pers can moor. Friends of the un derwater realm will also get their full fill as there are many exclusive diving spots off the coast which can be accessed from Selimiye by join ing a diving cruise. During the summer tradition al Gulet boats make port in Selim iye. These wooden yachts offer lev els of comfort in their cabins that are equal to those found in ho tel rooms. In antiquity Gulets were used for sea trade, but today’s Gu lets are usually motor-powered and rather than transporting amphorae with wine or oil, have thrill-seeking tourists onboard.
Ancient history and nature’s bounty
Around Selimiye 5.000 years of history have left their traces. The ru ins of Loryma, an ancient city found ed in the 7th century B.C. which was excavated by the German archae ologist Winfried Held, are located on the southern tip of the Bozbur nu peninsula and can be reached by boat. The mouth of the Loryma bay is dominated by an over 300 m long and 30 m wide mighty fortress, the sea-facing wall of which stands up to 8 m tall and is still in a remarkably good condition.
In the vicinity of Selimiya, the 11 km far bee-keeper village of Bayir is a popular destination for day trips. On the east coast the village of Çift lik offers a beautiful beach, while Bozburnu, which is about 9 km by car from Selimiye and is located on the west coast of the peninsula that bears its name, recommends itself as a destination for an evening trip – the fish restaurants have a good reputation. Orhaniye Bay, which is north of Selimiye, can be crossed on food via a sandbank, and close to the village of Turgut an imposing water fall gushes from the mountains.
Selimiye is worth a trip in eve ry season – even in winter, the temperatures are around a mild 15 degrees. Pleasant hotels, rent al apartments, guest houses and country estates await the relaxa tion-seeking traveller who values tranquillity and beauty as well as nature and good food.