Tire, one of the districts farthest from the sea and the center of Izmir; With its ancient history, handicrafts, beautiful food, magnificent nature and hospitable people, it is a lesser-known travel route that should be seen. Although it is little known, I managed to make my way to Tire many times, and this article appeared at the end of my travels. A Tire travel guide with all the information you need when you go to Tire, such as the history of Tire, transportation to Tire, what to eat in Tire, places to visit in Tire I prepared, have a nice read!
What You Will Find In This Article
Tire Travel Guide
I briefly summarized the history, location, eating and drinking and living culture of Tire, the city of historical inns, tombs, baths, and mosques, under the Tire travel guide section. Continue reading for places to visit in Tire.
History of Tire
Tire has an ancient civilization of thousands of years. The city has been a religious and commercial center throughout history. Many artifacts and ruins from different periods, from the ancient period, when it was called Tierra, to the Ottoman period, adorn the city. Especially with the effect of trade, the number of structures such as inns and baths is quite high.
Where is the Tire?
Tire is a district of Izmir, located in the Aegean region. However, it is quite far from İzmir city center and the sea, and even closer to Aydın than İzmir. Tire has been an important trade and production city throughout its history, as it is on the connection roads of Izmir and other settlements on the coast with Anatolia.
- The distance between Tire and Izmir city center is 97 km,
- The distance between Tire and Ödemiş is 32 km,
- The distance between Tire and Birgi is 42 km,
- The distance between Tire and Torbalı is 46 km,
- The distance between Tire and Selcuk is 39 km.
- The distance between Tire and Aydın is 82 km,
- The distance between Tire and Istanbul is 526 km,
- The distance between Tire and Ankara is 574 km.
How to go to Tire?
To come to Tire from Izmirn; you have many options; You can reach Tire from Izmir in 1,5 hours by district minibuses, Eshot buses, train or renting a car. The train station is in the center of Tire, if your hours are right, it is the most enjoyable option to come by train. Moreover, the train also passes through Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. It can be a good alternative for those who come to Izmir by plane.
To come to Tire from Istanbul or Ankara; You can come to Izmir by plane and reach Tire using one of the above methods. If you want to come to Tire with your own vehicle, you can reach Tire in 5,5-6 hours by using the new highway from Istanbul.
What to Eat and Where to Eat in Tire?
When you go to Tire; Do not return without eating Tire toast, Tire meatballs, Curd dessert. While you're at it, taste the Tire cheese, soudjouk, chickpea sourdough bread, and even come and get it. Although meat products are common in Tire, different herb dishes are often made at home; In Tire, you can find the flavors we are accustomed to from Aegean cuisine, such as radish herb, roasted herbs, şevketibostan, cibez, ovkma, stuffed zucchini flowers.
I tried to explain in detail below where you can eat which one.
Tire Toaster Street
Tire toast is one of the must-eats in Tire. Tomato paste, sausage, cheese, tomatoes, greens, pickles, optional mayonnaise, and ketchup added toast is a full flavor explosion. You can add or remove the materials you want. I like the version with cheese, sausage, tomato, greens and pickles. The toasters street in the city center is the center of this business, you can eat at the toasters there.
Kofteci Yilmaz
There are two versions of the dash meatballs; one is served with sauce (more watery) and the other is served on bread. My favorite is the bread roll. The famous meatballs in Tire are Hacıoğlu, but when I first went to Tire, I ate the one with sauce and didn't like it much. I liked the meatballs on bread that I ate at Köfteci Yılmaz, a small artisan restaurant that I tried when I went there.
Pond Restaurant
There are many social facilities belonging to the municipality in Tire. One of them is Pond Restaurant. The restaurant, which overlooks the pond, has a view of Tire on one side and a view of the pond on the other. Since it is a municipality, the prices are affordable, the only thing missing is the food service starts at 16:00. If you go before, you can get hot/cold drinks. There is also alcohol service.
Toptepe Family Casino
Another municipality facility where you can dine against the view of Tire is Toptepe Family Casino. Toptepe, which is also a very nice place to watch a wonderful sunset among the pine trees, offers dinner and alcohol service.
The appetizers, where you can find flavors unique to Tire, are also very tasty. There are radish, sorrel and keskek on the menu. Here, they poured roasted sesame on the curd dessert, I cannot explain how it suits them and how delicious it is.
Osman Efendi Dessert and Ice Cream House
Osman Efendi is a traditional confectioner you will see while walking around the Tire Bazaar. We ate tulumba dessert and trileçe. Both were very fresh and delicious, don't say that the ice cream is also very good in the summer months.
Aegean Sausage
If you ask where to buy Tire's meat products, Ege Sucuk is a good option. You can safely buy products that you can take with you, such as sausage, sausage, Tire meatballs, and dried meat from here.
Kirikkaya Milk and Dairy Products
You can buy dairy products such as tulum cheese, curd cheese, mud cheese, cottage cheese from Tire with peace of mind. Kırıkkaya is one of the delicatessens selling these products, it has branches in many places. If you buy cheese, they vacuum it according to the road. You can also find chickpea bread here.
Tire Dairy Cooperative
You can also choose Tire Dairy Cooperative products, cooperative products are used in all facilities of the municipality. You can find yoghurt and Tire meatball products at Migros stores in Istanbul.
Mill Restaurant
If you want to have breakfast with Tire products in greenery in Tire, you can get away from the city center and go to Değirmen Restaurant in Akçaşehir. It is a very nice place to have a cool breakfast, especially in the hot summer months.
What to Buy from Tire?
Tire is an important agriculture and livestock center thanks to the fertile plains around it. As such, milk and dairy products and meat and meat products are of high quality and delicious. You can buy milk from products such as yoghurt, cheese, sausage, Tire meatballs to consume at home while you are gone.
Tire Bazaar, which is established on Tuesdays, is considered the largest open-air market in Turkey with a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs from the surrounding villages. If your visit falls on a Tuesday, you can shop for fresh fruit and vegetables here.
Tire used to make a living from horseshoe making, rope making and felt making. There are still places that continue these crafts. You can buy souvenirs such as shawls, bags, carpets, covers, key chains, especially made of felt, or visit them just to watch how they are made. The ropes of Tire were used all over the country during the Ottoman period, and it is said that the ropes used by Fatih Sultan Mehmet while crossing the Golden Horn went from Tire.
Where to Stay in Tire?
I cannot say that there are too many options for accommodation in Tire. I list what I know below;
- Gulcuoglu Mansions
- Kirazoglu Mansion
- Koc Hotel
- Teacher's House
- Tirem Hotel
- Ramada Hotel
Map of Places to Visit in Tire
The map below includes places to visit in Tire, eating and drinking options in Tire, and accommodation options in Tire. You can view more details by clicking on the map.
Places to Visit in Tire
Tire is the city of inns and baths… On the other hand, there are not only inns and baths in the list of places to visit in Tire. I have listed the places you must see in Tire, where you can travel comfortably and comfortably in two days.
Tire City Museum – Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum
Let the City Museum be your first stop to start your tour by getting to know the history, culture and daily life of Tire. There is a section in the museum where traditional handicrafts are made and exhibited by real masters. This part of the museum is referred to as the "living museum".
Tire City Museum 2023 entrance fee is 5 TL, Müzekart is not valid.
Historical Mosques
There are many historical mosques in Tire, I will not describe all of them in detail in this article. However, since the Pasha Mosque garden, fountain and architecture that you will see while walking from the City Museum to Tahtakale Bazaar, I will write it down. It is a mosque that was built during the Kanuni period, has been standing for many years and is still used. Yeşil Imaret (Yahşi Bey) Mosque is also worth seeing as it is the first Ottoman monument in Tire.
Tahtakale Bazaar
Tahtakale Bazaar hosts rope maker, quilt maker, horseshoe maker and felt maker shops that keep Tire's traditional handicrafts alive. Even if you don't shop at the shops, say hi and chat, Tire's people are very friendly.
Kuhan
As I have repeated several times, Tire has many inns suitable for hosting travelers as it is on trade routes. Kutuhan is one of these inns, which is in the best condition and has been restored and brought to life. The inn, which was built in 1442, was restored and started to be used again in 2022. In addition to handicraft shops, there is also a cafe, and you can stop by for a tea/coffee break.
In one of the shops in Kutuhan, there is a boot master who makes bellows boots for the nomads. The master is the sweetest of the world and very nice conversation, if you go to the inn, do not pass without saying hello.
Unfortunately, not all inns in Tire are as lucky as Kutuhan. Located in Tahtakale Bazaar Copluce (Çöplen) Inn in a pretty dilapidated condition. Located just behind the historical Bedesten Ali Efe Han His condition is very, very bad, almost to extinction.
Historical Bedesten
The historical Bedesten is one of the Ottoman works built in the 15th century. Currently, the inner part of the covered bazaar is used for exhibitions and events, while the exterior usually features handicraft shops.
Derekahve, Ayazma and Sems Masjid
For hundreds of years, people of different religions lived together and in tolerance in Tire. One of the best examples of this is the Ayazma in Derekahve district and the Şems mosque built on it. A mosque was built in the 15th century on the holy spring, which was built on the edge of the water, which is considered holy by Christians. The sacredness of water must have been accepted by all the people, as the people living in Tire used to come here and throw their wishes into the water at the time of Hıdırellez.
Now, the area where this holy water flows has been decorated as a picnic area. There are cafes and restaurants on both sides of the stream. If you want to sit under the great trees and watch the stream and sip your tea and coffee, this is a great option.
Gulcuoglu Mansions
Is there a trade route but not a mansion? Of course, traders have built beautiful mansions for both themselves and their guests. Some of these mansions are currently serving as boutique hotels. Gülcüoğlu Konakları is one of these hotels. Two of the three mansions facing the same garden belonging to three brothers are currently used as hotels. Even if you don't stay at the hotel, you can enter and visit the garden. If you want to stay here, it is a good idea to make a reservation in advance.
When you come to Gülcüoğlu Konakları, I recommend you to visit the streets around it. Explore the streets with old Tire houses that are not as lucky as these mansions but still preserve their beauty. If you go a little further from the opposite street of the mansion, you can see the Mehmet Bey Mosque and the monumental cedar tree in its garden.
Tire Tuesday Market
If your trip falls on a Tuesday, visit the historical Tire market, which is Turkey's largest open-air market, where you can find vegetables, fruits, various herbs from the surrounding villages, dairy products made by the villagers, handicrafts and more.
Barefoot Bath, Süleyman Shah Tomb, İbni Melek Tomb and Necip Pasha Library are other historical places you can see in Tire.
If you go to Tire during the olive harvest, you can watch the harvest in the olive groves that surround the district.
While you are in Tire, your travel route; to eat töngül pita have paid, a village from history birgi, abandoned Lübbey Villagelocated in Gölcük and Torbalı Key MuseumYou can add . By clicking on the relevant places, you can easily access the travel articles I wrote for those places.