Sogucak village is located high on the hills overlooking Long Beach and the Greek island of Samos.
There are two roads into the village; you can travel up the Soke road and at the top of the hill climbing up, there is a road on your right, clearly signposted, which will take you into the main village street. Alternatively, you can turn right at the roundabout on the main Kusadasi – Aydin road, and drive approximately 2 kilometres to the next small roundabout where you turn left and travel up the hill to the top.
Either way you will be in Sogucak – a lovely village with very friendly inhabitants, small grocers, bakers etc and two very good restaurants, both of which overlook the sea and the Long Beach area. From here you can see the cruise ships approaching or departing Kusadasi, or simply enjoy that famous Aegean sunset with a glass of wine and a traditional meal.
Foreign residents who have chosen to live in Sogucak like it for its calm and tranquility. Life here goes on pretty much as it has always done; you’re just as likely to see a smart new car driving through as a donkey laden with hay or sticks. Flocks of sheep and goats on the surrounding pastures graze away accompanied by the tinkling of small collar bells.
Sogucak has its own small market on a Monday, and you can buy all your fruit, vegetables, cheese and meat here as well as household wares and occasionally clothing. One of the attractions of Sogucak lies hidden in its name which means “cooler,” as even in the hottest days of summer, thanks to its location, there is always a cooling breeze.
The village is well served by a regular dolmus timetable in summer and winter and is around 15 -20 minutes away from Kusadasi town.
During the summer months there is a 24 hour bazaar on the Kusadasi- Davutlar road close by – 10 minutes from the village – which is large and very popular. At the bazaar you can browse stalls selling clothing, hand-made table and bed linen, perfumes, souvenirs – even get your picture taken or have a haircut! Small Turkish cafes offering everything from freshly roasted corn on the cob (delicious) to tender lamb and chicken on skewers are dotted throughout this colourful large bazaar. Outside the bazaar you can find fish sellers with tanks of live fish – you can’t get fresher than that – and melon sellers with their trucks piled high with yellow, green and striped watermelons. Next door there is a supermarket, a pharmacy and a doctor’s clinic, and the beach is just a 10 minute stroll away on the flat, plus the main dolmus route passes on the main road taking you anywhere you want to go.
