Kuşadası is a popular coastal town where cruise ships stop in the summer. Most visitors might want to explore the nearby Ephesus Archaeological Site, one of the best preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean Region. Here is how to get around in Kuşadası.
Transportation in Kuşadası
Kuşadası has a good transportation infrastructure, and you can get to most parts of the town using minibuses (dolmuş). However, there is no official website, so you will need to ask locals or your hotel which line to take. Moreover, most of the travel will be uphill, with lots of turns, and you might need to use more than one line to reach your destination.
Renting Cars and Using Taxis in Kuşadası
Renting a car or using taxis is a better option, especially when travelling outside Kuşadası; however, it will end up being more expensive than using public transportation. You can’t pay with credit cards in taxis in Kuşadası, so remember to bring Turkish cash with you at all times.
If you want to have excursions to nearby locations such as Ephesus, Selçuk, and İzmir, there are minibuses and shuttle services that depart from across the town.
Minibus to Ephesus, Selçuk & İzmir
Minibuses run between Kuşadası, Ephesus, Selçuk and İzmir in a virtual shuttle service, especially during the warm summer months: minibuses leave about every 15 to 25 minutes throughout the day.
The minibus terminus for Pamucak Beach, Ephesus Archaeological Site, and Selçuk Town is one long block inland from Kuşadası City Hall (Belediye) at the roundabout named Şevki Hasırcı Meydanı (map).
Traveling to Kuşadası
If you are not arriving in Kuşadası with a cruise ship, the best way to reach is to either rent a car or use Havaş shuttle buses from Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir. The nearest airport is İzmir’s Adnan Menderes (ADB). Here’s the airport transport info.
Cruise Ships
Cruise ships frequently visit Kuşadası. For shore excursions, you’ll get better value if you book not through your ship but through a local travel agency such as Anker Travel. The Greek Island, Samos, is just off the shore of Kuşadası, so you can easily get across and combine your Turkish trip with a visit to Greece.
Distances & Travel Times
Adnan Menderes (İzmir) Airport: 80 km (50 miles), 1.25 hours
Aphrodisias: 140 km (87 miles) E, 2 hours
Aydın: 45 km (28 miles), 40 minutes
Bodrum: 151 km (94 miles), 2.25 hours
Ephesus: 17 km (11 miles), 25 minutes
Istanbul: 705 km (438 miles), 9.5 hours
İzmir: 95 km (59 miles), 1.5 hours
Marmaris: 200 km (124 miles), 4 hours
Pamucak Beach: 8 km (5 miles) N, 15 minutes
Pamukkale: 220 km (137 miles), 3.5 hours
Selçuk: 20 km (12 miles), 30 minutes
—by İsmail Can Turan
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