Kuşadası (pop. 137,000) is a major Aegean resort city and cruise ship port 108 km (67 miles, 1-1/2-hour drive) due south of İzmir (map). Being so close to the renowned ruins of Ephesus, it gets more than its share of Turkish and foreign visitors.
While everybody comes to Kuşadası when visiting Ephesus, some travelers also come for the city's vibrant nightlife and shopping, while others come for Kuşadası's beaches. With more than 140 hotels, Kuşadası has plenty of beds for visitors, though some of them are noisy. In the evening, Kuşadası's nightlife scene is lively, from the British- and Irish-themed bars to the cool jazz haunts.
What to Do and See in Kuşadası
Beaches
Although there are some stretches of beach right in the city, the prime beach—rather narrow and also backed by the city—is Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Plajı) south of the center. Here you can find many accommodation and dining options, as well as souvenir shops, cafes, pubs, and Turkish Meyhanesi.
Serious beach fans make the 15-minute, 8-km drive north to Pamucak Beach, which is wide, long, and uncrowded, and nearer to Ephesus, but with fewer services, some surf, and no lifeguards.
Cruises and Day Trips
Here's an important tip: When a cruise ship is in port, Kusadasi's transient population soars, and the dock and bazaar just inland from the dock teem with guys wanting to sell you tours, shore excursions, carpets, pottery—all kinds of stuff.
If you're arriving on a cruise ship and would like a good, reasonably-priced shore excursion like those to the ancient cities mentioned above, contact Anker Travel, a trusted local tour operator, travel agency, and TurkeyTravelPlanner.com partner.
Anker Travel can also arrange a reasonably-priced day excursion by boat to the Greek island of Samos. Click here for full information on ferries to Greece and the Greek Islands.
Tours
You can use Kuşadası as a base for tours of other sights in the region, such as Priene, Miletus, Didyma, Euromos, Pamukkale, Aphrodisias, and even İzmir and Bodrum. Guided tours are available to all these places, or you can see them by yourself.
Ephesus and Selçuk
Ephesus is the best-preserved Roman city in Turkey, with Selçuk Town just 3 km away from its Archaeological Site. Here you can explore some amazing ancient structures dating back 2000 years, as well as the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her last days on Earth. The Ephesus Museum in Selçuk also houses some of the finest Greek and Roman statues.
Pigeon Island
The Pigeon Island (Güvercin Adası) is a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow pathway. There is a castle on the island, built in 1546, that served as an outpost against pirates. Today, it is a maritime museum with some interesting artifacts. There are also ship tours around the island, which will take you on a tour along the shore and to popular tourist attractions.
Kuşadası Bazaar (Kuşadası Çarşısı)
Kuşadası Bazaar is an open-air bazaar right in the downtown area of Kuşadası. Here you can shop for souvenirs, clothes, fine jewelry, and Turkish rugs. When shopping at a bazaar in Turkey, always bargain as it is the expected custom. Also, try to look out for scams and fake jewelry and leather products.
Transportation in Kuşadası
The best ways to get around Kuşadası are by using minibuses or taxis.
Minibuses (dolmuş) can take you to most parts of Kuşadası, but be prepared for long, and often uphill, roads. Also, there's no official website or guide, so you'll need to ask locals or your hotel which minibus line to take.
Taxis are another option. They are more expensive but generally easy to use without any hassles. If you plan to take excursions from Kuşadası, you can always rent a car or use the dedicated transfer shuttles that depart from the bus terminal.
Kuşadası in Short
If you're looking to relax on the beach, enjoy cold drinks by the shore, and also have exciting excursions from time to time, Kuşadası is an amazing destination. You'll find many affordable places to stay and eat, along with beautiful beaches.
Also, it's very close to one of Turkey's most popular historical sites, the Ephesus Archaeological Site. The sunsets in this small town are really beautiful, and the evenings are both lively and peaceful, depending on where you stay.
Here's a tip: pronounce the town's name "koo-SHAH-dah-suh" or "KOOSH-ah-dah-suh" if you want to sound like you know what you're doing. It means "Bird Island:" kuş = bird, ada(sı) = island. That's the correct Turkish pronunciation. (The clueless pronounce it "KOOS-uh-DAHSS-see.")
—by İsmail Can Turan
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