 Kusadasi
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This seaside resort town has grown immensely in the last 30 years, and is especially popular with package holiday-makers from Europe. From a population of 6000 in the 1970s, it is now closer to 50,000, although a high proportion of this are part of the tourist industry and here only for the summer. Many cruising ships travelling around the Aegean Islands stop here, especially because of its close proximity (20km) to Selcuk. Kusadasi is a good base to explore this and other ancient cities like Priene and Didyma.
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Although there is little of historical interest in Kusadasi itself, the town is popular predominantly because of its many hotels, restaurants, souvenir and carpet shops, and lively nightlife. The Kale district has some old traditional houses and narrow streets, and gives some indication of what the town used to be like. The most famous beach is Kadinlar Plaji, 2.5km south of the town, dominated by huge hotels and can get very crowded in summer. There are several small beaches further south, and
closer to town is Yilanci Burnu, the peninsular.
How to Get
By Road
For most long-distance bus journeys, it is necessary to change at Izmir, 90 minutes away, which has many more choices. Smaller buses make regular trips to Bodrum (2 hours), Pamukkale (3 hours) and Selcuk (30 mins), and dolmuses run a shuttle service to the beaches to the south of Kusadasi. There is a bus service that stops near Izmir’s airport. Buses either depart from the bus station, or from the town centre.
By Boat
There are two main harbours in the town. Cruise ships arrive throughout the year, and there are sailings to the Greek island of Sisam (Samos) with daily departures between April 1 and October 20. In the new yacht harbour – the largest and best-equipped northwest of Marmaris with a capacity of 650 – the Blue Voyage boats organise regular excursions.
By Air
The nearest airport is Ismir’s Adnan Menderes, 90 minutes by road. There are many domestic flights to Istanbul and Ankara, as well as European charter flights.
Don't Leave Without
Seeing Öküz Mehmet Paşa Caravanserai,
Visiting Guvercin Fortress,
Swimming on one of the many beaches,
Relaxing in Dilek Peninsula National Park,
Getting a famous Blue Voyage,
Trying out some of the bars and nightclubs.
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Places Wich You Must See
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 Kusadasi
Kusadasi has a rich and varied history. A small settlement founded by lonian settlers and known as Neapolis, is known to have existed at the site even in ancient times, but it was always over shadowed by its mighty neighbor Ephesus.
After the Hellenistic Period, the Romans and the Byzantines dominated Kusadasi. The town was an important commercial port and a foreign colony under Venetian and Genoese merchants in the 14th century and was called ScalaNouva (the new port) and medieval chronicles mention the presence of foreign consulates and warehouses. The Turks preferred to live mainly inland on the foothills around Pilavtepe near the ancient settlement known as Andızkule.
After a period of various Seljuk princes and Crusader knights the ottoman Turks conquered Kusadasi in 1413.
The town took its present from during the early 17th century when Öküz Mehmet Pasha was a grand vizier of Ottoman Empire. He built the city walls, a mosque complex consisting of a mosque, an Inn and a Turkish bath.
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Guvercin Adası (Pigeon Island)
This tiny island off the west coast of the town is just a few hundred metres from the mainland, and connected by walkway. It contains a fortress, which was constructed by the Ottomans and restored and strengthened in 1834. Kusadasi was an important defensive port along the Ottoman Aegean coast, and the fortress helped prevent attacks coming from the islands. It is now a relaxing place with landscaped terraces and several teahouses and snack bars.
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CRUISER and YACHT PORTS
There are two wharfs, where tourist ships are approaching and also a yacht port with 650 yacht capacity in Kuşadası. Ships are approaching to Kuşadası Port during all seasons. Passenger motor voyages are regularly organized from Kuşadasi port to Greek Island, Sisam (Samos) during spring and summer months (Every day between 1st April and 20th October), and during winter months these voyages are turned as charters. There are daily and hourly picnic touring passenger motors in the port, and
Blue Tour organizing yachts are also in the yacht port.
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Okuz Mehmet Pasa Caravansary
Built in 1618 by Grand Vizier Okuz Pasa, there are artillery holes still visible on the external walls, in an effort to protect the city against pirates. It is now a luxury hotel.
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BEACHES
The most famous beach in the area is Kadinlar Denizi (Ladies’ Beach), 3km south of town and well connected by dolmus, which is very crowded in high season. Guvercin Adasi has rocky shores but it is possible to swim, and there is a small beach 500m north of Yilanci Burnu peninsula. A better beach is Pamucak,15km north on the road to Selcuk.
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