10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN KUSADASI

 1) Explore Pigeon Island and Caravanserai

 Right off Kusadasi harbour, a 350 meters long causeway leads out to the attractive Pigeon Island, which is the symbol of Kusadasi and where the name Kusadasi (Bird Island) originates from. The remnants of a 13th century Byzantine fortress sit on a cliff with a panoramic view of Kusadasi. Caravanserai has an appearance of a small inner castle. After its renovation, the building is used as a hotel today with capacity of 50 beds in 25 rooms. The structure also used for the Traditional Turkish nights which are organized by local agengies to show the Turkish culture and cuisine to the foreign visitors. There is also a lot of store for shopping in the caravanserai. 

 2) Enjoy Sunny Days at Beaches

 In Kusadasi  there are several beaches to choose from. They do get quite crowded during the hot summer months. You can find empty stretches of sand only early in the morning or after sundown. The most popular beach in Kusadasi is Ladies Beach (Kadinlar Denizi), which is located 2 kms from the town centre, but is easily reachable by dolmus (minibus) number 5. The longest strip of sand in the area is Long Beach further south along the coast (dolmus number 6 and 7). In Kusadasi town centre there are also a few small beaches along the seafront promenade.

 3) Go on a Stroll Along Kusadasi’s Seaside

 There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from by the seaside whether you fancy a western dinner or a traditional Turkish feast or just a refreshing cocktail or a cup of traditional Turkish tea.

 4) Shop in Kusadasi Bazaar

 Kusadasi Bazaar in the heart of town right in front of the harbour offers affordable shopping, fake designer goods such as bags, jeans, watches and sunglasses as well as cheap jewellery, souvenirs, leather goods etc. There are no fixed prices in the bazaar, so bargaining is always needed otherwise you will end up overpaying.

 5) Take a Boat Trip Around the Bays Near Kusadasi

A boat trip in Kusadasi is a must. This gives you a chance to see Kusadasi from a completely new perspective and discover the nearby areas and bays of Kusadasi only accessible by boat. It stops several times to swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters and to explore caves. Some boats even have a water slide which is a lot of fun.

 6) Do Adventure Activities to Spend Fun Time

In Kusadasi, you have a lot of opportunities to do adventure activies. You can do quad safari, jeep safari and, horse safari, go on a boat trip, scuba diving according to your request. You can also go to Aqua Fantasy Aqua Park or Adaland to have some fun and swimming.

 7) Watch Sunset at Kusadasi Setur Marina or Scala Nuova

There are lovely views over Kusadasi Setur Marina from the outdoor cafes and restaurants at Scala Nuova Shopping Centre and Setur Marina. These are wonderful places to chill out, enjoy a drink and witness the sun go down painting the sky in beautiful pastel colours.

 8) Go to Explore Ephesus Ancient City, House of the Virgin Mary, Sirince Village and More

 Ephesus, was the second largest city in the Roman Empire over 250.000 people in the 1st BC. Ranking only behind Rome it was the second largest city in the world. Ephesus was also a harbour city. And, this giant city was built only with marbel. Also see Goddess Nike, Local Pharmacy, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celcius, Marbel Street and Harbour Street.

The House of Virgin Mary, is a place where according to the beliefs of many people Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her last years of her life. She was supposed to arrive at Ephesus together with St. John and lived there in the years 37-45 CE until her assumption or Dormition.

Sirince is a cute little village with a beautiful view, wonderful food and wine, hospitality, and so much more. It´s perhaps the perfect synthesis of a traditional Turkish village and traditional Greek village. 

You can also visit Temple of Artemis, Basilica of St John, Isa Bey Mosque and Seven Sleepers Cave.

9) Go on a Trip to Dilek Peninsula-Buyuk Menderes Delta National Park

 Dilek Peninsula-Buyuk Menderes Delta National Park is a park that encompasses an entire stunning peninsula in Kusadasi. It´s one of the most biologically diverse parks in the world, with hundreds of species of birds, mammals, plants and aquatic life that live in the park, some of which exist exclusively in this park anywhere in the world. It is internationally protected and of course is immensely important to conservationists the world over. There are four amazing coves in the national park, named Icmeler, Aydinlik, Kavakliburun and Karasu.

10) Travel Daily to Samos Greek Island

Samos is a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea. In ancient times Samos was an especially rich and powerful city-state, particularly known for its vineyards and wine production. It is home to Pythagoreion and the Heraion of Samos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the Eupalinian aqueduct, a marvel of ancient engineering. Samos is the birthplace of the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. Samian wine was well known in antiquity, and is still produced on the island.