This seaside resort town has grown up 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.

Although there is a little 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.

Geography

The city stands on a bay in the Aegean with the peninsula of Guvercin Ada sticking out into the sea at one end, and the mountain of Kaz Dağı behind.

Demographics

Kusadasi has a residential population of 50,000 rising to over half a million during the summer when the large resort fills with tourists (from Turkey itself, northern Europe and the Balkans), plus the hotel staff, bar staff, construction workers, and drivers who are needed for work in the restaurants, the holiday villages, aquaparks, rock bars beach clubs and big hotels servicing all these visitors. An addition to the visitors from overseas there is a substantial community of foreigners resident in the area.

Industry

Kusadasi caters to tourists, arriving by land, and as the port for cruise ship passengers heading to Ephesus. In a controversial deal in 2003 the previously public-owned port was leased to a private company and renovated to attract luxury cruise liners. These range from the huge Grand Princess to smallers tours.

Real estate agents sell holiday flats and villas. Among all the ice-cream, carpets, leather, and software, there are bookshops selling books in English, German, Russian and other languages.

Old houses near the seafront, some of them converted to bars and cafes, are the remnants of old Kusadasi, which has become a modern-European looking town. The hills behind are built up with big hotels and blocks of holiday flats. The building boom in the late 80s and onwards has been continued into the hinterland of Kusadasi.

Sightseeing

* The city walls - Only one of the three gates still remains.
* Kaleiçi Camii - mosque built in 1618 for Grand Vizier Öküz Kara Mehmed Pasha.
* Öküz Mehmet Pasha caravanserai. Near the docks, built in 1618 as a strong-room for the goods of seamen.
* Guvercin Ada - the peninsula at the end of the bay, has a castle and swimming beaches, including a private beach and cafe with a view back across the bay to the harbour of Kusadasi. There are public beaches at the back of the peninsula, on the open sea side.
* Kirazli Village - traditional Turkish koy 12km from Kusadasi reached by scenic drive over gorge. Well visited by Turkish citizens looking for a return to nature and enjoy the cool breezes during the hot summer months and amazing views.
* Yılancı Burnu - a second peninsula beyond Güvercin Ada. Possibly the location of the original settlement of Neopolis. Some walls are visible. There are more beaches and beach clubs here.
* Pygale - 3km north, the small point behind Hotel Pigale. Once refuge of Agamemnon. Still to be excavated.
* Also several aqua-parks with wave-pools, white-water slides are located near the town: the largest are NBGS International's Aqua Fantasy, along with Adaland and Aqua Land.
* Ladies Beach - near the town, next to the Imbat Hotel, named because it was once segregated for female bathers. Now open to all and quite busy.
* Kadıkalesi - Venetian/Byzantine castle, 10km along the Kusadasi-Davutlar road,
* Panionium - 25 km (16 mi) south of Kusadasi, on the Davutlar-Güzelçamlı road. Once the central meeting place of the Ionian League. The ruins are in poor condition and their authenticity is disputed. (See Panionium).
* Dilek Peninsula National Park. South of Kusadasi, begins at the town of Güzelçamlı. Lovely bays and beautiful beaches, including the bay of Kalamaki. A day trip by boat from Güzelçamlı is a good way to visit them, or there are minibuses from Kusadasi.

Transportation

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.

Bus Station Tel: (90 256) 614 3981.

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.

Marina, Kusadasi Setur Tel: (90 256) 614 17 52,

Fax: 614 1758

By Air

The nearest airport is Izmir Adnan Menderes, 90 minutes by car. There are many domestic flights to Istanbul and Ankara, as well as European charter flights.

Airport Tel: (90 232) 274 2187