Kusadasi (Ephesus, Turkey)

Kusadasi is a cruise port and a resort town on Turkey's central Aegean Sea coast, and south of Izmir. Kusadasi is also a busy ferry port and serves as seaport for Ephesus.

From the cruise ship pier in Kusadasi's harbour the town looks very attractive and passengers can walk to the promenade cafes and shops and then climb to Kale district where, inside the old city walls, there's a mosque, a bazaar and some fine traditional houses. Across the causeway linking it to mainland is Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) where there is a little Genoese fortress. There are pretty beaches in the region - the small Town Beach is 500 m beyond the causeway to Guvercin Adasi but the better Paradise and Ladies Beaches are to the south and you'll need a taxi to get there; also have in mind they're often crowded.

The first to settle in Kusadasi were the Aeolians from northern Greece. A harbour was established here by the Genoese and Venetians when the Ephesus harbour became silted up. Even now for cruisers it's mainly a city that is the gateway to Ephesus, one of world's largest and most important ancient archaeological and religious sites. From Kusadasi you can also visit Didyma, Priene and Miletus.

Highlights: Beaches, Ephesus, Priene, Miletus and Didyma

Kusadasi tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Didyma Ruins (ancient Greek city)

Priene Ruins (ancient Greek city)

Miletus Ruins (ancient Greek city)