Kusadasi, Turkey

Kusadasi is a resort town in the province of Aydın on the Aegean coast of Turkey, 90 km (56 mi) south of İzmir, and 71 km (44 mi) from the inland provincial capital of Aydın. 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.

Kusadasi is a sprawling tourist center, serving thousands of tourists who flock here to visit the nearby ruins of Ephesus (30 km's away) and enjoy the beaches. It is also a great place for shopping. A highlight is a visit to a small island connected to the coast by a footbridge called Guvercin Adasis. The island has a walled fortress with a small museum and is great for exploring.

Things to See & Do

* The city walls
* Kaleiçi Camii - mosque
* Guvercin Adasis - fortress and museum
* Ruins at Ephesus
* Kadıkalesi - Venetian/Byzantine castle

General Information

Cruise Season - Feb to Dec
Currency - New Turkish Lira (YTL)
Language - Turkish
Land Area - 264 km²
Population - 70,000
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC + two hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 90

Port Location - The port of Kusadasi is right in the downtown area. It is an easy walk into the shopping area, as well as over to Goveroin Ada (or Pidgeon Island) and the beaches beyond.

Travel Links - There are regular charter flights during the summer from major European capitals to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, located only 75 kilometers from Kuşadası. Turkish Airlines also has connecting flights to Izmir from İstanbul and Ankara.

Turkish and Greek ferry boats shuttle daily between Kuşadası and the nearby Greek island of Samos. Greek ocean liners sail twice a week between Ancona (Italy) and Kuşadası, once a week between Venice and Izmir. In addition to these, Kuşadası is a port of call of many foreign ocean liners sailing the Aegean. Turkish Maritime lines (Deniz Yolları) cruise ships stop at Kuşadası regularly while on İstanbul - Mersin sailing route. With its 700 - Bert marina, Kuşadası is a major port of foreign yachtsmen.