A castle, long beaches, waterparks, a huge bazaar – it's a something-for-everyone situ on Kusadasi holidays.

A handy hub

You’ll spy Kusadasi halfway down Turkey’s west coast. It’s a two-birds-one-stone kind of place, so you can easily switch between a morning of sightseeing and an afternoon of lounging in the sun. Plus, it’s basically one giant springboard for daytrips to places like the ancient city of Ephesus.

Tour hotspot

Thanks to its plum-in-the-middle postcode, Kusadasi’s perfectly placed for a whole load of days out. It’s half an hour’s drive to Ephesus – considered the best-preserved Classical city in this neck of the woods. You can also clock up visits to the ruins of Priene and Miletus, which are both less than an hour away. Or go one step further and hop on a ferry to the Greek isle of Samos.

Beach brigade

There’s no beating around the bush, Kusadasi has heaps of beaches. The closest to town is Downtown Beach, where you can eye up nearby Pigeon Island while topping up your tan. Just out of the centre, you’ve got Ladies Beach. Unlike the name suggests, everyone’s welcome on this sandy patch. And you’ll find the town’s trio of waterparks sprinkled beside Long Beach.

At a Glance

  • Sip an icy-cold Efes beer on Downtown Beach
  • Climb Kusadasi castle for a bird’s-eye view
  • See what’s left of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus