Welcome to Kuşadasi!
This complete travel guide goes over the best things to do in Kuşadasi, Turkey. This enchanting Turkish destination is a gateway to the ruins of Ephesus, one of the world’s most well-preserved classical cities. Kuşadasi is the best starting point for a day trip to Ephesus, and the city itself offers a few things to do. Travelers can either relax at Kuşadasi’s serene beaches or dive headfirst into the bustling bazaar and vibrant local life–whatever floats your boat!
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Join us as we explore this coastal haven that joins the old world with the new, creating an unforgettable experience for every traveler who ventures to its shores. Ephesus definitely steals the show, (we’ll go over why), but there are also a few other interesting things to do in Kuşadasi!
The Best Thing to do in Kuşadasi: A Day Trip to Ephesus
Ephesus is one of the main attractions in Turkey outside of Cappadocia and Istanbul. During the peak of the Roman Empire, this was the most important city in the world for trade. It connected the East and the West, and used to have a river and port. It now has remarkably preserved structures, including the Library of Celsus, the Grand Theater, and the Temple of Artemis. The Grand Theater is absolutely massive!
Ephesus offers a captivating glimpse into the past, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and travelers seeking to connect with Turkey’s rich heritage. While Ephesus is super interesting, it is insanely crowded. Be sure to buy your tickets online so you don’t have to wait in the long lines! While more expensive, we recommend doing a tour so you have more of an idea about what you’re looking at and the history behind it.
Ephesus Tours
Visiting Ephesus as part of a tour is a great way to avoid logistics planning and learn about the ancient history of Ephesus. We recommend going as part of the following tours based on what your interests are:
- Book this tour if your cruise ship is docking in Kuşadasi and you have limited time
- Book this tour if you are heavily interested in the religious aspects of Ephesus
- Book this tour if you want a high-quality, all-inclusive service
How to Get to Ephesus
The easiest and less stressful way to get to Ephesus is to go as part of a tour. However, if you want to go on your own, you can take a taxi or bus. We first took a bus to Selçuk – the town that Ephesus is in – and then we walked about a half hour through farms on a dirt road to get to the upper gate. However, you can take a bus to the lower gate. This location is where the buses leave to Ephesus from Kuşadasi. To find a bus to Ephesus from Selçuk, walk around the bus stop at Selçuk and look for the buses with “Ephesus” written across the dashboard.
Other Things to do in Kuşadasi
1. Wander the Kuşadasi Castle
One of the best things to do in Kuşadasi is to explore the Kuşadasi Castle. The entrance is free and the long walkway over the water reminds us of the beautiful Croatian towns. We got there right at golden hour and it was absolutely gorgeous – we made a TikTok of it that you can watch here.
2. Watching the Sunset Over Kuşadasi
To end your day, we highly recommend walking or driving up to Sevda Tepesi for a view of the city. This spot houses a monument and has amazing views of Kuşadasi, the castle, and the sunset. Make sure to take the main road instead of doing the short cut, as the area next to it is somewhat rough. This and visiting the castle are definitely the best things to do in Kuşadasi!
3. Walk the Beautiful Coastline
Kuşadasi has a gorgeous coastline and nice walkway. This is a great place where Turkish families come to relax, watch the sunset, or dine at one of the many restaurants!
4. Visit the El Heykeli Sculpture and Surrounding Beaches
The El Heykeli sculpture is a unique sculpture that portrays a few birds being freed by a hand and has the beautiful backdrop of the Icarian Sea. If you want to cool down, there are a few beaches near the sculpture. These beaches aren’t the nicest as Turkey has a bit of a trash problem, but they’re a great way to escape the Turkish heat!
5. Shop Your Heart Out at the Kuşadasi Bazaar
The Kuşadasi Bazaar is a great, smaller alternative to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. It’s much more calm, but has everything you need. It has shopping, cute outdoor restaurants, and tons of Turkish ice cream stands– which you need to try at least once. The vendor will do tricks with the ice cream and cone, waving it around so that you can’t quite grab it. Turkish ice cream is also more gooey so it doesn’t melt as fast in high temperatures. People either love or hate it, there is no in between!
6. Relax on Ladies Beach
Ladies Beach is a further alternative to the popular Kuşadasi beaches, and was reserved solely for women during the Ottoman period. This beach is crowded but beautiful, and a nice place to spend a couple hours. You can rent a lounge chair or relax on the small rocks, depending on what your budget is!
Where to Stay in Kuşadasi
Kuşadasi Accommodations
How to Get to Kuşadasi
The easiest way to get to Kuşadasi is to fly into Izmir and take a bus from there. The bus system is very convenient in Turkey and fairly cheap. When traveling Turkey, we always bought our tickets on Obilet; it has the cheapest tickets we’ve found! If Obilet doesn’t work, you can check 12Go!
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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FAQs
What is Kuşadasi known for?
Kuşadasi is mainly known for it’s proximity to Ephesus, but it also has a fun bazaar, castle, and many beaches.
Is Kuşadasi worth visiting?
We recommend Kuşadasi if you’re looking for a place to stay while visiting Ephesus. It’s a nice coastal city, but we wouldn’t have stayed here if it wasn’t so close to Ephesus.
Is Kuşadasi safe?
Yes, Kuşadasi is generally safe, especially when you’re closer to the touristy areas such as the beaches and the bazaar.
