TURKEY
Kusadasi

Kusadasi

Kusadasi_{Photo: Lutz Langer CC 3.0 Unported no changes madee}

Kusadasi has undergone a major transformation in recent years. It used to be an important trading city, nowadays it is a tourist attraction. Sun, sea, beach and modern nightlife make this seaside resort very popular among Western tourists. The construction of apartments, luxury hotels and all-inclusive resorts in recent years has made a stay in Kusadasi possible for all types of holidaymakers today.

Location

Kusdasi Harbor_{Photo: Dietmar Giljohann CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Kusadasi is located on the west coast of Turkey about 90 kilometers south of Izmir. The airport of the latter city is approximately 70 km. Off the coast of the Turkish resort lies the Greek island of Samos, which can also be reached by boat. Many cruise ships dock in the port of Kusadasi.

Weather

The climate in the coastal areas around the Mediterranean is characterized by warm summers and mild winters. In the summer months the temperature is very comfortable and the sun shines most of the day. This makes the Turkish seaside resort ideal for a holiday full of sun, sea and sand. Kusadasi is also a great place to stay in the winter months. In general it will remain dry and the temperature will not dip far below twenty degrees.

History

Kusadasi caravanserai_{Photo: Vikimach CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Kusadasi used to serve mainly as a port city. This made it an important city for the area. In the second part of the twentieth century, however, the city lost its leadership role to competitors and mass tourism became increasingly important to the city's economy. Like the rest of Turkey, Kusadasi has fallen under Greek, Byzantine and Ottoman rule in the previous centuries. Some remains of this can be found in the immediate vicinity of the city. For a complete overview of the history of Turkey see the history page of Landenweb.

Sights

Several Greek temples have been found in the immediate vicinity of the city. Some in better shape than others, but all well worth a visit. Just think of the temple of Artemis, the temple of Aphrodite or Phygale, where boats were repaired and wounded cared for during the Trojan War. Various buildings, such as the Isa Bey Mosque and the Seljuk Castle, which has stood on the Ayasuluk mountain for 1500 years, are also good to visit. So there is a lot to do in and around Kusadasi.

Milete_{Photo: Monsieurdl in the public domain}

A little further away, but still easily accessible, is the ancient city of Miletus. Not much is left of this Roman-Hellenistic settlement, but with a little imagination when seeing some remnants of temples and a stoa one can imagine what it must have looked like.

Tips

A multitude of hotels, apartments and resorts can be found in and around Kusadasi. The one even more luxurious, more exclusive and more extensive than the other. Almost all form a great base for a wonderful holiday in Turkey full of sun, sea and beach.

Kusadasi car-free center_{Photo: Vikimach CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Of course you can lie on the beach for a week (or more), but when you have had enough, it is also recommended to just walk into the center of Kusadasi. The car-free streets, the many shops, the market, the authentic tea houses and narrow alleys make the center of the city very cozy. Have a nice afternoon stroll and let yourself be carried away in the Turkish conviviality.

Kusadasi has no fewer than three white water parks. They are located a short distance from the city, but all offer a shuttle to and from the city.