Holiday in Kuşadası

What makes Kuşadası special as a destination?

Kuşadası – the "Bird Island" – is one of the liveliest coastal towns on the Turkish Aegean and the most important cruise port in the eastern Mediterranean. The city owes its name to the small pigeon island connected by a dam, which features a Venetian fortress that now houses a charming café and museum. However, the real reason why millions of visitors flock to Kuşadası each year lies 17 kilometers inland: Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. The ruins of Ephesus are simply overwhelming. The Celsus Library, the massive theater with 25,000 seats, the marble streets, the terrace houses with their mosaics and frescoes – everything breathes the grandeur of the Roman Empire. Every day, cruise passengers pour into the excavations, but those who arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon experience an almost mystical silence among the columns. Kuşadası itself offers the perfect mix of beach holiday and city life. Ladies Beach is the most popular city beach with bars and water sports, while the Dilek National Park on the peninsula south of the city offers secluded coves, hiking trails, and even wild horses. The large bazaar in the old town is a labyrinth of leather, spices, carpets, and handcrafted jewelry, where haggling is part of the experience. From Germany, you fly to Izmir-Adnan Menderes Airport, from where it is 70 kilometers south to Kuşadası. The journey takes about an hour. Alternatively, renting a car is worthwhile to explore the entire Aegean coast – from Pamukkale to Bodrum. The Aegean is slightly cooler than the southern coast, making Kuşadası the perfect destination from May to October, without the extreme heat of the Riviera.