Around Kusadasi

   

Kusadasi Fort
In front of the town of Kusadasi an isle connected by a road to mainland, rises the ancient fortress of Kusadasi which is surrounded by imposing turreted glacis. This fortress became famous during the 16th century when it was used as a base for the exploits of the pirate Khair ad-Din better known as Barbarossa

Kusadasi Beaches
Starting from the south towards north of town there are various beaches. Some of them are beach clubs where one has to pay certain fee to use the facilities and others are free for the public. It is your choice whether you prefer a sandy beach a rocky beach or a beach with pebbles. The cleanless of water will be represented by the number of blue flags, 3 flags beeing the cleanest water.

National Park (Kalamaki)
Lying 30 km (19miles) south of Kusadasi towards the end of Kusadasi Bay, on Dilek Peninsula, National Park is one of the most preserved places in the country. Dense pine trees which cover the mountains reach the beaches and sea in this well reserved park. The water in this area is cristal clear. To get info on how to get there click transportation.
Wheter you like hiking in the mountain trails or lying on relaxing beach, this is the absolute paradise for vacationers. As you enter the park the first beach on the right side is a sandy beach with picnic tables, shower facilities, toilets, deck chairs and a cafe-restaurant.
There are rocky bays between the first beach and the second beach where one can enjoy a private bath in the sea if rocky sea side is not a problem.
The second and the third beaches in the park are beaches with pebbles. There are deck chairs, sun umbrellas, toilets, showers and cafe restaurants in these beaches.

Long Beach
Long Beach which is 15 minutes drive away from Kusadasi is a 6 km long beach area south of Kusadasi. The coastal area is occupied by hotels and Turkish summer house complexes. Long Beach offers deck chairs, Showers, toilets, cafees, restaurants and especially water sports like water skiing, parasailing and jet skiing. To get info on how to get there click transportation.

Green Beach (Barbaros)
This beach is only 5 minutes drive from the center of town and almost 5 minute walk from ladies beach area. It`s a sandy beach and you can either lie on the sand or on the grass under the palm trees. It`s a small and calm beach. On Sundays, however, the beach is quite packed with native vacationers. To get info on how to get there click transportation.

Sandal Beach Club
This beach is only 5 minutes drive from the center of town and almost 5 minute walk from ladies beach area. It`s a sandy beach and you can either lie on the sand or on the grass under the palm trees. It`s a small and calm beach. On Sundays, however, the beach is quite packed with native vacationers. To get info on how to get there click transportation.

Ladies Beach
This beach gives its name to town established near it. Ladies Beach is a sandy beach, 1 km long which offers sun umbrellas, deck chairs, showers, cafees and restaurants across the street from the beach. Ladies Beach, one of the most prefered beaches in the area is extremely crowded on Sundays due to native vacationers. It`s only 5 minutes drive or 20 minutes walk from the center of town. The area is full of hotels, apart hotels, pensions and summer houses. You can also enjoy all the water sports activities in this beach.

Snake Island
Snake Island bay is a rocky beach area very near the center of town. Snake Island is actually a small peninsula left of Pegion Island. This beach is only 10 minutes walk from the center of town. The beach offers deck chairs, sun umbrellas, cafees and a restaurant. The peninsula provides two beaches one facing south-west and the other north. You can choose between the two depending on the the direction of wind blowing. To get info on how to get ther click transportation.

<!--[endif]--> Yesil Hamam
Now we are in the north part of Kusadasi. Yesilhamam is actually a small rocky bay rather than a beach. Although you can go there by foot by climbing down a steep reef the best way is to get there by boat. It`s a secluded area where you get no sun umbrellas nor deck chairs but nature on the rocks !

Sunset Beach Club
Sun Set Beach Club which is the next bay from Yesilhamam, is a private facility where you have to pay a certain fee to use the premisses. The club offers deck chairs, sun umbrellas, cafee and a restaurant. The area has no sand but there is a concrete-stone mixture platform on the rocks. You can either choose to dive or use the steps to go into the deep water. To get info on how to get there please click transportation.

Kustur Beach
5 km (3 miles) north of Kusadasi lies Kustur Beach, probably one of the most prefered beach area arround Kusadasi. This area consists of 1 km long sandy shore. The beach and the surroundings were reorginized and rebuilt by the local government and has become more attractive in 2000.
The beach area offers deck chairs, sun umbrellas, water sports activities, showers, toilets, sand voleyball court, cafees and restaurants and even an ATM machine incase you need urgent cash ! The beach is quiet crowded on Sundays and national holidays.
Watching sun set from this beach is an extraordinary occasion. The sea is usually calm in the mornings and wavy in the afternoons. One can cool down in the clear water in the morning and play arround with the waves in the afternoon. To get to and come back from this beach is very easy. For info on how to get there please click transportation.

Pamucak Beach
10 km north of town towards Selcuk and only 5 km (3 miles) from the ancient city of Ephesus lies the 5 km (3 miles) long Pamucak Beach. The sandy beach is aproximately 80 meters (240 ft) wide. Through the middle of the beach the river Kucuk Menderes meets with the sea.
This beach offers no sun umbrellas nor deck chairs. However, you can enjoy horse back riding or camel riding on the beach.
Although the beach is visited by lots of local vacationers on Sundays and national holidays, because of its size the beach does not seem crowded.

Baradan Bay
Baradan Bay is 25 km (15 miles) north of Kusadasi which takes 30 minutes by car to reach. However, the most common way to reach to this beach is by boat trip. The boats leave the marina arround 10 am and reach there arround 11 am. You can also choose to get there by minibus which is a 30 minute drive from Kusadasi. The bay rests between high clifs covered by pine trees. The area offers picnic tables but no deck chairs. It is quite crowded on Sundays and national holidays. To get info on how to get there please click transportation.

Beach Clubs
Beach clubs in Kusadasi brought fresh air to the basic beach mentality. Music, events, drinks, shade, sun, sand, grass, party enjoy all at the same time.

Selcuk Fortress
The Fortress is located on the highest point of Ayasuluk Hill, and was constructed by Aydinogullari (Aydin Emirate). It has fifteen towers, a mosque, and cisterns, and is entered through the gate on the west.

Sirince
Sirince which is located 15 km ( 9 miles ) up in the eastern mountains of Selcuk, is an old Greek village most famous with it`s local wine and olive oil. It`s one of the must see places in the region. You can reach Sirince either by taking a scheduled minibus from Selcuk bus station or by taking a taxi.. Oxygen rich Sirince has unique market usually busy with visitors especially on weekends. The architecture displays a good example of 19th century Anatolian style where houses are rather well preserved. The village has two 13th century Greek churhes both on the southern hill.
   Gözleme (Special Turkish Pastry) is the most famous dish in the village. Home made wines and olive oil are sold in the daily market in the center of the village.
   A couple of old village houses have been converted into pensions yet still carrying authentic atmosphere with wooden architecture and fire places. Sirince is the place to see for those who admire autheticity.