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Kusadasi, or
Bird Island, is a lovely port built along the shores of a
glittering bay. The terraced town overlooks the most beautiful
inlet of the Aegean and seems to have been created purely for the
delight of the holiday-maker.
The Genoese fort on the island which gave the town its name is
now full of cafés and discos. Its port welcomes luxury cruise
liners, which discharge passengers keen to sample the town's
extensive facilities and visit the archaeological sites nearby.
There is a marina for yachts and you can watch the cruise
liners coming into the harbour. Beach life is dotted around the
nearby coastline and the nearest beaches are Long Beach, Ladies
Beach, Green Beach and Tusan Beach. Windsurfing,
waterskiing, sailing and beach volleyball are only a few of the
activities on offer. Beaches can be crowded in high season, but
there are plenty of quieter stretches along the coast, and the
pretty pebbly bays of the Dilek Peninsula National Park.
South of resort is ideally situated for visiting historical sites.
The
most famous is the beautifully preserved Roman city of Ephesus,
once the home to around 250,000 people. The Greek city of Prienne,
the Temple of Apollo at Didyma and the ancient port of
Miletus are also well worth seeing. When you want a break from
culture, take an Aegean cruise or go on a jeep safari. Shopping is
another of the resort's great pleasures. From fake designer labels
to gold, leather and carpets, the choice is wide and prices are
considerably lower than in the UK. As night falls, the town comes
alive with an array of nightspots and discos. You can choose from
traditional "lokanta"s to familiar English and Irish themed pubs.
Many bars have live music and stay open late. Popular night clubs
spots include Bar Street and the "Kale ici" areas of the town centre. |
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Around Kusadasi |
One can go around Kusadasi either by
Minibus (Dolmus), Taxi or a Rental Car / Scooter.
There are 3 major ways to get around within
Kusadasi. The first and the most common way is by minibus service (called
Dolmus in Turkish) which is available between 7:30 AM and 12:00 AM
during the high season which is between May 1st and October 1st
Minibus routes and stops within town are shown by minibus signs by
the roads. For minibus and routes within town click Map of Kusadasi.
The second way to get
around in town is by taxi. Taxis are most useful especially late at
night where the meter runs double. Most of the destinations within
town are close (mostly 5 minutes range) so the taxi meters do not
hurt that much.
The
third way to get around in town is by foot. Most of the town is
relatively flat and the scenery is nice. To walk from one end of
town to another takes 30 minutes. |