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Kuşadası is a popular beach town located on the Aegean coast of Türkiye. Busy with local and foreign tourists throughout the year, this seaside city has many swanky bars and tasty restaurants to check out. And for our European travelers, Kuşadası is easy to reach with plenty of budget flights from Europe and many domestic flights from all over Türkiye.
Kuşadası is an hour’s taxi ride south of Izmir Airport, or an hour and a half north of Bodrum Airport which are both very well serviced airports. Once you’ve arrived, the list of things to do in Kuşadası is endless – you really can try something new each day of your holiday. Here is our locals’ picks of all of the best things to do in Kuşadası while you’re in town.

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- 1. Explore the town by shopping
- 2. Relax at one of the best beaches in Kuşadası
- 3. Visit the picturesque Pigeon Island and Atatürk Statue
- 4. Explore underwater
- 5. Experience ancient history at Ephesus
- 6. Hike and swim at the National Park
- 7. Relax or party on a boat trip
- 8. Visit the Adaland and Aqua Fantasy waterparks
- 9. Hop to the Greek Island of Samos
- 10. Experience the bars and clubs
1. Explore the town by shopping
When arriving in any new place, a good thing to do when you’re fresh in town is to wander the streets. Kuşadası is a fantastic place to do just that. With a mix of older and modern architecture, there are plenty bars, cafes and shops to explore.

Spend some time really getting to grips with this fantastic and lively city on the Aegean coast. There is ample opportunity for shopping, whether souvenirs or clothes.
Local tip: Head to the pedestrianized old town if you want to browse the imitation designer products.
2. Relax at one of the best beaches in Kuşadası
Kuşadası Beach (Sahil)
There is a beach next to the marina in the center of town, which is a good option for those who don’t want to travel far. Small but clean, the water here is surprisingly clear considering this is a city centre beach. Don’t miss this from your schedule of Kuşadası things to do.

Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Plajı)
A hotel zone with a sandy beach and many western-style restaurants, Ladies Beach is also conveniently located a short bus ride from the centre of Kuşadası. During Ottoman times, it was a beach exclusively for women; but, these days there is no longer segregation, and the beach is open for all genders.
Love Beach (Sevgi Plajı)
One of the best beaches around, Love Beach is a super long, clean and sandy beach. There are plenty of beach bars to base yourself for the day, and it’s only a 30-minute taxi or 45-minute bus journey from Kuşadası.

Local tip: There is no need to worry about choice of clothing at this beach. Bikinis are widely accepted and worn by locals.
3. Visit the picturesque Pigeon Island and Atatürk Statue
A short walk from downtown Kuşadası is Pigeon Island. Despite the name, it is no longer an island as it was connected to the mainland in the 1950s via a walkway.

Once a Genoese fort built in the 13th century, it became an important Ottoman station for anti-piracy missions in the 15th century. The castle on Pigeon Island has been caringly restored to its former glory for tourists and locals alike to spend time and learn the history.
Perched on top of the nearby hill is a statue of the legendary leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Referred to as the founder of modern Türkiye, you may recognize his face from the Turkish Lira banknotes. He is especially loved in the Aegean region of Türkiye for his connection to the area. Climb up after visiting the island for great views of the city and surrounding blue waters.
Local tip: The viewpoint is even more special at sunset. Make sure to include a stop at sunset if you can.
4. Explore underwater
Whether already qualified or you want to try something new, Kuşadası scuba diving offers great options for seasoned divers and newbies alike. Back in 2016, an ex-commercial Airbus A300 plane was deliberately sunk to attract wildlife and make an underwater attraction. It’s a strange sight to experience, but absolutely something you will remember from the best of the things to do in Kuşadası.

With the intention of improving Kuşadası’s name in the world of diving, this site is now known as the largest diveable plane wreck in the world.
Local tip: Kuşadası is actually one of the most cost-effective scuba diving regions in the world, at around €35 per dive.
5. Experience ancient history at Ephesus
Ephesus is one of the most impressive ancient cities in the world, and is so historically important that it was mentioned in the bible. Ephesus was once ruled by the Persian, Roman and Byzantine empires, and the beauty of the space is unparalleled. It is a must see when visiting this region, and you should absolutely budget spending a good few hours here and marvel at the history.

Fancy seeing what else to do while visiting Ephesus? Check out our itinerary for a visit from Izmir.
Local tip: Take a bus local from Kuşadası to Selçuk bus station. Once here take another bus labeled Ephesus.
6. Hike and swim at the National Park
With a hilly landscape surrounding this city, there are plenty of places to get up close and personal with nature. The best option, however, is Dilek Mili Park in Güzelçamlı. The Dilek Peninsula just south of Kuşadası is a protected zone and is the perfect place for hiking and beach opportunities.

The peninsula has many bays with super clear water, and you may even see a family of wild hogs strolling along the beach.
Local tip: Take a Dolmuş (minivan) from the center of Kuşadası to the national park in Güzelçamlı.
7. Relax or party on a boat trip
On the walkway to the Pigeon Island you will notice boats lined up ready to take tourists out for an unforgettable day trip along the coast. Wander down in the evening and chat with some of the boat crews, and see which boat best matches your vibe. Whether you want to relax or party, there are options for everyone.

These boats leave in the morning at 10 am and make multiple stops at different bays (many of them private) before returning just before 5 pm. Lunch is included in the price but remember to bring snacks, water and sun cream with you.
Local tip: If you’re after a relaxing family trip, opt for a boat heading south to Dilek National Park for the chance of seeing dolphins or turtles.
8. Visit the Adaland and Aqua Fantasy waterparks
There are many waterparks in the vicinity of Kuşadası, from standalone parks to parks connected to hotels. If you’re looking for the best of the waterparks int he area, I’d recommend a visit to Adaland or Aqua Fantasy which are arguably the two best waterparks in the country. If you’re looking for things to do in Kuşadası with kids, this will not disappoint.

Adaland
From family friendly pools to extremely fast slides, Adaland has it all. Especially recommended for the adrenalin junkies, they have many extreme rides such as drop slides and ramp slides. There is a diving pool with three different elevated platforms and even opportunity to try surfing or rafting.

Aqua Fantasy
A worthy option, a little smaller but also quieter Aqua Fantasy offers a slightly different experience. Thi waterpark boasts a long, lazy river with a wave pool attached and multiple raft slides. They even have a pool bar to enjoy cocktails without leaving the water, so you can expect to have a more relaxed day at Aqua Fantasy.
Local tip: Both parks are easily accessible by local bus, and both parks are cash free. Load your money onto a card on arrival to purchase food and drink.
9. Hop to the Greek Island of Samos
You can see the Greek island of Samos from Kuşadası marina. The sun sets behind this island every day, so you may find yourself curious to know what Samos has going for it. During the summer months, there is a straightforward ferry service connecting the two.

Though not technically on the list of things to do in Kuşadası, this island is easy to reach from the port with a boat ride taking just about 30 minutes.
There are two different port towns on Samos you can visit: Samos town (Vathy) on the north of the island, and Pythagoreio on the south. Ferry companies offer outbound trips in the morning and return boats early evening, making it perfect for a day trip.
Local tip: Don’t forget to grab a gyros while on the island of Samos
10. Experience the bars and clubs
During the summer months, Turks and Europeans flock from all over to experience Kuşadası’s famous nightlife. The marina boasts so many venues with incredible atmospheres. From chilled pubs and cocktail bars to live music venues and clubs, this port town really has it all.

It’s no surprise that the word is out: sundown in Kuşadası really is a thing of legend.
Local tip: Don’t miss Chill Bar on a Wednesday evening for some live rock music
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