Life's a Beach in Kusadasi

Kusadasi is a small town with a big draw. Only about 50,000 people can call themselves locals, but during the summer tourist season, this place is packed like an open-bar party. Some come for the easy access to Ephesus, many stop on their cruise for the fantastic beaches with clear aqua waters.

There's even a spot called Ladies Beach, though the sights I saw were more like Granny Sea.

The word Kusadasi stems from the Turkish term for "Bird Island," which itself comes from the town's close vicinity to Pigeon Island, so those beach umbrellas are blocking more than just the sun. The town does not have its own airport, but it's a cheap and easy bus ride from Izmir. In fact, Atlas Air features free shuttle bus rides between the airport and Kusadasi, which just goes to show how popular the town actually is.

Kusadasi does feature an open-air bazaar in the ancient style, though that's primarily for tourists as the city is actually rather modern. There is also a bit of a slope heading down to the waterfront, which allows for incredible views. In fact, I stayed at a great hostel called Panorama, and their rooftop breakfast area offers amazing views (see photo above) of the Aegean Sea and beyond.

Though it's clearly a tourism-built city, Kusadasi is actually quite moderately priced. Sure, you can find overpriced eateries, but we found tons of good food, drinks and entertainment at prices well below the average resort town costs. I may have come to visit Ephesus, but I was completely won over by Kusadasi's charm, affordability and beautiful beaches.