Kuşadası (“Bird Island”, referring to the small Pigeon Island just off the mainland) is a resort town popular with international visitors and Turks alike. With roughly 50,000 permanent residents, Kuşadası spends the winters in relative silence, growing significantly in the high summer season with the influx of tourists. The modern town center and harbor area is lined with shops and small cafes, where you can find good deals on carpets and other souvenirs with some patience and a little skill at the age-old art of haggling.
How to get to Kuşadası
Getting to Kuşadası is usually a pretty straightforward affair; catch a bus from most cities in Turkey. A stay in Kuşadası is also a great opportunity to take a brief sojourn in Greek territory, as there are daily ferry services to the Greek island of Samos.
