• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Istanbul
  • Cappadocia
  • Mediterranean
  • Aegean
  • Black Sea
  • Other Places
Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish People, Culture, History, and Places inTurkey

  • Culture and Traditions
  • Food and Drink
  • History
  • Travel Tips
  • Living in Turkey
  • About Turkey
    • About the Blog
    • Advertising
    • Contact

Kusadasi – Not Quite The Jewel Of Turkey

by Natalie

I have been meaning to write this post about Kusadasi for quite a while but other  ideas have popped into my mind and it was pushed on a back burner.  You see, Kusadasi is a place in Turkey that I neither love nor hate.

It does not excite me but it does not disappoint me either. I have spent many years both living in the resort and also traveling to it from my home resort of Altinkum. Now I could write a post just like the travel brochures, however I feel that I would be greatly misleading my readers.

Travel Brochure Description of Kusadasi

On the country’s west coast, south of Izmir, Kusadasi is one of the most popular choices for holidays to Turkey. In fact, it is reputed as one of the most attractive cities of the Aegean. With a classic story of a fishing village turning into an attractive resort, Kusadasi is packed with sun, sea and fantastic weather.

kusadasi

My Travel Description

The only man to ever call Kusadasi attractive was a blind man. Going into the resort, it is impossible to miss the five tall buildings on the hills that have stood like looming ugly giants for the last decade. They are half built and first time visitors to the resort could well assume them to be the local ghetto.

The reaction these parts provoke from me is that I would really love to be commissioned for a series of “let’s knock your house down and rebuild it”.  While it is not the most unattractive resort in Turkey, that I have ever visited, I would not give it the crown as being the most  attractive either.

Shopping in Kusadasi

Shopping  is an uncomfortable experience and anyone would understand if a person blew their top after being hassled for the fifth time to buy a leather jacket in the heat of the summer. If it is not leather jackets, then jewellery is shoved in your face. God help you if you decide to go shopping when the cruise ships dock in as the hassle is increased tenfold as everyone battles for the rich holiday makers docking in for the day.

Shopping in kusadasi

Nightlife in Kusadasi

The great thing about Kusadasi nightlife is that it has two faces. There is the cosmopolitan nightlife which is all about cafes, fine dining and good conversation but head to bar street and you will find that it resembles a row of bars from your local neighborhood back home. The Turkish personal of these bars wear football shirts and speak with a broad European accent that confirms they spent the winter watching western soaps in an effort to woo a pretty, sunburnt holiday maker.

Next year they will have been branded as a  love rat of Turkey for breaking so many hearts. October is granny month and this is when the older women desperate for some male attention will hit bar street in attempt for a young, viral man to make them feel like they are eighteen again.

turkey kusadasiHotels in Kusadasi

Now this is where I do pay homage and get down on bended knees to pay respect. Kusadasi has done many things wrong but their selection of hotels is excellent.  There are still old B&B’s that should be condemned by the local council but they suit the traveler who is just looking for a place to rest their head at night.

There is also a selection of top notch luxury hotels that know how to give service and could be called the best in Turkey.  I stayed in the Korumar hotel on my wedding night and while it cost my hubby a lot of money, I had a fantastic time and was well impressed.

Kusadasi harbourThings to do in Kusadasi

One of the better aspects about holidaying in Kusadasi is that there are a wide range of things to do close by. If the hassle of the shops annoys you and running around after young Turkish men is not appealing then head out of the resort to the nearby sites of Ephesus, the Virgin Mary’s house, Davutlar and Dilek national park.

If you want to lose the kids permanently, then just shove them in any of the two water parks and turn your back. The traffic going through these popular places will ensure that you never see your off-spring again.  To get round and about, I would say hire a car for the day but the makeup of the traffic system was done by a drunken man and would confuse even the most confident of drivers. Instead get the bus or buy local excursions.

kusadasi harbour front

Save

Pin50
Share32
Tweet
Share
82 Shares

Filed Under: Aegean Coast

Hi. I'm Natalie, a freelance travel blogger and writer specializing in the country of Turkey. I love hot summer days, historical sites and coffee. Read More…

Primary Sidebar

istanbul tourist pass

Search This Website

Popular Posts

Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman EmpireDolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman Empire49K Total Shares
The Colourful Wooden Mosque of MaralThe Colourful Wooden Mosque of Maral6K Total Shares
Santa Claus and His Life in TurkeySanta Claus and His Life in Turkey5K Total Shares
Sanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in TurkeySanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in Turkey4K Total Shares
The Serene House of the Virgin MaryThe Serene House of the Virgin Mary3K Total Shares
Ottoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in IstanbulOttoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul3K Total Shares

Footer

Everything Else

  • Blog Sitemap
  • GDPR, Privacy and Cookies
  • Terms of Use and Disclaimer

Of Interest

  • About Us
  • Advertising and PR
  • Map of Turkey

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright @2023 - Turkish Travel Blog

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT