Published 3 October 2026
Kusadasi is a good base on the Aegean coast: ancient sites, long beaches and lively streets are all close together. Here are three simple plans depending on how much time you have.
If you have 1 day
Morning: Ephesus. Ephesus is the classic choice and it is only a short drive away. Go early, before the midday heat. A private car with driver takes up to 8 people on a round trip from your hotel or the cruise port, at one price per vehicle.
Afternoon: the town and Pigeon Island. Walk along the seafront to Pigeon Island (Güvercinada), the small island with a castle connected to the town by a causeway. Explore the old streets behind the harbour and stop for a drink by the water.
Alternative for active travellers: swap Ephesus for a quad or buggy safari. The 11:00 safari brings you back to the port around 13:45–14:15, which works for most cruise days.
In port by cruise ship? Use the cruise day planner to check which trips fit your time ashore.
If you have 2 days
Day 1: Ephesus in the morning, the town and Pigeon Island in the afternoon, as above.
Day 2: Pamucak. Pamucak is the long sandy beach between Kusadasi and Selçuk. Join a quad or buggy safari on the forest trails above it, or a horse ride on the beach — in summer you can even ride into the sea, weather permitting. Choose the 11:00 start and you have the rest of the afternoon free for the beach.
From 1 May to 15 September you can also spend a day on the water with our boat trip to the coves of the Dilek Peninsula National Park, from 10:00 to 16:00, with lunch, soft drinks during lunch and pickup from your hotel or the cruise port included.
If you have 3 days
Day 1 and 2: as above.
Day 3: Pamukkale. The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis are a long but rewarding day trip. Our Pamukkale day trip picks you up at your hotel or the cruise port at 08:00 and brings you back around 19:00. It includes a guide, breakfast and lunch, time in the thermal pools and mud bath of a thermal hotel, and the entrance fees.
Or Didim, Miletus and Priene: if you prefer a shorter day, visit the huge Temple of Apollo in Didim, with stops at Miletus and Priene, on a round trip with a private car and driver.
Practical tips
- Arriving by plane? Izmir Airport is about an hour away. Read Izmir Airport to Kusadasi: options and prices.
- Heat: from June to September, plan sightseeing for the morning and the beach for the afternoon.
- Payment: with us you pay on the day, in cash or by card, or online with a payment link.
Questions about your plan? Write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you put the days together.