Kusadasi Information Desk

It is located in the west of Izmir. The name Cesme means fountain in Turkish. The name comes from the many springs around the area during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Turkey with its clean sandy blue sea, fish restaurants and lovely climate.In the center there is a 14th century Genoese fortress which was restored by the Ottomans in the 16th century.

Aydin, as the capital city of Kusadasi, is situated on the western side of Turkey and about 65km east from Kusadasi. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Mountain Samsun, the area around Aydin is also rich in culture and history. It was at the center of a celebrated school of sculpture, and the city was called as Tralleis in ancient times. Many ruins around the city center date from 2Ad. Also, Aydin includes important historical sites within its borders.

A 20 km enjoying road journey, experiencing varied tones of green on the valleys and spectacular view of Kusadasi gulf from the high mountains, reaches to Soke. The city is reputed for its immense agricultural lands. Cotton, grains and olive are the most produced crops on the fertile areas of Soke.

The 18 km of road from Kusadasi to Selcuk pass through spectacular beach and mountain scenery. The pretty town Selcuk is famous with its being a fascinating mixture of all historical periods. The strategic location of Selcuk has provided to be a popular place to settle down during the centuries. The name ‘Selcuk’ comes from the Turkish tribes settled in the region by the 12th century.

Located 23km south-west of Kusadasi, Guzelcamli offers a peaceful atmosphere by the seaside. Since its founding in 700BC, the town has been continually inhabited by many civilizations.

Pigeon Island, with its gleaming image, really deserves to be symbol of Kusadasi. The eye-catching view of the island, uniting with the panoramic colors of sunset attract every visitors. As the island was much-frequented place of birds during the seasonal migrations, it was named as Bird Island.In the times of Ottomans, the name of the island was given to the town and the town was started to be called as “Kusadasi” (Bird Island).

Davutlar, a small quite town, populated 6000 in the winter and rising up to 35000 in the summer, is situated 15km south of Kusadasi, on the way to National Park. The center of the town is a bit farther from the sea, but fine powdery sand of the beaches situated around, provide a good opportunity for relaxing. The sparkling clear waters of the beaches also attract many visitors of Davutlar.Davutlar is covered in the contrasting greens of pines and olive trees around Mount Samsun that provides a good accommodation for rarely found trees aged 300 or 350 years, and historical places , as well.

Ancient Neopolis stands as the second peninsula, little further to the Pigeon Island. The site was controlled by the Ionians and was functioning for controlling the trade between the cities. Neopolis was also reputed for the first inhabited area of Kusadasi. By the long years, earthquakes have disturbed the land causing the ancient site to sink under the clear waters of Kusadasi, creating a sunken city. Today, only a few remain can be noticed in the area. Ceramic pieces, wall remnants, clay and glassware pots dating back to the Roman and Byzantine periods have been revealed from Neopolis and are displayed in the Ephesus Museum.

Izmir, third biggest city of Turkey, called Pearl of the Aegean, has been planned in such a way that the chaotic environment of metropolises has been avoided.Izmir is located at the beginning of a long narrow gulf called Izmir Gulf which has a mild and sunny weather. It is a city which is famous for its lovely weather and beautiful girls.According to the legend the name Smyrna drives from a mythological story.

It is a place where people have lived continuously for thousands of years Bodrum has an incredibly rich past. Its position in or near so many of the great civilization and events of ancient history also makes Halicarnassus (Bodrum’s ancient name) an important site for historians. Finding one source of complete historical information on Bodrum is apparently impossible, so the account that follows is a distillation from several sources.