Top things to do in Kusadasi

When you holiday in the resort of Kusadasi, you're never far from history, and one of the most spectacular cultural places to visit is Ephesus. Located at Selcuk, just a few minutes outside Kusadasi, lies the 3,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ephesus. This is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean region and was once the provincial capital of Asia. Make the short journey here, and you will be totally immersed in the past as you visit the Library of Celsus, an amazing 25,000-seat theatre, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But that's not all; you'll also discover the remains of a sophisticated aqueduct system, fountains, Roman bathhouses and preserved streets. Ephesus is truly somewhere to earmark for a full day trip during your visit.

If you fancy something a little different for a few hours then head to Kusadasi’s ancient citadel Guvercinada or more commonly called Pigeon Island. Reached down a 350 m causeway this coastal defence system dates from the 16th Century with some of the outer walls completed a little later around the 1770s. The area resembles a park in layout with plenty of local wildlife to see. You don’t really need to hire a guide as all the history and guides to the animal and plant life on view is contained on numerous information boards in several languages. Other highlights here include a raised wooden platform from which to take stunning photos of Kusadasi Harbour and, unusually, the skeleton remains of a Fin Whale which was found nearby in the 1990s.

Just eight kilometres East of the Kusadasi resort is Sirince, an ancient Turkish mountain village that has leaped straight off of the cover of a tourist brochure. This photogenic collection of whitewashed Greek style houses hugs the side of a valley and has been here since Roman times. Tight, twisting alley ways, free of any motorised traffic cut through the housing, vineyards, orchards and olive groves; you can even catch glimpses of the remains of aqueducts that are said to have fed the nearby World Heritage Site of Ephesus. Take time here to relax and immerse yourself in an idyllic piece of Turkey’s past. Browse the stalls selling spices, wine and trinkets before sampling some local delicacies in one of the many cafes.

For an intriguing and probably totally unexpected excursion, why not take a short trip inland to the Camlik Railway Museum? Celebrating Turkey's rich locomotive past, the Camlik Museum has 33 steam engines on display dating from the 1890s to the 1950s, including examples from international manufacturers such as Krupp, Henschel, and a really early (1891) carriage from British supplier Stephenson. You are free to access all the cabs, making for some great photo opportunities which younger family members will really enjoy; although you may wish to pass on engine 45501, which was tragically involved in a head-on collision in 1957 and claimed 95 lives.

No holiday in the sun is complete without at least one day at a waterpark, and Kusadasi has one of the best in the region - Adaland. With an exhilarating mix of gentle raft rides, splash pools for the little ones, and outrageous, heart-pounding thrills, this park has it all. Among other rides, Adaland is home to the Water Coaster, a 406-metre slide touted as the ‘world’s longest family slide,’ Kamikaze with a 50-metre sheer drop, and Slide and Fly splashdown, which shoots its ‘victims’ into the air before landing in a pool. Another firm favourite is an adjoining pair of slides where you can challenge your friends to see who can reach the bottom first, but beware, as you will have to brave a 360-degree loop before getting there.