Ephesus, Turkey

Kuşadası Promenade

Kuşadasi Waterfront, about 2.5 kilometers long, is ideal for walking, especially at sunset. Here you can see magnificent cruise ships, for docking which special piers have been built at one end of the promenade. Passengers on these liners, stepping onto the shore right away, find themselves in the huge tourist and shopping center of Scala Nuova, which adjoins the pier. Nearby there is a small park where you can sit down with a cup of tea in a welcoming tea garden, admiring the open sea and the sailing fishing boats. The old buildings near the waterfront have been transformed into bars and cafés and offer a glimpse of historic Kuşadası from the early last century.

Bar Street

Despite the small size of the town, Kuşadası is by no means behind in terms of options for an evening out compared to such a popular city as Marmaris. Visitors are lured until the very early morning by the wide-open doors of bars, cafés, and discos located on the so-called Bar Street. Here you can listen to music of different styles: from traditional Eastern sounds to the very latest. By the way, the second name for Bar Street with bars and restaurants is “Street of Blue Lights”; that’s what they call it because of its bright lighting. Kuşadası can truly be called a place that “never sleeps”.

To soak up the sun on the beaches

At this resort, ideal conditions have been created for an active beach holiday. Here you can find more than ten beautiful, well-maintained beaches: Pamucak, Deregazi, Pıgal, the Ladies’ Beach, Long Beach, and others. In addition to sunbathing, you can take up diving or windsurfing at any of them, go swimming with scuba gear, play beach football, go sailing on a yacht, and so on.

Go shopping

Kuşadası is rightly considered one of the best places for shopping in Turkey. Fashion brand stores are mainly concentrated in the city harbor, and practically all of their goods are sold at lower prices than in Europe. In the city’s shopping malls (KIPA, Fulltex Shopping Center, Scala Nuova), you can also find branded clothing by world-famous and Turkish designers, as well as leather goods, cosmetics, accessories, home décor items, souvenirs, and many other products. In addition, throughout the city you can find stores selling jewelry, leather goods, spices, rugs, ceramics, hookahs, belly-dancing costumes, etc. What’s more, in such establishments the owner will often treat you to coffee or tea, and bargaining is always appropriate.

Pigeon Island

Dove Island a place can safely be called one of the most popular in the city. Güvercin (this is how the island is called in Turkish) was once home to various bird species. Many years ago, the island buzzed with unceasing bird markets. However, the island became famous not only for its bird gatherings. Throughout all its history, its role in the life of the city was extremely important and strategic. This is a real outpost for protection against attacks from the sea. The island’s main attraction is the fortress. At one time, the fortress fell and was captured by pirates, who made it their hideout. Here they stored goods, valuables, and weapons, and kept captured slaves and enslaved women in captivity. That is why the fortress was called “Pirate Castle”.

Aquapark Aquafantasy

The Aquafentazy Water Park is perfect for rest and entertainment for the whole family. For every child, it is simply a paradise made up of children’s attractions: frogs, a crocodile, palm trees, waterfalls, a giant octopus, and a pirate ship. The ship can even be called a real one-its size corresponds to that of a real ship; it even has cannons and shells. On the territory of the water park, there is one of the longest slides in the world-the “Anaconda,” 135 meters long-and its sister slide, the “Cobra,” which is even more extreme. Adrenaline lovers will be delighted with the “Extreme” slide. The ride down takes just 6 seconds, but the descent speed will be 70 km/h. There is also a huge wave pool, where you can swim on inflatable rings.

Excursion to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary

In this beautifully preserved ancient city, you won’t be able to take your eyes off its temples, fountains, the amphitheater, and the famous Library of Celsus. You’ll get to walk in the footsteps of the great emperors Trajan, Domitian, Nero, Hadrian, and Alexander the Great. Artemis, the huntress-daughter of Zeus-was the patron goddess of Ephesus. The fame of the Temple of Artemis spread throughout the world, and it’s no wonder that it was listed among the Seven Wonders of the World. But on the night of Alexander the Great’s birth, in 356 BC, a resident of Ephesus, Herostratus, who tried in this way to immortalize his name in history, set fire to the great temple. 5 km from the city is a sacred place for all Christians-the house where the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final days. The icons found here are renowned for their healing power. The Holy Chapel was recognized by the Vatican, and in 1967 Pope Paul VI paid it a visit.

Excursion in Shirinje

Not far from Ephesus and the last resting place of the Virgin Mary, at an altitude of 350 m above sea level, the little village of Şirince (Sirince) spreads out. From Turkish, its name translates as “a delightful, lovely place,” and there’s something to that. Narrow stone-paved lanes wind their way up in zigzags to the village church. Along the sidewalks, the women of Şirince present their goods to you: knitting, embroidery, lace. Others offer homemade bread, cheese… White houses with terracotta roofs, wrapped in abundant vineyards, olive and fig groves, welcome you as they fling open their wooden shutters… To get to Şirince and not try cherry, apricot or melon wine is the same as not visiting at all. True, the fruit wine is kept for a relatively short time-just about two years. But once you’ve tried the local wines, few people refuse to return to Şirince again.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can check them after booking the cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.