Getting There
The nearest airport is Izmir's Adnan Menderes Airport, about 97km (60 miles) away. There's no convenient public transport from the airport to Kusadasi; private transfers arranged with a local company (or your hotel) in advance will run around 55€, for up to three people and luggage, about the same as a private taxi.
Long-distance bus service from Istanbul takes about 9 hours, 10 hours for service from Ankara. Prices vary from 45TL to 65TL.
Kusadasi's main otogar is located about .8km (1/2 mile) out of the town center on the main road. From there, local dolmuses run through the town center on the way up the shoreline, with the names of hotels posted on the windshield. If you don't see your hotel, ask, because not all are listed.
Ferries from the Greek island of Samos arrive once daily into the main harbor from April through October ($30 one-way, $35 same-day return, $55 round-trip with open-return ticket).
Visitor Information
The tourist information office (tel. 0256/614-1103) is located across from the main harbor at Iskele Meydani, within handy reach of disembarking cruise-ship passengers.
National Car Rental has an office in the Setur Marina (no. 103; tel. 0256/618-3575) open daily from 8:30am to 7pm.
Orientation
The heart of Kusadasi is found in the streets around the caravansaray, across from the harbor where the shore roads of Atatürk Bulvari to the north and Liman Caddesi to the south converge. The town's commercial thoroughfare, Barbaros Hayrettin Caddesi, is a pedestrian mall that heads east into the area of the old bazaar. Turn left at the post office to explore the narrow streets of the old city, lined with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.
Just south of the main harbor is Güvercin Ada, with its Byzantine fortress; farther south the shore road leads to nearby Ladies' Beach and the national park, about 20km (12 miles) away.
Getting Around
If the thought of getting on a dolmus was too intimidating in the big city, in Kusadasi it's going to be your best friend. Minibuses run regularly along the shore road into and out of town, as well as south to Ladies' Beach and northward along the coastal road above the Kismet Hotel and beyond. Each ride costs 2TL to go from one end of town to the other; you'll have to change dolmuses in the center and pay another fare.
Countless storefronts up and down Atatürk Bulvari publicize car rentals at very competitive prices. As a backup, you can contact Europcar, Atatürk Bulv. 68 (tel. 0256/614-6770), or book your car through a reputable travel agent.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
