3 Best Sights in The Central and Southern Aegean Coast, Turkey

If you're looking for beaches, either head north from Kuşadası to Pamucak or travel 33 km (20 miles) south to this lovely national park, which has good hiking trails through woods and canyons and several quiet stretches of sand. The İçmeler beach, closest to the entrance, is also the most crowded. Travel 15 minutes to Karaburun for a more low-key atmosphere. The beaches are clean, with nearby picnic tables, toilets, changing cabins, and outdoor showers, but you should bring your own food and drink. (Note that the park is only open to a limited number of private vehicles a day.) You can catch a Güzelçamlı-bound dolmuş/minibus from Kuşadaşı or nearby transport hub Söke that will take visitors into the park and make a circuit of some of the most popular beaches. The park also contains the so-called "Cave of Zeus," and an archaeological site from when the peninsula was known as Mycale.

There aren't many sights in Kuşadası proper, but the causeway just south of the harbor connects the town to an old Genoese castle on Güvercin Adası (Pigeon Island). Once home to three infamous Turkish pirate brothers in the 16th century, the fortress has been restored and opened to visitors, with its tree-studded grounds providing a lovely space for strolling, relaxing, and taking in the sea and city vistas. To the right of the castle entrance, there’s a swimming platform well-used by locals in summer (despite the proximity to the city center, the water appears quite clean) and a casual café serving reasonably priced snacks and drinks with a million-dollar view.

Kuşadası's 300-year-old caravanserai is a short stroll from the cruise ship dock; its central courtyard is open to the public during the day but there's not much to see. Previously a hotel, there are now plans to turn the building into a city museum.