Kusadasi is a resort town on the Aegean coast of Turkey, near the ancient city of Ephesus, 90 km south of izmir and a short distance across from the island of Samos. It is extremely popular as a tourist destination, both for its many beaches, and as the port for cruise ship passengers heading to Ephesus. Kuþadasý has a residential population of 50,000 which rises to over half a million during the summer due to local and foreign tourists. Near Kusadasi, there is a national park full of beautiful beaches just 1 km before the town of Guzelcamli. Also, several aqua-parks are located near the town: the largest are Aqua Fantasy and Aqua Land. A panoramic view of Kusadasi (Guvercin Adasi seen at background)
Name
The name comes from 'kus' (bird) and 'ada' (island). Just next to the old harbor is a small island that has a rock with the shape of a bird's head (as seen from the sea). It was known as New Ephesus, Scala Nuova, and Kush-Adasi at the beginning of the 20th century.

The site of the ancient Marathesium is close by on the south. Kusadasi was a minor port overshadowed by Ephesus until Ephesus' harbor silted up. Before the opening of the Izmir-Aydin railway, its roadstead was frequented by vessels trading with the Anatolian coast. But in the absence of a rail connection, its trade declined in the 19th century in favor of Izmir.
Transportation
It has bus and long-distance taxi transportation to the nearest airports, in Izmir and Bodrum.