When planning our Turkey travels I realized we were going to be close to Ephesus and I had to go! I’ve heard about this city in church my whole life. Kusadasi is a nearby cruise ship port and resort town so that’s where we stayed.
Getting to Kusadasi with Kids
If flying, Izmir is the closest airport to Kusadasi. This was the last stop on our Turkey trip so we drove from Bodrum and exited via Izmir.
Where to Stay in Kusadasi with Kids
We stayed at Casa Magnolia Boutique Rooms. It was centrally located, reasonably priced, and fit our needs for a quick trip.
What to Do in Kusadasi with Kids
Eat Iskender Kebab and Turkish ice cream
We had the best Turkish Kebab of our entire trip at 4 Brothers Dedem K. Restaurant. It was on a touristy street and we settled on it after walking around forever feeling hangry and decision fatigued. We assumed it would be typical sub par tourist fare but it was incredible and family-owned. We even met the four brothers! I think we ate here twice in two days!
The Turkish ice cream is really fun for kids. The guy serving it does tricks and pranks to snatch it out of your cone before you can take a bite. Super fun!
Visit Ephesus
The ruins were very impressive. We did a self-guided tour with the help of ChatGTP and learned a lot!
Visit the House of the Virgin Mary
This was beautiful and it really felt like you were waking on sacred ground. If going to visit Ephesus don’t miss out on the Virgin Mary house too.
Funny story: You aren’t allowed to take photos inside and everyone was acting reverent. We then heard a loud click and realized toddler Marin had his little digital camera around his neck and snapped a contraband photo! Even the guard laughed and let it slide! If only he had better aim we would have some valuable footage!
Lounge at Ladies Beach
We spend the afternoon relaxing after sightseeing at Ladies Beach. The kids played in the sand and we had some delicious ice cream from Helvacı Ali.
We had a nice time in Kusadasi but were mainly there for Ephesus. I think two days is sufficient as there are much more amazing places to see in Turkey!
Awing at Ephesus,
-Ray