I spent a day in Kusadasi Turkey as part of a cruise stop on the Norwegian Jade. You can read my full review of a 7 Day Greek Isles Cruise here. If you are wondering how to spend your limited time in Kusadasi, I recommend a tour the archeological site of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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Exploring Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was a Roman port, located in what was once the estuary of the Kaystros River. Due to sedimentation, the river kept retreating and as it moved the settlements followed. Today, Ephesus consists of multiple settlements that were founded in new locations to keep up with the shifting river. Notable ruins include the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater.
I recommend having a guide walk you through the ruins so you can understand the history of what you are seeing. If you are on a cruise, you can participate in their excursion. Otherwise, you can join a guided tour through Viator. I had such a great time exploring this well preserved site.
The Cats of Ephesus
Another fun aspect of my visit to Ephesus was the cats! The site was full of them and I must have taken a picture of every cat I saw. A book has even been written about these famous cats (you can find it on Amazon).
Other things to do in Kusadasi
Other things you can do nearby Ephesus include touring the House of the Virgin Mary and the remnants of the Temple of Artemis, a Seventh Wonder of the Ancient World (all that remains is a single column).
After exploring Ephesus, our cruise tour brought us to the Grand Bazaar shopping mall at the cruise port. We walked around, did a little shopping, and stopped at a café to try a Turkish coffee. At this point, it was time to return to our cruise ship.
If you are looking for more things to do in nearby Greek islands, check out my guides on Athens, Rhodes, Santorini, Argostoli, and Corfu. If you are wondering what it’s like to do a cruise through the Greek Isles, read my review of the Norwegian Jade here.