History
Kusadasi has a rich and varied history. A small settlement founded by lonian settlers and known as Neapolis, is known to have existed at the site even in ancient times, but it was always over shadowed by its mighty neighbor Ephesus.

After the Hellenistic Period, the Romans and the Byzantines dominated Kusadasi. The town was an important commercial port and a foreign colony under Venetian and Genoese merchants in the 14th century and was called ScalaNouva (the new port) and medieval chronicles mention the presence of foreign consulates and warehouses. The Turks preferred to live mainly inland on the foothills around Pilavtepe near the ancient settlement known as Andızkule.

After a period of various Seljuk princes and Crusader knights the ottoman Turks conquered Kusadasi in 1413.

The town took its present from during the early 17th century when Öküz Mehmet Pasha was a grand vizier of Ottoman Empire. He built the city walls, a mosque complex consisting of a mosque, an Inn and a Turkish bath.

How to Get to Kusadasi
Kusadasi is located on the western Anatolia by the Aegean Coast 90 kilometers south of Izmir. You can get to Kusadasi;

BY AIR
There are regular charter flights during the summer from major European capitals to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, located only 75 kilometers from Kusadasi. Turkish Airlines also has connecting flights to Izmir from İstanbul and Ankara.

BY ROAD
Kusadasi is connected by road to the E - 24/550 Izmir - Denizli highway by way of the towns of Selçuk and Çamlık a railroad switchyard station. Frequent bus services, operated by major transport companies have offices in Kusadasi.

BY SEA
Turkish and Greek ferry boats shuttle daily between Kusadasi and the nearby Greek island of Samos. Greek ocean liners sail twice a week between Ancona (Italy) and Kusadasi, once a week between Venice and Izmir.

In addition to these, Kusadasi is a port of call of many foreign ocean liners sailing the Aegean. Turkish Maritime lines (Deniz Yolları) cruise ships stop at Kusadasi regularly while on İstanbul - Mersin sailing route. With its 700 - Bert marina, Kusadasi is a major port of foreign yachtsmen.

BY RAIL
Turkey has an extensive railroad networks. The nearest railroad station to Kusadasi is the town of Selçuk, on the İzmir - Aydın railroad, which is linked to the national railways system. Foreign train buffs can hire steam engine trains from Izmir for special tours of the region.

Population, People, Language, Religion
In 2006 Kusadasi had a population of 60.000. Almost 99% of the populations are Turks. The Turkish language belongs to the Ural - Altaic group and has an affinity with the Finn Hungarian languages. Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet. Most Turkish people speak English, German or some other foreign language, in shops, restaurants and hotels.

Turkey is secular republic where religious affairs and state matters don't mix. Nevertheless 99% of Kusadasi population is Moslem. Islam is a monotheistic religion. Turks believe there is only one Gold, Allah, and that Mohammad is his prophet. Turks are predominantly Sunni Moslems. But one out of every six Turks is Alevi (Shiite) in origin. Devote Moslems pray five times a day, give arms to the poor, fast during the Ramadan holy month and make pilgrimages to the Moslem holy lands of Medina and Mecca once in their lifetime if financially feasible

Climate
Kusadasi and its environs have typical Mediterranean climate with warm sunny summers and mild, wet winter. Average monthly air and seawater temperatures in Kusadasi are as follows.

Temperatures C degrees ( lower - higher )

Transportation

TAXI
Taxis are numerous in Kusadasi and recognizable by their yellow color. The meter shown on the meter reads according to the distance traveled. Pay the fare shown on the meter in TL.

DOLMUS
The Dolmuş is a special service fount only in Turkey, which is a collective taxi following specific routes and is recognizable by its yellow band. Each passenger pays according to distance traveled and can get off at specific stop. This is a very practical means of transport and much cheaper than a taxi

BUS (INTER - CITY COACHES
Many private - conditioned bus companies provide frequent day and night services between all Turkish cities. Coaches depart from the bus stations (Otogar) Most of the public buses are plentiful and cheap From Kusadasi you can find buses to any direction of the country.

Pharmacie
Domestic and foreign medicaments are sold in pharmacy (Eczane in Turkish); there also have a large range of non-prescription medicines. Personnel are often able to speak English. Some pharmacies are on- duty at nights.

Insurance
For your own safety we advise you to take out traveler's insurance to cover accidents, illness, baggage and liability

Post, Telegraph, Telephone
Turkish post offices are easily recognizable by their yellow "PTT" sign. In Kusadasi Post office (PTT) is open 24 hours, having automatic telephone connections, parcels, registered mail, special delivery mail, post restate, air mail telegrams, fax and telex messages may be sent from post offices. Operator assisted calls may also be ordered here. Postage stamps, envelopes, postcards, telecards and pay phone token (Small token for local calls) are available.

Direct calls from and within Kusadasi can be made from all telephone booths, all post offices and private telephones.

To make a long distance local call, dial zero first, the area code second and the phone number third. When making an international call, dial zero first, dial zero again after the odd dial tone, and follow by the country and area codes and then your number. For automatic calls.

Long-distance calls
0 (area code) (tel.number (7 digits)

International calls
0 0 (country code) (area code) (tel.number (7 digits)

To telephone overseas by operator (non-automatic)

Electricity - Water - Time

Main electricity is 220 volt in Selcuk/Ephesus and 50 (Hz) AC, the same as in most of Europe. Plugs and sockets are the same as in the Continental countries of the European Union. British and American visitors need plug adapters for electrical appliances.

It is safe to drink tap water in Selcuk/Ephesus, but it has an unpleasant taste. In hotels and restaurants it's best to order bottled spring water, which is abundant and cheap.

Turkey is seven hours a head of Eastern Standard Time and two hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime.