Kusadasi With Kids – Top 4 Family Friendly Activities

Kusadasi is a Turkish beach town on the Aegean Coast. It’s a popular tourist destination and has become a port of call for the mega cruise ships on the Mediterranean route.

Kusadasi is always a port of call on the Med cruises we take so we find ourselves there at least once or twice a year. Our kids and grandkids have been with us on many of those cruises and they always look forward to a day in Kusadasi. Here are 4 of our favorite family friendly activities in Kusadasi.

Kusadasi serves as one of the gateway towns to the ancient city of Ephesus which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ephesus is a city that dates back over 2000 years. It played important roles in ancient Greek and Roman times. It was the trade center of the ancient world and a religious center in the early days of Christianity. Yes it was here that Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians.

It’s a great time to teach kids a bit of ancient history. It really brings the ancient world to life for them. They all get a kick out of the ancient bathrooms, trust me! (Even the big kids, like my son and son-in-law, get a kick out of the ancient toilets!)

Other important building and statues include the Odeon, the Hercules Gate, the Terrace Houses, the iconic Celsus Library, and the Stadium. Believe me there are many more sites than these.

The site is located about 30 Km. and is easily accessible by taxi, minibus, or you can book a tour.

There are other archaeological sites around the area and can be combined with a visit to Ephesus. You can visit: the Temple of Artemis, it is one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, sadly today there’s little left of the site, but admission is free and kids don’t mind scampering around the site; the House of the Virgin Mary, the small dwelling where some believe she spent the final years of her life, admission 20 TL, about $5; Basilica of St. John is built over the supposed tomb of the apostle, admission 10 TL, about $2.50.

The Ephesus Archaeological Museum is a good place to visit after a trip thru the ancient city of Ephesus. The museum is in Selçuk, not far from Ephesus. It houses many artifacts found during the excavation of the site. Most notably the statue of Artemis from the temple of the goddess in Ephesus.

There are 3 water parks in Kusadasi. Adaland was voted one of the best in Europe. We spent a day there last summer and the kids had a great time. There are activities for all ages. Jett loved the splash zone and the older kids, and adults loved the water slides.

There are also wandering photographers in the park that love to take photos of you and the kids. You don’t have to buy any of the photos; you can view them at the photo kiosk and buy prints or a thumb drive with all the photos. That was the best buy and we ended up buying one.

The park also has snack bars and restaurants that serve everything from pizza and fries to Turkish kebobs. They’re reasonably priced and the meals are actually pretty good.

If you still have time to spare try out one of the beaches. Hire a taxi or ride a public mini bus from the town center to one of the area beaches. The water is warm and the beaches are nice. Two popular beaches are Ladies Beach and Long Beach, both are organized and have sun loungers and umbrellas for rent and have cafes and restaurants. Kids always love the beach!

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Hi! I’m Carmina, also known as Nana. I love DIY projects, parties, crocheting, and traveling. I hope that you enjoy my posts and find them useful! If you have any ideas or suggestions I’d love to hear from you!