klb saw things this way:
Overall
5
Walking through history, August 12, 2013
Reviewer: klb
Pros: No barriers between you and the buildings; stunning ancient finds
Cons: The heat; huge crowds
Kusadasi port is small and charming, but you're really there for Ephesus. Ephesus is a stunning visual wonder, great for photos, and unusual in that you can walk and touch the ancient artifacts everywhere. In the summertime, be sure to bring an umbrella, lots of water, sunscreen and fans. It is possible to strategically walk in some shade, but not always, and by 10 a.m. it's steamy if there is no breeze. The cruise ship tours all seem to arrive together, creating a bottleneck at most places. Arrive as early as possible to escape the heat and beat the crowds. Must pay for the toilets outside of Ephesus. Plenty of shops selling hats, though, if you forgot yours.
ayanna saw things this way:
Overall
4
Ephesus is a must see, July 4, 2012
Reviewer: ayanna
Pros: Ephesus is a must see
Cons: Very, very pushy street merchants
Kusadasi is a very modern city and very populous. The primary reason to go here is Ephesus. It is at least a 30-minute drive from the port so make sure you make arrangements with the ship or privately to go see it and don't think you can walk or take public transportation there. This has one of the most preserved ruins of Roman civilization (remember the Romans moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople/Istanbul when Rome fell). Walk the same streets as religious figures and queens like Cleopatra. Amazing. Kusadasi is a different story. Big push to make you buy expensive (many more than $10k) rugs and extremely pushy local merchants begging you to look at their T-shirts and leather jackets and jewelry and... Big jokes on the ship about this during the show on the ship that night. Lots of signs for "Genuine Fake Watches," too. Funny. Go see Ephesus and then get back on the boat or at least away from the downtown shopping stalls.
Betty saw things this way:
Overall
5
Great place and representative for Turkey, July 20, 2011
Reviewer: Betty
Pros: Nice landscape and clean
Cons: -
The port is very animated and offers the opportunity for good shopping! It's also close to the ruins of Ephesus which is a "must" of Turkey. We also found a public beach with clear water and very clean sand. The people are nice and not so insistent as we were warned. For a hot day we tried the local bear (Efes) and a traditional pie (gozleme.
geekguy1 saw things this way:
Overall
5
It should be on your bucket list, December 16, 2010
Reviewer: geekguy1
Pros: Ancient city to rival, or surpass, Pompeii
Cons: Walking on uneven surfaces
We were in Kusadasi/Ephesus a year ago, but the area was worth a return visit, especially because we hadnt done the optional terrace houses in Ephesus last time. This is a definite Dont Miss attraction. Ephesus itself is an ancient city, possibly as well preserved as Pompeii, and a more important and wealthier city in its time. We went with www.HelloEphesus.com, which has an easy to navigate web site that includes prices that are actually listed (no need to request them via email) and very reasonable. Like the other companies we used, Hello Ephesus was waiting for us when we got off the ship with a clean and large van. Our guide, Yigit, was excellent; although we had been there a year ago, Yigit found much to talk about in Ephesus that we hadnt previously covered. He not only knew his history but was also pleasant and friendly. Our driver, Mustafa, was also professional and an asset to our trip. This trip we did not revisit the Virgin Mary house, but recommend it to those who havent been there before.
tcambron saw things this way:
Overall
4
Kusadasi - Port for Ephesus, September 14, 2010
Reviewer: tcambron
Pros: Fascinating ancient city
Cons: None - enjoyed the port
We took a private tour to Ephesus, an ancient city (ruins) that was just amazing. Went to Virgin Mary's house where she lived her final years. St. John the Apostle established a church in Ephesus and some of it remains. It is believed that his body was buried there and we saw the tomb. This was a major city around 200-300 BC with a population of 250,000. They had a open-air theater that seated 24,000. It was in good condition and has been used as recently as 10 years ago for concerts with the likes of Elton John and Sting. We ate at a Turkish restaurant. The meal was cold green beans, eggplant, and potatoes - with cucumber sauce. Then there was grilled chicken on skewers and lamb meat balls. Dessert was fruit - watermelon, oranges, mandarins, and apples. There is a very nice modern shopping center right where the ships dock.
