Kusadasi is a popular year-round beach holiday destination

Kusadasi is package tourism central. Its balmy climate, inviting sea temperatures and relative affordability have made it a popular year-round vacation destination for sun-starved Europeans.

In the summer, this resort town on Turkey's west coast becomes jam-packed as holidaymakers pile off cruise liners and charter flights.

When you've had enough of beaches, boating, boozing and Turkish bathhouses, Kusadasi makes a convenient jumping off point for exploring the ancient cities of Ephesus, Didyma, Miletus and Preine. In addition, the verdant Greek island of Samos is only a 3km boat ride away, while the resort town of Bodrum is a two-hour bus ride down the coast.