Kusadasi's clean, sandy beaches are a major drawcard for holidaymakers, whether simply for sunbathing and swimming, or for indulging in a myriad of watersports that are on offer through local operators at the numerous 'beach clubs'. The turquoise Aegean waters are particularly popular for scuba diving and snorkelling. A variety of boat trips are also available. Water-babies will also enjoy Kusadasi's three thrilling aqua-parks, Aquafantasy, Adaland and Longbeach Aquaresort. Away from the water active holiday-makers can indulge in a horse-back safari, or head off on a jeep safari to get down and dirty on muddy nature trails in nearby Dilek Peninsula National Park. The surrounding region of Anatolia is crammed with interesting historical and archaeological sites and dozens of excursions are available for visitors to explore these, particularly the ruins of ancient Ephesus.

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

Kusadasi's beaches become extremely crowded during the height of the summer season. Touts and PRs outside restaurants and bars can be annoying.

Nights in Kusadasi throb with action, particularly along the town's pulsating Bar Street in the old town centre, lined with pubs and clubs. One of the hottest spots is the huge open air disco, Ecstasy Bar, featuring top European DJs. Jimmy's Irish Bar at the start of Bar Street is a favourite gathering place for young British holidaymakers. Those looking for something more sedate will find cabaret bars, Turkish folk taverns, or cosy jazz clubs tucked away.

All holidaymakers' budgets and tastes are amply catered for among Kusadasi's dozens of restaurants, cafes and lokantas. Most visitors opt for sampling Turkish cuisine or enjoying the sumptuous seafood on offer, but there are numerous alternatives from curry to Chinese and burgers. For top class Turkish specialities the Konyali Restaurant opposite the marina, and the Erzincan near the post office, are hard to beat, and the Avlu Restaurant and Cafe has reasonable priced Turkish fare. Kalyon is popular with expats for their western menu, including full English breakfasts.

The Grand Bazaar in Kusadasi, near the harbour, is one of Turkey's largest shopping treasure troves for holidaymakers to rummage through, crammed with 1, 000 or more stores and stalls open seven days a week from 9am until midnight. Bargaining for a variety of attractive items, like leather jackets, sandals, carpets and hand-made jewellery, is a fun experience, usually accompanied by a glass of tea. Despite the traditional trading atmosphere, most merchants accept credit cards, travellers cheques and even foreign currency for purchases. Be prepared to bargain your way to a good price, however.