Kusadasi

Kuşadası is a popular package-tour destination and, as the coastal gateway to Ephesus, Turkey's busiest cruise port (roughly 30th worldwide). Lacking the sights and ambience of Bodrum and the size of Marmaris, it remains a runner-up on the Aegean party scene, but the Irish pubs, discos and multilingual touts certainly create a memorably ribald atmosphere.

If you prefer to mix your Ephesus visit with nightlife and sea views than Selçuk's rural ambience, Kuşadası is ideal (albeit more expensive), with some good hotels and restaurants, a happily untraditional bazaar and two quieter old quarters.