The city stands on a bay in the Aegean with the peninsula of Guvercin Ada sticking out into the sea at one end, and the mountain of Kaz Dağı behind, making for striking scenery.
The city becomes a hub of activity during the summer months, with many restaurants, holiday villages, aqua parks, rock bars, and beach clubs on offer, catering for an array of choice. Among all the ice-cream, carpets, leather, and software, there are bookshops selling books in English, German, Russian and other languages. Old houses near the seafront, some of them converted to bars and cafes, are the remnants of old Kuşadası, which has recently become a modern-European looking town.
Transportation around the city is generally by minibus, with bus and taxi services to the nearest airports. There is also a wide variety of boat trips and cruises on offer.