Set in a beautiful large bay that is protected by the island of Samos, Greece, Ladies Beach is the most popular beach in Kusadasi as it is so very accessible to the center of the city. Called Kadinlar Denizi (which means Ladies Beach in Turkish), it is so named from the days when the beaches throughout this predominantly Muslim country were segregated by sex. You will find more than one Ladies Beach in Turkey because of this interesting piece of the country’s history, but today they are all integrated.

This particular Ladies Beach in Turkey is arguably the most popular in the country—it certainly is the most popular of the urban beaches in the country. The picturesque city of Kusadasi hugs the coastline along what is called the Turkish Riviera or Turquoise Coast, and Kadinlar Deniz sits almost in the middle. It is only a 15- to 30-minute walk to get to the main center of the city, with its fascinating museums, historic mosques, old Venetian castle, and colorful shopping bazaars. A 30-minute walk will get you to the caravanserai, an Ottoman castle and inn built to accommodate mariners from the harbor in the seventeenth century. There is also inexpensive dolmus (shared minibus taxi) transportation between the beach and the city center that leave frequently from many different areas of the city. You can rent umbrellas and sun beds on the beach, and there are changing rooms and restrooms.

No vehicle traffic is allowed in the beach area, and it is bordered by a palm-shaded pedestrian promenade that is lined on one side by Kusadasi hotels, and shopping and dining spots. There are other luxury hotels elsewhere in the city, and they will assist you with transportation to the beach. You can find traditional Turkish cuisine and almost everything else, including Chinese and Indian restaurants. Ladies Beach also has lifeguards on duty from 8:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. Another appeal of Kadinlar Denizi is its crystal clear and clean, shallow waters. The beach is more than a half mile long, and it does get crowded during the peak summer months, but that is part of the appeal of any good urban beach, much like the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.

Turkey Map

After sunset (and the sunsets are quite lovely from the beach), there is some lively nightlife in the many bars and cafés next to the pedestrian promenade. The area around the beach actually serves as a sort of self-contained resort in its own right and there are a couple very popular clubs located at this Ladies Beach in Turkey offering up dancing, live music, and drinks. There are other beaches in and around the city, and most of them offer exciting water sports such as jet skis, banana boats, and parasailing. It is also possible to rent pedalos, small boats that can accommodate two people pedaling around the bay. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can charter a traditional Turkish gulet (sailing yacht) and cruise even as far as Greece.