Set on the tiny island of Güvercinada at the mouth of Kuşadası Bay, Güvercinada Castle (Güvercinada Kalesi) was erected to protect the harbour. Built by the famous sailor, Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa, the castle is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For centuries, Güvercinada was important for the region due to its location. The history of the castle, renovated during the Ottoman period, dates from the Genoese who arrived in Kuşadası at the beginning of the 14th century. Set south of the cruise port, the castle is connected to the mainland by a breakwater. It welcomes visitors with its historical atmosphere on Güvercinada, which the renowned travel writer Evliya Çelebi referred to as a “talismanic islet that birds definitely visit”. The island is a 10-minute walk from the Kuşadası centre. Along the way, visitors can swim in the small bay at the beginning of the road for free, relax in the cafes and restaurants and enjoy the view.

Öküz Mehmetpaşa Caravanserai (Öküz Mehmetpaşa Kervansarayı), which looks like a small inner castle, is used as a hotel and touristic facility today. The top of the caravanserai, which was built using rubble stone and spolia, has a triangular tip and a pointed dentil. The two-storey building has rooms lined up around the large inner courtyard. The wide and flamboyant entrance door is surrounded by marble. It has survived until today after being restored in different periods.

Featuring houses with ornate, tile-covered roofs and clean cobblestone streets, Kuşadası’s urban texture includes surprising slopes and narrow, winding streets – some with stairs. These streets, lined with the Kuşadası Historical Houses (Tarihi Kuşadası Evleri), reflect the cultural diversity of the city in the 19th century and invite visitors to a walk in the corridors of history. The houses have ornate woodwork, guillotine joinery windows, and crescent and star motifs, reflecting the Turkish identity, atop the windows. Some have the bird motifs that characterize Kuşadası. The plant and animal motifs used on many houses have been enriched over time; stylized flower, leaf and bird motifs were frequently used in the Kuşadası houses and are among their distinguishing features.