Kusadasi Caravanserai (Öküz Mehmed Pasha Caravanserai)
Ataturk Blvd. 2, TUR
Built in 1618, the Kusadasi Caravanserai is an authentic Ottoman-era inn situated close to Kusadasi’s harbor. Commissioned by Ottoman statesman Okus Mehmed Pasha, the building functioned as a trading house for centuries; today, it's used as an outdoor entertainment, festival, and arts venue.
Kusadasi Caravanserai is one of Kusadasi’s most photogenic and historic buildings. Originally designed as a caravanserai—a wayside inn for travelers and merchants—it quickly became a customs house and was fortified with battlements to protect the goods stored inside. As with traditional caravanserais, it’s composed of two-story rectangular walls set around a large, open courtyard, which is lined inside with colonnaded lower and upper stories.
Travelers can admire the building’s stone-built exterior from the neighboring plaza or head inside the marble arched gate to view the palm-shaded courtyard and arched colonnades—both sometimes host handicraft vendors, art exhibitions, and cultural festivals. Alternatively, consider booking a ticket for one of the Turkish folklore shows held in the courtyard on summer evenings.
- The Kusadasi Caravanserai will appeal to sightseers and history buffs.
- Steps down to the main gate make entry difficult for wheelchair-users.
- Access to the courtyard is usually free, apart from during ticketed events.
The Kusadasi Caravanserai stands on Kusadasi’s waterfront Ataturk Boulevard, facing the city’s New Port and Grand Bazaar. The easiest way to get to the landmark is on one of the many dolmus minibusses that buzz around the city—the #5 line runs from Ladies Beach and stops right outside the fortress-like building.
The Kusadasi Caravanserai is open daily and is best visited during the daytime. It's busiest in the summer months and on weekends. On summer evenings, Turkish folklore shows are held in the courtyard.
Kusadasi’s Caravanserai is in a prime spot for exploring Kusadasi’s Kaleici (Old Town) and Grand Bazaar. The entrance to the Grand Bazaar is nearby—just dive in after admiring the caravanserai to browse the countless stalls selling leather goods, trinkets, rugs, and copycat designer wares. Make time, too, to climb the winding streets behind the caravanserai to explore the Kaleici, with its Greek-style houses and mix of traditional and modern shops.
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