The Fish Market , Kuşadası, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Fish Market in Kuşadası is the place in town to see the daily catch of the Aegean and to eat it. Kuşadası is a busy resort on Turkey's Aegean coast, and the market is where it still feels like the fishing village it once was. It is a good stop for anyone who wants a meal that tastes of the local sea.

The story behind it

Kuşadası has drawn a great deal of tourist attention over recent decades, yet around its fish market the traditional fishing-town character has survived. Fish is sold here as it has long been in Aegean ports, and the market is still tied to the rhythm of the boats and the catch.

Eating here is part of the tradition. Seafood restaurants surround the market, and the local custom, as the route creators describe it, is to choose fish from the stalls and have a nearby restaurant prepare it for you. Two dishes come up again and again: balık ekmek, the simple fish sandwich, and grilled sea bass. Most meals here are finished or accompanied with rakı, the aniseed-flavoured grape spirit that is Turkey's national drink.

What to look for

• Look at the fish on display at the stalls, and notice how many different kinds are laid out side by side.
• Watch how the market and the restaurants around it work together, with diners choosing fish and then sitting down to eat it close by.
• Look for balık ekmek on menus and at counters, the classic quick fish sandwich of the Turkish coast.
• Notice the glasses of rakı on neighbouring tables, usually served with water, which turns the spirit cloudy white.

Tips for your visit

• Come hungry. The market works best as a meal stop, so plan to eat here rather than just look.
• Visit earlier in the day if you want to see the stalls at their fullest, and check current opening hours for the restaurants.
• If you buy fish at the market, ask the restaurant next door about preparing it for you and how they cook it before you agree.
• Allow about an hour for a browse and a light bite, longer for a full seafood lunch or dinner, and walk the surrounding streets afterwards.

See it on a quest

The market is one stop on Ottoman Culture in Kusadasi, a self-guided walk through the town played on your phone. You reach the market on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a lively way to see the market and the streets around it, with no guide and no group to join. The quest is paid, and one ticket covers the whole group.