Turkish : Güzelçamlı

'Güzel' means beautiful and 'Çamlı' is Turkish term to refer to a place or a forest populated with plenty of pine trees, may be a pine resort as for the word root 'Çam' equals  to the word 'Pine' in English.

It was a small village on the Aegean coast of Kusadasi (Kuşadası) district of Aydin (Aydın) province in Aegean region, Turkey until it was turned to a municipality in 1992 owing to its great potential on region's tourism.

Now is a town with a population around 9,000 permanent inhabitants rising at 55,000 - 60,000 in summer season with tourists and other people owning secondary houses for summer vacations.

The distance from Kuşadası is 23 km to the south shorelines.

History of the town dates back to Ionian era in 700's BC. There is an ancient site called 'Panionion' or PANIO′NIA (πανιώνια) which was meant to be convention spot of Ionian states and also place for games held inter federation of 12 Ionian cities.

Battle of Mycale (Mykale) between Persiand and Greek was also fought here.

During excavations in late 50's remains of a semicircular, 12 row seated antique theatre were discovered.

During Ottoman Period the town was called Rumçamlısı (Greek Pine Resort) and was populated by Greeks until it was totally deserted  by fledding to a nearby island called 'Samos' because of approaching Turkish army in the last phases of the war between Grrece and Turkey in 1922.

It remained uninhabitaed until it was re-populated by Turks from Leftere village of Kavala district in today's Greek in the frame of Population Exchange between Turkey and Greece.

Today's Güzelçamlı is a holiday resort not yet spoiled with several hotels, pensions, restaurants, pubs and a night club. Locals still authentic and friendly helping holiday makers. Public bazaar is on the main street once a week on mondays where you could find natural vegetables and budget  textile goods.

Honey and olive olive along with herbals from the mountains and a nearby peninsular delta called 'Adnan Menderes' hosting a national park called 'Dilek Yarımadası Milliparkı'  endemic herbs and plant species of amongst the local specialties.

On the 30 km coastline of beaches at Güzelçamlı and bays at Dilek Yarımadası Milliparkı, besides very fresh weather and pure clean water, there are possibilities for trekking, canoeing, windsurfing, water skiing,  fishing, horse riding, jeep safari, paragliding, boat tours and diving.

Near the entrance of Dilek Yarımadası Milliparkı, there is a natural cave called 'Zeus Mağarası' (Cave of Zeus, God in ancient Greek) full of very cold spring water that used as a swimming pool both by locals and tourists to refresh especially in summer seasons

Güzelçamlı's popularity increases in the market of foreign interest of purchasing a real estate in Turkey forthe last two decades.

If you are also interested in buying a property in Güzelçamlı please do not hesitate to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Transportation by means of a couple of options :

• Direct bus from Istanbul, Ankara and a couple of other big cities. Its confortable with new model modern overnight buses, 10-11 hours driving from İstanbul to Güzelçamlı.
• If you want to avoid long bus journeys, nearest airport is in İzmir (Adnan Menderes Havaalanı) from where you will need to get to the bus station in İzmir (İzmir Otogarı) by first taking a shuttle bus run by Havaş to the city center where you will be able to get a free shuttle to the bus station after purchasing a bus ticket from any local bus company i.e. Elbirlik Turizm or Pamukkale Turizm. After about an hour bus journey you get to an internationally popular tourism resort, Kuşadası from where you could get a mini-bus finally to Güzelçamlı watching for 'KUŞADASI - GÜZELÇAMLI MİLLİPARK' sign at front board of mini-buses at Kuşadası bus station or  city center. Journey is about 30 minutes to the town.

A couple of transportation tips based on personal travel experinces (By the way I am a local person originally from Güzelçamlı, living in İstanbul since 1993.) Off course taking overnight bus journeys lasting 10-11 hours repeatedly for may years.(Was a student :)

• Once, I have cruised from Istanbul to Bandırma (approximately 2 hours) on IDO fast ferry. Then I took a train from the station in Bandırma right next to the ferry port (Train journey was about 4 hours) and there from an office located nearby the train station of above mentioned local bus company, got a free shuttle ride to İzmir bus station and followed other steps.
• Quite many times I took a flight from İstanbul to İzmir (An hour flying), then followed other steps. But recently I recognised the free, direct shuttle that 'Onur Air', provides from İzmir Airport to Kuşadası.(Great facility !)
• Most recent good news is I happened to get a direct bus from İzmir bus station to Güzelçamlı by 'Pamukkale Turizm' that I believe be operated every 30 minutes during all tourism season round ( June 15th to September 15th).

Welcome to Güzelçamlı..