Pigeon Island Kusadasi, called Güvercinada in Turkish, is a small castle island on the seafront of Kuşadası, right beside the cruise port. You can walk around its old walls, visit a maritime museum inside the castle and look back at the whole bay from the island.
The watch towers and the walls of the Pigeon Island or also known as Guvercin Ada were constructed in the Byzantine period and kept their importance during the Ottoman period. Pigeon Island was an observation point for the assaults coming from the nearby islands.
Besides, Pigeon Island Castle was named as “Pirate Castle” amongst the public as it was used against the pirates. Migratory birds nested here from time to time. This instance gave another name to the island, and it is also called as “bird island”. Local governor Ozer Turk wanted this little island to be called as the Pigeon Island in 1962 and thus it was officially renamed.
The castle was planned for defense with cannons against the offshore assaults. The footraces show that this place was used not only for cannon defense but also for grapples. This place was suitable for the garrison to survive even if the city fell into the hands of the enemy. The castle walls are made up of stones and redbrick. The tower in the center of the castle rests on a cistern. The thickness of the walls is between 2.40 and 3.10 meters and the tower was designed to have the rain water drain into the cistern. The blank inscription above the entrance gate in the southwest shows that it is an addition of a later time. The Ottoman inscription in the left wall of the entrance gate is dated to 1826.
Pigeon Island has not been a real island for a long time — a stone causeway joins it to the Kuşadası seafront, so you simply walk across, and the whole circuit takes about twenty minutes. Kuşadası is my home town; I am Hasan Gülday, a licensed guide here since 2008, and this is the walk I take when I want to think. Go late in the afternoon. You are looking out over open Aegean, with the long grey ridge of Samos lying off to the south-west, its nearest cape about twenty kilometres away. From roughly November to February the sun goes down behind it; in high summer it sets further north, out over open water.
Walking to Pigeon Island Kusadasi from the Cruise Port
The walk begins at the cruise port. Follow the seafront and the island is right in front of you, so nobody gets lost. The causeway is man-made. It was filled in during 1957, and before that people reached the island only by boat. At end of the causeway you go up a flight of steps to the castle gate.
If you have a full day in port, the island fits well before or after Ephesus, which is only a short drive from here. The old Caravansary of Kusadasi is also nearby the port, so you can see both in one easy walk. For the whole day plan, read my Kusadasi cruise port to Ephesus walkthrough.
What to See Inside Pigeon Island Castle
Inside the walls you will find the inner castle, a small museum about maritime trade, a protected wild flower and a few paths with sea views. The island is small, so everything is close together.
A wall about 3 meters high goes all around the island. At the gate you will see two towers, one with five sides and one round. The builders brought the stones from the nearby cape of Yılancıburnu.
In October 2024 the municipality opened a museum about maritime trade in the inner castle. It shows amphorae, pots from shipwrecks, fishing tools, coins and a big collection of hand scales and weights from Roman to Ottoman times. The museum is open seven days a week, but opening hours can change, so please check on the day.
Also, the island protects a rare plant. Tülüşah is a wild flower with big yellow blooms, and it is one of the endemic plants of Kuşadası. It has its own protected plot on the island, so please do not pick it.
From the higher ground of the island, turn around. You see Kuşadası going up the hills behind the harbor, with the cruise ships tied up in front of it. This is a good spot for a photo of the whole bay.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Pigeon Island?
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Pigeon Island, because the days are warm and the stones are not too hot. In July and August go early in the morning or in the evening, since the causeway has very little shade.
On days with several cruise ships in port, the island is busiest around midday. I tell my guests to go first thing in the morning or after the crowd has gone back to the ships. I totally recommend to bring a hat and water in summer. In winter it can be windy and wet, but then you often have the walls almost for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pigeon Island and how far is it from Ephesus?
Pigeon Island is on the seafront of Kuşadası, a short walk west of the cruise port. A causeway joins it to the mainland. Ephesus is about 20 kilometers away by road, so the island is easy to see before or after your Ephesus visit.
What does Güvercinada mean?
Güvercin is the Turkish word for pigeon and ada means island, so Güvercinada is Pigeon Island. The town of Kuşadası, which means bird island, also got its name from this little island.
How long do you need at Pigeon Island?
About twenty minutes is enough to walk around the walls. Add half an hour or so if you want to visit museum and take photos. The island fits easily into a few free hours on a cruise day.
Tour Guide for Pigeon Island in Kusadasi
Pigeon Island is the symbol of Kusadasi. Also, the island is in the Tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and we all hope that soon it will be accepted. Guvercinada or Pigeon island is a just couple of minutes walking distance from Kusadasi Cruise Port and can easily be visited. Contact me to learn more about Pigeon Island and Kusadasi and to hire an English-speaking professional licensed tour guide in Kusadasi, Turkey. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
