Looking for a quieter stretch of coast just south of Kusadasi's crowded center? Davutlar might be it — a small seaside town whose very name comes from a migration story, reachable by a direct transfer straight from the airport.
The Legend of Two Nomadic Brothers
Local accounts trace Davutlar's name to two Yoruk (nomadic Turkmen) brothers, Cafer and Davut, who settled the area generations ago — Davut on the ridge now known as Davutkoy, Cafer near the neighboring village of Caferli. The town still carries his name today.
Centuries of Migration
Davutlar's population didn't arrive all at once. In 1600, a group of Circassian settlers from the Caucasus moved into Davutkoy, though a cholera outbreak later forced them out. Migrants from Crete arrived in 1892, followed by settlers from Romania and Bulgaria in 1936. Davutlar became a municipality in 1969, and after Aydin province was reorganized under a metropolitan-municipality law, it was folded into Kusadasi as one of its neighborhoods.
Getting from the Airport to Davutlar
After landing at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, a private transfer takes you straight to Davutlar — no bus transfer, no rental-car counter, just your luggage going directly to your hotel on the coast.
Kusadasi's Quieter Side
Davutlar runs at a different pace than Kusadasi's bar-lined center and busy bazaar; the coastline here is calmer and evenings are quieter. Small family-run hotels and boutique guesthouses make up most of the accommodation, with far fewer large chain resorts than you'd find in the center. For travelers who want to spend the day on the beach and skip the nightlife entirely, that quiet is exactly the draw.
When to Go and What to Know
Summer is Davutlar's busiest — and really its only fully open — season; most beachside businesses run at full capacity and booking ahead matters. Outside summer, much of the town closes down, so plan your visit accordingly. Being a smaller town than central Kusadasi, dinner options are more limited, so factor that into your evening plans.
Who It's For
Couples and families looking for a calm beach stay rather than a lively nightlife scene will do well in Davutlar. If you want a wide choice of restaurants, shopping, or an active bar scene, central Kusadasi suits you better — Davutlar is intentionally limited on that front. For anyone who sees quiet as a feature rather than a drawback, this is the right stop.
Building It Into a Route
Davutlar works best as part of a wider day around the Kusadasi coastline rather than a standalone stop. Travelers who want to see the town's highlights first can check our Top 10 Places to See in Kusadasi guide, while those continuing south to the Temple of Apollo can read our Didim and Altinkum guide. Combining both stops in one day is the most practical way to cover this stretch of coast end to end.