AIDAblu in Kusadasi: a Wednesday Ephesus excursion by car

Published 4 October 2026

Every AIDAblu call in Kusadasi falls on a Wednesday. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) lists six of them between October 2026 and September 2027, and on five of those Wednesdays Odyssey of the Seas is in port too. Only the first call has announced times: Wednesday 14 October 2026, 10:00 to 19:00. A 10:00 arrival is later than many ships, and that is the key to planning this day well.

Six Wednesdays

• 14 October 2026 (10:00-19:00), with Azamara Onward and Carnival Legend.
• 19 May, 2 June, 14 July, 25 August and 15 September 2027, times not announced yet. Odyssey of the Seas is listed on all five.
• Busy days: four of the six have three or more ships in port. On 15 September 2027, four other ships are listed.
• Summer: three calls in June, July and August.

No AIDAblu call shows the port to itself. Check the ship’s daily programme for the all-aboard time; schedules change.

Arriving at 10:00: what that means

By the time you step ashore at 10:00, passengers from ships that arrived earlier may already be at Ephesus. You will be walking into the busy part of the morning, not ahead of it. Two sensible responses:

• Keep Ephesus first and accept company on Curetes Street. This is the simpler route and puts the main site in the bank early.
• Reverse the day: start at the House of the Virgin Mary or the Temple of Artemis, and reach Ephesus around midday when the first groups are leaving. In summer this means more sun on the marble, so weigh crowds against heat.

Does everything fit into nine hours?

Nine hours in port is the threshold where all four places become realistic. They take roughly 7 to 7.5 hours door to door, and you need to be back at the port at least 60 minutes before the 19:00 departure, so by 18:00. That works, but with little slack. If getting off the ship takes longer than expected, drop Sirince rather than rushing Ephesus.

Sample day for the 14 October call

1. About 10:30 - meet your driver at the cruise port exit.
2. About 11:00 to 13:15 - Ephesus, entering at the upper gate and walking downhill. No Terrace Houses on this tight version.
3. About 13:35 to 14:20 - House of the Virgin Mary, roughly 15-20 minutes up the mountain road.
4. About 14:40 - Temple of Artemis, 15-20 minutes.
5. About 15:15 to 16:30 - Sirince.
6. About 17:10 - back at the port, with time to spare before 18:00.

Prefer the Terrace Houses to Sirince? Swap them: Ephesus with the Terrace Houses, Mary’s House and the Temple of Artemis make a full, unhurried day, finishing well before 18:00.

If a 2027 call is shorter

• 7 to 8.5 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and the Temple of Artemis.
• Under 6 hours: Ephesus and, at most, a short stop at the Temple of Artemis.

The four places for a Wednesday visitor

Ephesus. The Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Great Theatre are the classic stops. Little shade, uneven stone: water and sturdy shoes.

House of the Virgin Mary. A quiet stone house above Ephesus, believed by many Christians to be where Mary spent her last years. Visitors tie notes to the wishing wall outside.

Temple of Artemis. A single re-erected column in a low field. It is short and photogenic; do not expect standing ruins.

Sirince. Hillside village of stone and timber houses, fruit wines and soaps. Its lanes are steep and cobbled. If you buy a bottle, check your ship’s alcohol rules.

Summer Wednesdays

The July and August calls (14 July and 25 August 2027) are the ones to plan most carefully. Midday is often well above 30 °C. Bring a hat, sun cream and plenty of water, and use the shade of Mary’s House and the covered Terrace Houses as breaks between the open-air parts.

Booking

Book a Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer. The driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits while you visit and returns you to the ship. One vehicle per group, up to 8 passengers. Tell us your stops and preferred order when you book, and we confirm the plan before the day. Tickets are not included; buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; cash or card.

Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.