Azamara Onward at Kusadasi: Ephesus by private car, three seasons

Published 4 October 2026

Azamara Onward visits Kusadasi only three times in the next twelve months, and each visit lands in a different season. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) shows Wednesday 14 October 2026, Tuesday 20 April 2027 and Thursday 1 July 2027. Only the October call has announced times so far: 08:00 to 22:00. Because autumn, spring and midsummer each ask for a slightly different day, this guide takes the calls one by one.

The calls at a glance

• Wednesday 14 October 2026, 08:00-22:00. AIDAblu and Carnival Legend are also listed, so three ships in port.
• Tuesday 20 April 2027, times not announced yet. Star Legend and Celestyal Discovery are listed, again three ships.
• Thursday 1 July 2027, times not announced yet. Wind Surf is the only other ship listed.

Two of the three are busy days. Check the ship’s daily programme for the all-aboard time on your date; published times can change.

October: a 14-hour day

Fourteen hours in port puts you in the most comfortable band of our rule of thumb: Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince all fit, at a relaxed pace or with a later start. Door to door, the four together take roughly 7 to 7.5 hours.

A possible order for the 14 October call, starting after the first rush leaves the port:

1. About 09:30 - meet your driver at the cruise port exit. With three ships in, getting off may take a while; do not plan to the minute.
2. About 10:00 - the House of the Virgin Mary first, while many groups are at Ephesus. Plan about 45 minutes.
3. About 11:15 - Ephesus. Starting from the upper gate, you walk mostly downhill. Plan about 2 to 2.5 hours, or longer with the Terrace Houses.
4. About 13:45 - the Temple of Artemis for 15-20 minutes.
5. About 14:20 - Sirince for 1 to 1.5 hours.
6. About 16:30 - back at the port, comfortably more than 60 minutes before the 22:00 departure.

Opening hours shift with the season and are shorter in winter. Tickets aren’t included; get Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets ahead on our museum tickets page.

April: plan by scenario

The 20 April call has no times yet. Until it does, decide by the length of the stay:

• 9 hours or more: all four places are realistic.
• 7 to 8.5 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and the Temple of Artemis. Sirince does not fit well; skip it.
• About 6 hours: Ephesus and one extra, Mary’s House or the Temple of Artemis.

Spring can be wet. The marble at Ephesus becomes slippery after rain, and the field around the Temple of Artemis is often marshy. On the mountain at Mary’s House, it can feel noticeably cooler than down in Selcuk, so bring a layer.

July: shade first, then the open sites

On the 1 July call you share the port with one other listed ship, but you will share Ephesus with the heat. July middays are often well above 30 °C, and the ancient city has very little shade. If the ship stays long enough, see Ephesus early, end with the covered Terrace Houses, then go up to Mary’s House where the trees give shelter. Keep the Temple of Artemis stop brief. If you add Sirince, wear shoes for steep cobbles and expect it to be busiest around midday.

Short notes on the four places

Ephesus. On the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2015. Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and Harbour Street are the main sights on the walk.

House of the Virgin Mary. Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI all visited. Christian and Muslim visitors come here; quiet and modest dress are expected inside.

Temple of Artemis. A Wonder of the Ancient World reduced to a single re-erected column. It is the story and the setting you come for.

Sirince. A Greek village until the 1920s, with the restored Church of St John the Baptist and shops for fruit wine and olive oil.

How to book

All three calls work with our Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer: a private car with driver, meeting you at the cruise port exit, waiting while you visit and taking you back. Up to 8 passengers per vehicle, only your group. Tell us your stops and your preferred order when you book, and we confirm the plan before the day. Entrance tickets are not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; pay by cash or card.

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