Azura on a Monday in Kusadasi: Ephesus shore excursion by car

Published 4 October 2026

Azura keeps it simple: Monday, every time. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) lists five Kusadasi calls in 2027, all on Mondays: 26 April, 12 July, 26 July, 9 August and 13 September. There is a long gap between the spring visit and the summer ones, with nothing in May or June. Times for these calls have not been announced yet, so the planning below works from possible lengths of stay.

Five Mondays, three different port days

With only five calls, it is worth looking at each one:

• 26 April: no other ship listed. Spring weather and a quiet port.
• 12 July: one neighbour, Rhapsody of the Seas.
• 26 July: a busy day, with MSC Divina and Scarlet Lady also in port.
• 9 August: no other ship listed, unusual for the middle of summer.
• 13 September: another busy day, shared with Star Legend and Rhapsody of the Seas.

So two calls are quiet, one is in between and two are crowded. If yours is 26 July or 13 September, consider reordering the stops so you are not at the Ephesus gates at the same moment as everyone else.

Hours in port and the right set of stops

The estimates below are door to door and include an hour’s buffer before the published departure. All-aboard is normally earlier than departure; the ship’s daily programme has it.

If Azura stays about 5 hours: Ephesus is the day. A quick stop at the Temple of Artemis on the way back is possible, but nothing more.

If Azura stays about 7 hours: Ephesus plus either Mary’s House or the Temple of Artemis. With a little speed on the day, both can fit, but do not plan for it.

If Azura stays about 10 hours: all four places, and even time for the Terrace Houses inside Ephesus.

A full Monday (hypothetical window: 08:00 to 18:00)

The times are an example only. They show what a 10-hour call allows when you want the complete set.

1. 08:20 Out through the cruise port exit to your car.
2. 08:50 to 11:50 Ephesus with the Terrace Houses, entering at the upper gate and leaving by the lower one.
3. 12:10 to 12:55 House of the Virgin Mary.
4. 13:20 to 13:40 Temple of Artemis.
5. 14:00 to 15:20 Sirince.
6. 16:00 Back at the port, two hours before an 18:00 departure.

On the quieter Mondays, this order works as it is. On the busier two, starting with Mary’s House and doing Ephesus second is a sensible swap.

What to expect at each stop

Ephesus. Ruins of a major Roman city beside Selcuk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. Inside, the Terrace Houses protect Roman homes with painted walls and mosaics under a modern roof; they have their own ticket.

House of the Virgin Mary. A small stone house in the woods above Ephesus, linked by tradition to Mary’s last years. Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI have all visited. Modest dress is respected.

Temple of Artemis. Little survives of this Wonder of the Ancient World beyond a single column, and the field around it is often marshy. Treat it as a short stop for the story and the photo.

Sirince. Lanes of old stone and timber houses climb the hillside, with the restored Church of St John the Baptist and plenty of wine tasting shops. If you buy a bottle, check what the ship allows you to bring on board.

Spring call or summer call?

The April call is the gentle one: milder weather and no other ship listed, which makes it a good day for the longer walk through the Terrace Houses. Check opening hours for that date before you go. The three calls in July and August are another matter. Midday temperatures are often well above 30 °C and the marble streets have almost no shade. Start early, take a hat and plenty of water, and consider putting the shaded House of the Virgin Mary in the hottest slot of the day.

Booking for your Monday

Book on the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer page. Your driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits throughout and returns you to the ship. Up to 8 passengers per vehicle. Tell us your extra stops when you book and we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. You can also check all ships for your date on the Kusadasi cruise ship schedule.

Tickets are not included; buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page. Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.