Celebrity Infinity Ephesus tour by private car from Kusadasi

Published 4 October 2026

Celebrity Infinity is one of the regulars in Kusadasi. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) lists 21 calls between October 2026 and September 2027, and nine of them are on a Tuesday. The October calls have announced times of 08:00 to 19:00 or 08:00 to 20:00. Eleven or twelve hours ashore is a good length for the full circuit: Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince.

A Tuesday ship with a familiar neighbour

• Calls by month: three in October 2026, then March to September 2027, with nine calls in June, July and August.
• Weekdays: Tuesday nine times, Thursday six, Sunday four, plus one Friday and one Saturday.
• Times: announced only for the three October 2026 calls (Sunday 11 October 08:00-19:00, Sunday 18 and Tuesday 27 October 08:00-20:00). For the 2027 calls they have not been announced yet.
• Other ships: 16 calls share the day with another ship, and 11 are days with three or more in port. Celestyal Discovery is listed alongside it ten times, mostly on those Tuesdays.
• Days alone: Thursday 8 April, Sunday 18 April, Thursday 29 April, Thursday 26 August and Thursday 23 September 2027 have no other ship listed.

If your date is one of the quiet Thursdays, you can expect fewer cruise groups heading the same way, and the standard order (Ephesus first) works well.

What 11 hours buys you

With nine hours or more, all four places are realistic. They take roughly 7 to 7.5 hours door to door, which leaves room for the 60-minute port margin we ask for and some breathing space on top. With a 19:00 departure, aim to be back at the port by 18:00 at the latest; with 20:00, by 19:00.

For the 2027 calls, wait for the published times, then choose:

• 9 hours or more: the full circuit.
• 7 to 8.5 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and the Temple of Artemis; Sirince does not fit.
• 6 to 7 hours: Ephesus and one of Mary’s House or the Temple of Artemis.

Sample day: 08:00 to 19:00

That finishes three hours before departure. Use the slack to add the Terrace Houses (about 45-60 minutes more), to start later, or simply to slow down. Entrance tickets are not included; buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets ahead on our museum tickets page.

Tuesdays with Celestyal Discovery

When two or more ships arrive in the morning, many groups head for Ephesus at about the same time. On a Tuesday call, with your neighbour listed again, consider turning the route around:

• Start with the House of the Virgin Mary, then the Temple of Artemis.
• Reach Ephesus in the late morning, after the first wave.
• Finish in Sirince, or skip it if Ephesus took longer than planned.

Ask for this order when you book; the driver plans around it.

Notes for a summer call

Nine of the 21 calls fall in June, July or August, when midday temperatures are often well above 30 °C. Ephesus has very little shade on its roughly 1.5 to 2 km route, so carry water, wear a hat and sun cream, and choose shoes with grip for the smooth marble. In summer the trees around Mary’s House are welcome, and the covered Terrace Houses give a break from the sun.

The four stops, briefly

Ephesus. The ruins of a major Roman city beside Selcuk. Walk Curetes Street down to the Library of Celsus, then on to the Great Theatre and Harbour Street.

House of the Virgin Mary. In the woods on Nightingale Mountain, a short path from the car park leads to the house. If anyone in your group has limited mobility, tell us when booking.

Temple of Artemis. One re-erected column marks the site of a Wonder of the Ancient World. Look up to Ayasuluk Hill for the Basilica of St John.

Sirince. Old houses, steep lanes, and shops for fruit wine, olive oil and handmade soap. Remember your ship’s rules on bringing alcohol aboard.

Booking the car

Reserve a Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer for your call. Your driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits during your visits and drives you back to the ship. The car is only for your group, up to 8 passengers. Tell us your extra stops when you book and we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; cash or card accepted.

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