Celestyal Journey on a Sunday in Kusadasi: Ephesus by private car

Published 4 October 2026

If you are sailing on Celestyal Journey, your Kusadasi day will be a Sunday. Every one of its 26 calls in the published schedule (checked in October 2026) falls on a Sunday, from October 2026 to the end of September 2027. Where times are known, the day is long, and a long day is exactly what you need to see all four of the classic sights around Selcuk.

Sundays only: the shape of the schedule

The calls run in October and November 2026, then again from March to September 2027. Ten of them fall in June, July and August.

Only the four autumn 2026 calls have published times, all from 08:00 to 18:00. For the 2027 season, arrival and departure times have not been announced yet. Check the ship’s daily programme for the all-aboard time; it is usually earlier than departure.

On 17 of the Sundays another ship is in port as well, and on 7 of them Kusadasi has three or more ships. Sunday 11 October 2026 is one of those fuller days. Sunday 14 March 2027, the first call of the new season, shows no other ship at all.

Ten hours ashore: all four sights fit

An 08:00 to 18:00 day is about ten hours. A full loop of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince takes roughly 7 to 7.5 hours door to door. Add our 60-minute rule for being back at the port before departure, and you still have a little room to spare.

Sample Sunday on an 08:00 to 18:00 call

Approximate times; your exit from the port may be quicker or slower:

That puts you at the ship more than two hours before an 18:00 departure. If you prefer, use the spare time for the Terrace Houses inside Ephesus, which need roughly 45 to 60 minutes more.

If the 2027 times turn out different

Until the 2027 times are published, plan with these scenarios:

• If your ship stays about 10 hours: all four, as above.
• If it stays about 8 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and the Temple of Artemis; leave Sirince out.
• If it stays about 6 hours: Ephesus and one extra, either Mary’s House or Artemis.

Four stops, briefly

Ephesus. Walk the marble length of Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus, then on to the Great Theatre and the Harbour Street beyond it. The paving is uneven and polished; wear proper shoes.

House of the Virgin Mary. Higher up on Nightingale Mountain and shaded by trees, so it feels cooler after the open ruins. Inside it is quiet and modest dress is respected; outside there are water taps and a wishing wall.

Temple of Artemis. You come for the story more than the stones: a single column stands where one of the Seven Wonders once rose. From here you can see Ayasuluk Hill with the Basilica of St John.

Sirince. Stone and timber houses on a hillside, the restored Church of St John the Baptist, and shops selling fruit wine, olive oil and soap. If you buy wine, check your ship’s rules on bringing alcohol on board.

Summer Sundays and crowd tips

With ten calls in the hottest months, heat is the main thing to plan around. Ephesus has very little shade and is often well above 30 °C at midday in July and August. On a long day you can turn the order around: start with the House of the Virgin Mary or Sirince and reach Ephesus later, once the morning groups have moved on.

On the seven busy Sundays, many visitors set off for Ephesus at the same time. A private car is the easiest way to step out of that rhythm. Sirince itself gets busy around midday, so a visit after lunch can feel calmer.

How to book

Reserve the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer: a private car with driver, only for your group, up to 8 passengers per vehicle. The driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits at every stop and drives you back to the ship.

Tell us which stops you want when you book, or later on WhatsApp, and we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included and are paid at each site. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; cash or card.

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.