Sun Princess Kusadasi stop: a private-car day to Ephesus and Sirince

Published 4 October 2026

Sun Princess is mostly a summer ship in Kusadasi, and mostly a Friday one. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) lists 11 calls between October 2026 and September 2027. Eight are on Fridays, and seven fall in June, July or August. That combination, long hot days, matters more for your Ephesus plan than anything else.

Reading the Sun Princess schedule

Only one call has published times so far: Thursday 22 October 2026, from 07:00 to 18:00. It is also a crowded day, with three other ships in Kusadasi.

The other ten calls, from April to September 2027, do not have announced arrival or departure times yet. A few points stand out in the dates themselves:

• Fridays dominate: 23 April, 14 May, 4 June, 2 and 23 July, 6 and 27 August, 17 September.
• The exceptions are Tuesday 6 July and Monday 2 August 2027.
• Three calls show no other ship in port: 23 April, 6 August and 27 August 2027.
• Six calls fall on days with three or more ships, including 17 September 2027, when four ships are listed.

Whatever is eventually published, confirm the all-aboard time in the ship’s daily programme; it comes before departure.

Eleven hours: the full circuit at an easy pace

On the 22 October call you have eleven hours ashore. All four sights, Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince, need roughly 7 to 7.5 hours door to door. Even with our 60-minute port margin, you have time to spare: for the Terrace Houses inside Ephesus, a long lunch in Sirince, or simply a slower walk.

Example day for 22 October 2026 (07:00 to 18:00)

1. About 07:30: meet your driver at the cruise port exit.
2. About 08:00 to 11:00: Ephesus, including the Terrace Houses, upper gate to lower gate.
3. About 11:20 to 12:05: House of the Virgin Mary.
4. About 12:30 to 12:50: Temple of Artemis.
5. About 13:10 to 14:40: Sirince, with lunch.
6. About 15:20: back at the port, far ahead of the 17:00 latest return.

All clock times are approximate and depend on how quickly you get off the ship, which takes longer on a four-ship day.

Planning the 2027 Fridays without times

• If your ship stays 11 to 12 hours: all four, and a late start is possible to avoid the midday heat.
• If it stays around 8 hours: Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis; no Sirince.
• If it stays 6 hours or less: Ephesus, with at most a quick look at the Temple of Artemis.

The four places in summer

Ephesus. Very little shade on 1.5 to 2 km of marble and stone. In July and August, midday is often well above 30 °C. Go early or late, carry water, and wear a hat.

Terrace Houses. Inside Ephesus, under a protective roof, with Roman wall paintings and mosaics. A separate ticket, and a welcome break from the sun.

House of the Virgin Mary. Higher on the mountain and shaded by trees, so it usually feels cooler. Outside there are water taps, useful on a hot day.

Temple of Artemis. One re-erected column in a low field at the edge of Selcuk. A quick stop for the story of a Wonder of the Ancient World.

Sirince. Old stone and timber houses on steep, cobbled lanes, with fruit wine, olive oil and soap in the shops. It gets busy around midday; a mid-afternoon visit is often calmer.

Summer strategy on a long call

If the 2027 calls are as long as the October one, use the length to dodge the heat rather than to cram in more. Two options work well with a private car:

• Start very early at Ephesus, before the heat and before most groups.
• Or start with Sirince and the House of the Virgin Mary, and leave Ephesus for later in the afternoon.

On the six busy days, many groups head to Ephesus at the same time in the morning, so the second option also helps with crowds.

Booking

The Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer is a private car with driver, just for your group, up to 8 passengers per vehicle. Your driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits while you visit, and takes you back to the ship.

Tell us your preferred stops and order when you book; we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, and payment is by cash or card. For a wider look at a port day, see our cruise day planner.

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.