Published 4 October 2026
Viking Sky is due in Kusadasi twice this month, and both visits fall on a weekend. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) shows Sunday 18 October and Saturday 24 October 2026, and no further calls in the twelve months after that. If you are on board for either date, this is the one window to see Ephesus from this ship, so it is worth planning the day rather than improvising it at the gangway.
Two autumn weekend calls, no times yet
Arrival and departure times for both calls have not been announced yet. Times are often added closer to the date and can still change afterwards, so check the ship’s daily programme or app for the all-aboard time once you are on board.
The two days will feel different in port:
- Sunday 18 October: Celebrity Infinity and Europa are listed as well, so three ships share the harbour.
- Saturday 24 October: only Celestyal Discovery is listed alongside Viking Sky.
What fits, depending on how long you stay
Without published times, plan in scenarios. One rule does not change: be back at the port at least 60 minutes before the ship’s departure time.
- About 5–6 hours in port: Ephesus on its own, with at most a short stop at the Temple of Artemis on the way back. Leave Sirince out; it will not fit.
- About 7–8 hours: Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis. Skip Sirince.
- 9 hours or more: all four places, with Sirince as the relaxed last stop.
A sample day (hypothetical times)
Assume, purely as an example, that the ship docks at 08:00 and sails at 17:00. These are not published times.
- 08:30 — meet your driver at the cruise port exit.
- 09:00 — drop-off at the upper (south) gate of Ephesus; walk downhill along Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre.
- 11:15 — pick-up at the lower gate, then the winding road up the mountain.
- 11:35–12:20 — House of the Virgin Mary.
- 12:45 — Temple of Artemis photo stop.
- 13:25–14:45 — Sirince.
- About 15:25 — back at the port, comfortably more than 60 minutes before departure.
If your real window turns out shorter, drop Sirince first, then the Temple of Artemis.
The four places in late October
Ephesus. Autumn light is softer than in summer, and the long walk from the upper gate is far more pleasant without midday heat. After rain the marble paving can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip.
House of the Virgin Mary. It sits higher up, under trees, and often feels cooler than the ruins; a light layer helps on an October morning. Inside it is small and quiet, and modest clothing is respected.
Temple of Artemis. A single re-erected column in a low field is what remains of one of the Seven Wonders. After autumn rain the ground is often marshy. Look up towards Ayasuluk Hill for the Basilica of St John and the Isa Bey Mosque.
Sirince. A hillside village that was Greek until the 1920s population exchange, now known for fruit wines and handmade soaps. If you buy wine, check your ship’s rules on bringing alcohol on board.
Sunday crowds, Saturday calm
On 18 October, with three ships in port, the Ephesus gates are likely to be at their busiest in the first hours after the ships dock. A private car lets you turn the order around: go up to Mary’s House first and reach the ruins once the first wave has moved on. On 24 October the port is quieter and the usual order works well.
Days in late October are shorter than in summer, and site opening hours can change with the season. Tickets aren’t included; buy them ahead on our museum tickets page.
Booking your car
Book the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer: your driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits while you visit, and brings you back to the ship. The car is for your group only, up to 8 passengers. Tell us which extra stops you want when you book, and we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.
Plan it with the current schedule
Good to know: the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer covers Ephesus. Stops at the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince are not included and cost extra; tell us which ones you want when you book and we will confirm the plan and the cost.
- Viking Sky currently has fewer than two upcoming Kusadasi calls listed, so it has no ship page of its own. Any remaining call appears in the list of all ships calling at Kusadasi. All cruise ships calling at Kusadasi
- Kusadasi ⇄ Ephesus private transfer
- Open the cruise day planner
- Calling at Kusadasi only once? Ephesus by private car, ship by ship
- Ephesus by private car, ship by ship
The ship times in this guide are as published in October 2026 and can change. The ship pages are updated every morning.