World Traveller in Kusadasi: Ephesus shore excursion by private car

Published 4 October 2026

World Traveller’s three Kusadasi calls have almost nothing in common except the port. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) puts them on Tuesday 22 June, Sunday 4 July and Saturday 25 September 2027: three different weekdays, early summer to early autumn, and crowd levels that range from two ships to five. The right Ephesus plan depends on which of the three is yours.

Three calls, three different days

Tuesday 22 June 2027. Celestyal Discovery, Celebrity Infinity and Emerald Raiya are also listed. Four ships, long daylight, already summer heat at midday.

Sunday 4 July 2027. Only Celestyal Journey is listed alongside. The quietest of the three, but in the heart of summer.

Saturday 25 September 2027. Star Legend, Celestyal Discovery, Wind Surf and Seven Seas Prestige are also listed. Five ships in total, with the summer heat usually easing.

None of these calls has published arrival or departure times yet. When they appear, check them again closer to the date, and use the all-aboard time from the ship’s daily programme, which is usually earlier than departure.

What the length of your stay allows

Build the plan around one rule: be back at the port at least 60 minutes before the published departure. Then roughly:

• 6 to 7 hours in port: Ephesus and one extra, either the House of the Virgin Mary or the Temple of Artemis.
• 7 to 8.5 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and Artemis. No Sirince.
• 9 hours or more: all four; on 25 September, Sirince in the afternoon is a pleasant finish.

Under 6 hours, keep it to Ephesus with at most a short stop at Artemis.

A short-call example for 4 July

Here is a hypothetical stay of 07:00 to 14:00, seven hours, to show what an early, compact day looks like in July.

1. 07:30 Driver waiting at the cruise port exit.
2. 08:00 onwards Ephesus, upper gate down to the lower gate, about 2 to 2.5 hours, before the sun is high. Check the site’s opening time for that season beforehand.
3. 10:30 Temple of Artemis, a 15 to 20 minute photo stop at the edge of Selcuk.
4. About 11:30 Back at the port, with plenty of room before the 13:00 limit this example would set.

With that much spare time, you could swap Artemis for the House of the Virgin Mary instead. Do not try to add both plus Sirince in seven hours.

For the busy June and September calls

On a four- or five-ship day, getting off the ship and out of the port can take longer, and many groups start at Ephesus at about the same time. With a private car you can:

• go up to Mary’s House first and reach Ephesus later in the morning;
• or do Ephesus first and keep the quieter stops for the afternoon.

On 25 September the weather often makes the second half of the day more comfortable, so a longer call can end in Sirince without much heat.

What to know about each site

Ephesus. Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the old latrines are the scenes most people remember. The Terrace Houses, with their wall paintings and mosaics, have a separate ticket; allow an extra 45 to 60 minutes.

House of the Virgin Mary. A stone house in the woods on Mount Koressos, venerated by many Christians and visited by Muslims as well. Popes visited in 1967, 1979 and 2006. The short path from the car park helps visitors who find walking difficult.

Temple of Artemis. Of this Wonder of the Ancient World, one re-erected column remains. Keep expectations modest and enjoy the view of Ayasuluk Hill.

Sirince. A village of old stone and timber houses that was Greek until the 1920s population exchange. Shops sell fruit wine, olive oil and soap; the lanes are steep and cobbled.

Heat, crowds and footwear

• 22 June and 4 July: midday is often well above 30 °C. Begin early, carry water, and use a hat; Ephesus has very little shade.
• 25 September: usually milder, but with five ships listed, the crowd matters more than the sun.
• Ephesus means roughly 1.5 to 2 km of uneven marble and stone, slippery in places. Wear shoes with grip.

How to book

Reserve the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer. It is a private car with driver for your group alone, up to 8 passengers, meeting you at the cruise port exit. The driver waits throughout and returns you to the ship.

When you book, list the extra stops you would like, and we confirm the plan with you before the day. Entrance tickets are not included; buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page before you go. Pay by cash or card, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

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