Co robić w Kuszadasi: Efez, Şirince, plaże i Stare Miasto

Most things to do in Kuşadası are within 20 kilometres of the cruise port: Ephesus (about 20–25 minutes by car), the House of the Virgin Mary, the hill village of Şirince, Selçuk with the Basilica of St John, and in town the Pigeon Island fortress and Ladies Beach. With one port day, do Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary; with two or three days, add Şirince, a beach afternoon and a long day to Pamukkale. Our private Ephesus tours from Kuşadası start at $300 per person.

Things to do in Kuşadası at a glance

Kuşadası is a resort town of hotels, marinas and beach clubs on the Aegean coast, and it is also the port for Ephesus. Visitors from the USA, Canada, Spain and Mexico usually arrive one of two ways: on a cruise ship for a single day, or for a few nights as part of a longer trip around Turkey. The list below works for both. Times are from Kuşadası. Travellers staying on the Greek island of Samos can also visit on a day trip; see our guide, Samos to Ephesus day trip.

Our prices are per person for a private guide and van, and vary by season, group size and what's included; ask us for today's price for your date. Museum tickets and meals are not included on the Ephesus tours. Every trip is on our Ephesus and Kuşadası tours page.

Ephesus: the reason most people come

Ephesus was one of the largest cities of the Roman east, and walking it from the upper gate down Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre takes two and a half to three hours with a guide. The Terrace Houses, under a modern roof halfway down, are where wealthy families lived; the mosaics and wall paintings are still in the rooms, and for many visitors they are the best part of the day. In 2026 the Ministry of Culture and Tourism charges foreign visitors €40 for Ephesus and €15 for the Terrace Houses; our page on Ephesus entrance fees has the full official table.

Two things to plan around. First, the heat: from June to September there is almost no shade on the marble, and midday is hard work. Second, the cruise crowds: when two or three ships are in port, the coach groups fill Curetes Street from mid-morning to early afternoon. A private guide can reverse the route or start at opening time to stay ahead of them.

Our private Ephesus highlights tour takes 6 to 8 hours, from $300 per person, and adds the House of the Virgin Mary and Selçuk. If you are in Kuşadası on an evening when the site's night opening is running, the Ephesus night tour from $250 per person shows the library and the theatre lit up, with far fewer people.

House of the Virgin Mary and Selçuk

On the wooded hill above Ephesus, a small stone house is honoured by Catholic tradition as the place where Mary spent her last years. Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI all visited it. The house itself takes 15 minutes; people stay longer at the wall of written prayers outside and at the spring taps below. It is a place of worship, so dress modestly and keep your voice down. It is run separately from the Ministry sites, with its own ticket at the gate.

Selçuk, the town next to Ephesus, has three more stops worth a short visit. The Basilica of St John stands over what is believed to be the tomb of the apostle. Just below it, the İsa Bey Mosque was built in 1375 with columns taken from the ruins. And a single rebuilt column in a marshy field is all that is left of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders. That last one disappoints people who expect more, so see it from the van window if time is short.

For cruise passengers, all of this fits into one port day with a private guide. Our list of shore excursions shows the routes and how long each takes.

Şirince: the hill village

Şirince is a former Greek village in the hills about 8 km above Selçuk, with stone and whitewashed houses on a steep slope, a church at the top and olive and fig groves all around. It is known for fruit wines (blackberry, peach, pomegranate) that you can taste for free in the shops along the main lane; most are sweet, and the better bottles are the dry reds and whites from local grapes.

Go in the afternoon after Ephesus, when the tour buses have left. The main lane sells soaps, olive oil, scarves and wine, and it can feel like a market; walk two streets up and the village is quiet again. Lunch at one of the terrace restaurants, with gözleme and village cheese, is part of the visit. Our Ephesus and Şirince village tour takes 9 to 10 hours from the port, from $300 per person, with a guaranteed return to the ship.

Pigeon Island and the old town

Back in town, Pigeon Island (Güvercinada) is the small fortified island joined to the shore by a causeway, a 10 to 15-minute walk south of the cruise terminal. You can walk across, around the walls and up to the tower, with views back over the bay. It is free, and it is the obvious place for sunset photos.

Between the port and the island, the harbour front has a 17th-century Ottoman caravanserai and the start of the old town's lanes, with the bazaar streets behind. The bazaar is aimed squarely at cruise passengers: leather jackets, carpets, "genuine fake" watches and Turkish delight. Prices start high and are made to be bargained down. If you only have an hour before all-aboard, Pigeon Island is the better use of it.

Kuşadası beaches and the Dilek Peninsula

The town beaches are fine for a swim between sights, not the reason to come. Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Denizi), about 3 km south of the centre, is the best known: sandy, with sunbeds and cafés, and full in July and August. Long Beach (Uzunplaj) to the north is quieter and lined with resort hotels. Sunbeds at the beach clubs are paid; ask the price before you lie down.

For clear water and pine forest, drive about 30 km south to the Dilek Peninsula–Büyük Menderes Delta National Park. Its pebble coves, such as İçmeler, Aydınlık and Kavaklı Burun, have hardly any buildings, and there are walking trails and wild horses on the slopes. There is an entrance fee per car, little shade on the beaches and only basic cafés, so bring water and food. Families with children also like the big water parks around Kuşadası and Pamucak.

Day trips from Kuşadası: Pamukkale and more

Pamukkale's white terraces and the Roman city of Hierapolis above them are about three hours each way by road. It is a long day, and on a cruise call it only works if the ship stays in port for 11 hours or more. Our private Pamukkale tour from Kuşadası port takes 10 to 11 hours, from $600 per person. If you have a few nights, staying near Pamukkale is easier on everyone; see all our Pamukkale tours for one- and two-day options.

Closer options for a second or third day: the ancient cities of Priene, Miletus and Didyma to the south, quieter than Ephesus and often almost empty; Pergamon to the north (our cruise version is 8–9 hours, from $600 per person); or a wine day at the vineyards near Izmir, from $300 per person with tastings and lunch included. All our port-day versions are on the shore excursions list.

How many days in Kuşadası, and where to stay

On a cruise you have one day; spend it on Ephesus, the Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary, and leave Şirince for a longer call. Our full guide to Kuşadası shore excursions explains timing around the ship.

If you are staying, three nights is the right length:

1. Day 1: Ephesus early, the House of the Virgin Mary, Selçuk; Pigeon Island at sunset.
2. Day 2: Şirince in the morning, beach or Dilek national park in the afternoon.
3. Day 3: Pamukkale, or Priene, Miletus and Didyma.

Kuşadası suits people who want restaurants, a marina and beaches in the evening. Selçuk is smaller, closer to the ruins and cheaper. Our guide to Kuşadası hotels for Ephesus compares the areas. For history and practical details on the whole region, read the Ephesus destination guide, or browse every Ephesus tour and the Pamukkale tours if you want to combine both.

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