Excursii din Kuşadası: tururi private la Efes cu întoarcere la timp la vas

A private shore excursion from Kusadasi to Ephesus starts from $300 per person with us (prices vary by season, group size and what the package includes; ask us for today's price) and takes 6 to 8 hours, which fits a normal port call with time to spare. Ephesus is only about 18 kilometres from the cruise port, roughly 20 to 25 minutes by car, so most of your day is spent at the ruins and not in the van.

Our shore excursions from Kusadasi port

All five are private: only your group, a licensed guide and a private van. Prices are the "from" prices per person on each tour page in October 2026. Museum tickets and meals are not included, except on the wine tour, where the tastings and lunch are.

How the port day works

When your ship docks, your guide waits at Kusadasi port with a name sign. You walk off the ship, into the van, and on to Ephesus while the large coach groups are still forming up on the quay. After the tour, the driver brings you back to the port.

When you book, send us the ship's name, the docking time and the all-aboard time. We plan the day backwards from the all-aboard time, not forwards from the docking time. That is what the "on-time return" in the tour names means: the itinerary is cut to fit your ship, and when time is short the guide drops a stop rather than risk the return. Some of these excursions also start from Izmir port, for ships that call there instead. Visitors coming across by ferry from the Greek island of Samos can read our guide, Samos to Ephesus day trip.

Ephesus: the classic choice for a port call

The 6-to-8-hour private Ephesus tour is the one most cruise passengers take. You walk down the main marble street past the Temple of Hadrian to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. The guide can add the Terrace Houses, the Roman homes with mosaics and wall paintings that most coach tours skip because they cost extra. The tour then continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, where Christian tradition holds that Mary spent her last years, and to the 14th-century Isa Bey Mosque in Selcuk.

Tickets are paid at the gate. In 2026 foreign visitors pay about €40 for Ephesus (official fee, may change), with a separate ticket for the Terrace Houses; the House of the Virgin Mary has its own ticket. Our guide helps you buy them without queuing.

Ephesus and Sirince: if your ship stays 9 hours or more

Sirince is a hillside village of stone and whitewashed houses, about 15 minutes' drive from Selcuk, known for its fruit wines. The Ephesus and Sirince tour takes 9 to 10 hours, so it suits long calls only. It swaps the House of the Virgin Mary for the village; if you want both, tell us your all-aboard time and we will say honestly whether it fits. Staying in the area before or after your cruise? Our Kusadasi hotels for Ephesus page compares Kuşadası, Selçuk and Şirince.

Pergamon and Pamukkale: long days for repeat visitors

These two are for passengers who have already seen Ephesus on an earlier cruise. Both need a long call.

• Pergamon is about two and a half hours' drive north. A cable car climbs to the Acropolis, with one of the steepest theatres of the ancient world, and the Asclepion below the city was a famous healing centre of the ancient world. 8 to 9 hours in all.
• Pamukkale is about three hours inland. You see the white travertine terraces and the Roman city of Hierapolis. At 10 to 11 hours, it only works when the ship stays into the evening. Swimming in the Antique Pool is not included.

For each, the drive is more than half the day. If your ship is in port for less than 10 hours, choose Ephesus.

Timing: when Ephesus is crowded

Most cruise groups reach Ephesus in the morning, and on days with several ships in port the main street is full. Midday in July and August is also very hot, with little shade. Two things help: leave the ship as early as you are allowed, and start at the upper gate so that you walk the site downhill. Spring and autumn calls are the most comfortable. If you are staying on in Kusadasi or Izmir, the Ephesus night tour from $250 shows the illuminated ruins on Wednesday to Saturday evenings in the summer night season. Bring a hat, water and shoes with grip; the marble is polished smooth.

Booking and cancellation

• Cancellation is free up to 7 days before the tour; within 7 days the booking is not refundable.
• Tell us the number of guests and any walking limits. Ephesus is about a 1.5-kilometre walk, mostly downhill if you start at the top gate.
• The wine tour is for guests aged 18 and over.

If your cruise also calls at Istanbul, our Istanbul shore excursions from Galataport work the same way. All port tours are on our shore excursions page, and more about the site and region is on our Ephesus destination page.

Frequently Asked Questions