Best Shore Excursions

A shore excursion has one fixed point that every other tour on this site does not: the time your ship leaves. Everything on this page is planned backwards from that time. Our shore excursions are private, so the van waits for you at the terminal, the guide adjusts the order of the sights to the day's crowds, and nobody else's delay affects your return.

Choose by hours in port, not by distance

The first thing to check is how long your ship stays. Our excursions run from 6 to 11 hours, and the right one depends on the gap between your disembarkation and all-aboard times, minus at least an hour of margin.

• 6 to 8 hours in port: stay close. From Kusadasi, Private Ephesus Tour with On-Time Return at $300 per person covers Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. From Bodrum, the Ancient Wonders of Bodrum Tour for Cruisers at $550 per person stays in town at St Peter's Castle, the Mausoleum and the ancient theatre.
• 9 to 10 hours: add a second stop. The Ephesus & Sirince Village Tour from Kusadasi Port at $300 per person adds the hill village of Sirince after the ruins.
• 10 hours or more: only then consider the long drives. The Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour from Kusadasi Port at $600 per person takes 10 to 11 hours, most of it on the road.

In Istanbul, most ships dock at Galataport for one or two days. The Private Istanbul Shore Excursion starts at $400 per person for about seven hours per day and can be booked as a single day or split over two.

Why the same site costs different amounts

Ephesus appears three times on this page at three prices, and the reason is the port. From Kusadasi it is a 20-minute drive; from Bodrum it is a long day, which is why the Ephesus & Virgin Mary Tour from Bodrum Port is $750 per person. If your cruise calls at both ports, see Ephesus from Kusadasi and use the Bodrum day for the peninsula or the ancient sites nearer to town.

Prices here are per person for a private tour; only your own party travels in the van. Museum tickets, meals and drinks are listed separately on most tour pages.

Something other than ruins

Not every cruise passenger wants another ancient site. The Private Wine Tasting Tour from Kusadasi Shore at $300 per person visits ancient Teos, then two wineries (MMG and Ayda) with a wine-paired lunch included. The Private Bodrum Peninsula Tour at $650 per person drives past the windmills to Gumusluk and Turkbuku, with a stop in the village of Etrim.

Practical tips for port days

• Keep your ship card and a copy of the all-aboard time on you, not in the cabin.
• The first hour after docking is the busiest at the terminal exits. Your guide meets you with a name sign; take time to find them rather than joining a queue for a taxi.
• Ephesus is open-air, with little shade between the upper gate and the Library of Celsus. From June to September, carry water and a hat.
• Tender ports can add 30 to 60 minutes each way; tell us if your ship anchors instead of docking.

Combining with other tours

If your cruise starts or ends in Istanbul, a day or two on land before sailing is easier than a port call. Our half-day tours fit a boarding afternoon, and the multi-day trips list covers Cappadocia after you disembark. For each port in detail, read Istanbul shore excursions from Galataport and Kusadasi shore excursions, and our guide to Ephesus Ancient City.