Kusadasi Shore Excursions: Private Ephesus Tours Timed to Your Ship

Get Turkey Tours runs private shore trips from Kusadasi to Ephesus from $300 per person (season, group size and package inclusions affect the price, so ask us for the current figure). A trip lasts 6 to 8 hours, comfortably inside a standard port call. Ephesus sits only about 18 kilometres from the cruise port, a drive of roughly 20 to 25 minutes, which means most of your day goes to the ruins and little to the van.

Shore excursions we run from Kusadasi port

Each trip is private, so the licensed guide and the van are for your party alone. The prices quoted are per person and come from each tour page's "from" price in October 2026. Entry to museums and meals cost extra, apart from the wine tour, which includes the tastings and lunch.

How your day in port runs

Once the ship is docked, your guide is waiting at Kusadasi port holding a sign with your name. You step off, get into the van and head to Ephesus while the big coach groups are still lining up on the quay. When the tour is over, the driver takes you back to the port.

When you book, send three things: the ship's name, its docking time and its all-aboard time. Our planning starts from all-aboard and works backwards, rather than starting at docking. This is what "on-time return" in each tour's name refers to: the plan is trimmed to suit your ship, and if time runs short the guide skips a stop instead of risking a late return. A few of these excursions can also begin at Izmir port, for ships calling there. Coming over on the ferry from Samos, the Greek island? Read our day trip from Samos to Ephesus guide.

The classic port-day choice: Ephesus

Most cruise passengers choose the private Ephesus tour of 6 to 8 hours. Your walk follows the main marble street, passing the Temple of Hadrian on the way to the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsus. Your guide can include the Terrace Houses, Roman homes with mosaics and painted walls that most coach tours leave out because of the extra fee. Next comes the House of the Virgin Mary; by Christian tradition, Mary spent her last years there. The day ends at Selcuk's Isa Bey Mosque, built in the 14th century.

You pay for tickets at the entrance. In 2026 the Ephesus fee for foreign visitors is around €40 (official price, subject to change); the Terrace Houses need a separate ticket, and the House of the Virgin Mary charges separately too. Your guide helps so you skip the queue.

Ephesus and Sirince: for calls of 9 hours or longer

Built on a hillside about 15 minutes by road from Selcuk, Sirince has stone houses and whitewashed ones and is known for its fruit wines. At 9 to 10 hours, the Ephesus and Sirince tour only works on long calls. The village replaces the House of the Virgin Mary; if you want both, tell us when all-aboard is and you will get an honest answer on whether it fits. Spending time in the area before or after the cruise? Our guide to hotels near Ephesus weighs up Kuşadası, Selçuk and Şirince.

Long days for repeat cruisers: Pergamon and Pamukkale

Both of these are meant for passengers who saw Ephesus on a previous cruise, and both need a long time in port.

• Pergamon lies around two and a half hours' drive to the north. You ride a cable car up to the Acropolis and one of the steepest theatres of antiquity, and below the city is the Asclepion, a well-known healing centre in ancient times. Allow 8 to 9 hours in total.
• Pamukkale is roughly three hours inland, with the Roman city of Hierapolis above its white travertine terraces. Taking 10 to 11 hours, it is only possible when your ship stays until the evening. Swimming in the Antique Pool costs extra.

Either way, over half of the day goes on driving. Ships staying under 10 hours should stick with Ephesus.

Beating the crowds at Ephesus

Cruise groups mostly arrive at Ephesus in the morning, and when several ships are in port the main street gets packed. In July and August the midday heat is intense and shade is limited. Two things help: get off the ship as early as the rules allow, and enter through the upper gate so the walk goes downhill. Calls in spring and autumn are the most pleasant. Wear a hat and shoes with good grip, and carry water, since the marble is worn smooth.

Booking and cancellation

• Free cancellation until 7 days before the tour; inside 7 days, the booking cannot be refunded.
• Let us know how many guests are coming and about any walking difficulties. The Ephesus walk is around 1.5 kilometres, largely downhill from the top gate.
• Only guests 18 or older can join the wine tour.

If Istanbul is also on your itinerary, the Istanbul port tours leaving Galataport run on the same system. Find every port tour under shore excursions, and for background on the site and the region, see Ephesus and Kusadasi in our destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions