Kusadasi Cruise Port: Complete Guide to Ephesus & Shore Excursions

Kusadasi Cruise Port is one of the main gateways to Ephesus and the ancient sites of western Turkey. Located in the center of Kusadasi, the cruise port is approximately 18 km from Ephesus, making it possible to visit the ancient city comfortably during a cruise stop. In this guide, you'll learn where cruise ships dock, how to get from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Ephesus, how long the journey takes, and what to see and do during your time in Kusadasi.

Planning to visit Ephesus during your cruise?

See our private Ephesus shore excursions from Kusadasi Port

Kusadasi Cruise Port

Hundreds of cruise ships dock at the Kusadasi Port, the most popular cruise port in Turkey serving tourists travelling on Mediterranean cruises. Kusadasi Port has cafeterias, restaurants, shops, and taxis, Kusadasi Port is 2 minutes walking distance to downtown Kusadasi and Kusadasi Port to Ephesus is a 25 minutes drive. Izmir Airport to Kusadasi Cruise Port takes 1 hour drive.

Kusadasi Cruise Port is the cruise port for Ephesus and serves thousands of cruise passengers every year. World’s leading cruise ship companies choose Kusadasi Cruise Port as a port of call during their Eastern Mediterranean cruises. Kusadasi Cruise Port is able to handle ships of up to 5000 passengers on an ongoing basis, The largest cruise ship that docks at Kusadasi Cruise Port is Odyssey of the Seas. Kusadasi Cruise Port is the most popular cruise port in Turkey in terms of servicing cruise ships.

We offer private Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi Cruise Port. Ephesus was once a Greek city and later a capital of the Asia Province of Roman Empire. From the Library of Celsus to the well-preserved Grand Theater, every corner of Ephesus is very interesting. Our Ephesus Ctuise Excursions includes visits to the must-see attractions near Kusadasi Cruise Port. One of them is the Temple of Artemis. Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this temple was dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis who was named by the Romans as Diana.

Best Things to Do from Kusadasi Cruise Port

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Begin your Ephesus journey by exploring the ancient city. Wandering its marbel streets, you will come across well-preserved monuments, boulevards and even ancient public toilets. During your visit to the Terrace Houses, you can witness the impressive mosaics and frescoes that decorated the homes of the wealthy during Roman times. Highlights to visit in the area: ancient city of Ephesus, the House of Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis, the Basilica of St. John and the Sirince Village. Explore Ephesus from Kusadasi Cruise Port and immerse yourself in history and enjoy local cuisine for an unforgettable experience. Book your Ephesus Private Tour with us now!

Visit the House of Virgin Mary

Another remarkable site near Ephesus is the House of Virgin Mary. According to some, this small stone house is where the Virgin Mary spent her last years. You'll feel a sense of peace and spirituality as you wander through its modest rooms, making this a must-visit for those seeking a spiritual connection.

Enjoy Local Cuisine and Shopping

After enjoying yourself in history, take some time to relax and enjoy the local cuisine. Kusadasi offers many charming restaurants and cafes where you can sample delicious Turkish cuisine. Don't forget to visit the tourist shops where you can bargain for traditional handicrafts, textiles and spices. It's the perfect opportunity to bring a piece of Turkey into your home. A few steps away from Kusadası port, you can wander around tourist shops selling mostly fake bags, t-shirts, sweaters, shoes... Enjoy Turkish kebabs and Turkish ice cream just a few minutes' walk from Kusadasi Cruise Port.

A scenic walk to Pigeon Island

Enjoy a Turkish coffee or beer by the Aegean Sea.

Swim in the Aegean Sea

Between May and October. The closest public beach to Kusadasi Port is Ladies Beach.

Is Ephesus the same as Kusadasi?

Ephesus and Kusadasi are two different places. Kusadasi is located 18 kilometers from Ephesus. Ephesus is today one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world, while Kusadasi is a popular tourist resort and has Turkey's most popular cruise port. The port of Kusadasi is the closest port to the ancient city of Ephesus.

Where do cruise ships dock in Ephesus?

Cruise ships dock at Kusadasi port. Ephesus is only 18 km from Kusadasi Port. It takes about 20 minutes by car to go to Ephesus from Kusadasi Port. Ephesus, although in ancient times it was a port city, due to the silting of the river, can only be reached by land. Kusadasi Port is the closest port to Ephesus.

How far is the cruise port from Kusadasi?

The cruise port in Kusadasi is in the very heart of Kusadasi Town. You can just walk directly off the ship and in 5 minutes be in the centre of Kusadasi Town.

Where do the cruise ships dock in Kusadasi Turkey?

Cruise ships dock at Kusadasi Port. Once you leave the cruise terminal, there's a shopping mall that leads you to Kusadasi town center. Getting to the center of Kusadasi on foot from the cruise terminal takes about 5 minutes.

How do I get from Kusadasi cruise port to Ephesus?

There is no direct public transport between Kusadasi and Ephesus. The easiest way is to take a taxi or book a Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi port.

The Cruise Ships that will be calling to Kusadasi Cruise Port in 2027

Royal Caribbean: Odyssey of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas
Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse
Celestyal Cruises: Celestyal Discovery, Celestyal Journey
MSC Cruises: MSC Splendida, MSC Divina
Viking: Viking Mira, Viking Saturn, Viking Vesta, Viking Neptune, Viking Sea, Viking Jupiter, Viking Vela, Viking Sky, Viking Astrea
Princess Cruises: Sun Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess
Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Gem
Holland America: Oosterdam, Volendam
Silversea: Silver Nova
Windstar: Wind Surf, Star Legend
Virgin Voyages: Scarlet Lady
Oceania: Sirena, Vista, Nautica, Allura
Azamara: Azamara Onward
P&O Cruises: Azura, Britannia
AIDA: AIDAblu
Explora Journeys: Explora II
Seabourn: Seabourn Ovation
Cunard: Queen Elizabeth
Marella Cruises: Marella Explorer
Star Clippers: Star Flyer
Emerald Cruises: Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Raiya
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: Ritz-Carlton Ilma
Regent Seven Seas: Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Prestige, Seven Seas Mariner
Atlas Ocean Voyages: World Traveller
Phoenix Reisen: Amera
SeaDream Yacht Club: SeaDream II
Carnival: Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Miracle

Kusadasi Cruise Port Schedule: https://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-kusadasi-ephesus-turkey.html

We offer Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi Cruise Port, for more information, please contact us.

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5 Comments

Robert Hillier - 2 years ago

Four of us will be arriving in Kusadasi Port on Saturday 12th October at 8.00 am. We would like to visit Ephesus during the day can you let us know what your best price is per person. Thank you.

Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi Port - 2 years ago

Thank you very much for your inquiry.
It would be our pleasure to be in service to you.

Cost of private tour of Ephesus starting and ending at Kusadasi Port: 185 Euro (Total to be paid for your group of 4)

* Above rate is NOT a per person rate. It is total to be paid for your group.
* The above rate is for a private tour. You will be the only ones in the vehicle besides your personal tour guide and driver.
* You will the skip the lines. Tour guides have priorities to obtain the tickets.

Rates Cover
Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide
A/C Minibus.
All transportation costs.
Tax, service charges.
Pick up and drop off from/to Cruise Port of Kusadasi.
Parking fees to the sites.
Traditional Turkish Lunch

Rates Do Not Cover
Entrance fees to the sites.
Drinks during lunch

* There is no admission fee for children under 8 years old. For the proof of age, please bring passport copies with you.

* There is no prepayment required for the reservation. To avoid disappointment, we recommend making your private tour reservation at earliest possible.

Payment Terms
Private Tour Payments can be made in Euros, Turkish Liras, British Pounds and US Dollars cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required for the booking. We only accept cash payments. Entrance fees can be paid with credit cards.

Cancellation Policy
You can cancel a tour 72 hours in advance of your tour departure without any charges. If you would like to cancel a tour, simply send us an email and we will be happy to assist you. Once you are within the 24 hour tour departure window, the tour becomes non-refundable. This is because our guide and vehicle have set aside space to accommodate your request and will often not be able to fill that space with another customer so close to departure. For cruise passengers, there is no cancellation fee if your ship does not call to the port for any reason.

Tour Starting Times
This will be your private tour, the tour starting times are flexible. We can start and end the tour anytime you wish. But please consider that the sites have opening and closing hours once making a decision, please consider these hours.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Denizhan Pekoz
Ephesus Travel Guide
WhatsApp: +90 536 225 5658

Casi - 1 year ago

Hi. Are there any tours from Ephesus to Cappadocia? We are cruising and will only be in turkey 7 hours?

Ephesus Travel Guide - 1 year ago

It is important to consider that visiting Cappadocia on a day trip from Kusadasi Cruise Port is not feasible due to the considerable distance involved. With no frequent flights available and the lengthy drive spanning around 9 hours, it would not be practical within a day's timeframe. To optimize your experience, we suggest focusing on exploring Ephesus and its neighboring areas, which offer rich historical and cultural experiences that can be thoroughly enjoyed within the available time.

Denizhan Pekoz
Ephesus Travel Guide