Kuşadası is docked in town, and Ephesus is about 30 minutes away. Ephesus costs €40 (paid in lira or by card) plus €15 for the Terrace Houses. Heat and no shade are the big problems, so go early.
Where Kuşadası lies
KuşadasıIstanbulAthensArgostoliBodrumChaniaCorfuHeraklionIteaIzmirKatakolonKosLimassolMilosMykonosNafplioPatmosRhodesSantoriniSarandëSyrosThessalonikiVolosZakynthosWhere your ship docks
Ships dock at Ege Port Kuşadası, the cruise port in the town centre.
Shuttle. Not needed for the town. No public shuttle to Ephesus confirmed.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi (round trip with waiting) to Ephesus (upper gate) | About 25 minutes each way (Ege Port Kuşadası) | not confirmed |
| Dolmuş (shared minibus) to Selçuk / Ephesus lower gate | not confirmed | not confirmed |
Taxi (round trip with waiting) to Ephesus (upper gate)
- Taxis wait outside the port gate.
- Ask to start at the upper (Magnesia) gate and be picked up at the lower gate.
- Agree the price, waiting time, and pickup point in writing.
'In at the top, out at the bottom' means walking downhill. The port publishes no taxi tariff; agree a flat round-trip price before you leave.
Dolmuş (shared minibus) to Selçuk / Ephesus lower gate
- Find the Selçuk dolmuş in town.
- Ask the driver for Efes (Ephesus).
- Walk or taxi from the drop point to the gate.
Cheapest, but allow a big safety margin. The port site mentions dolmuş only for the bus station-port route, not to Ephesus.
What to see
Ephesus Ancient City
Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, marble streets.
- How
- Taxi, dolmuş or tour.
- Time
- 2–2.5 hours
- Tickets
- €40 for foreign visitors, includes the Ephesus Experience Museum (Izmir Culture & Tourism Directorate). Open daily 08:00–18:00, ticket office closes 17:30 (Ministry museum site; summer hours may be longer).
Terrace Houses
Roofed Roman homes with mosaics and frescoes.
- How
- Inside Ephesus, separate ticket.
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tickets
- €15 (Izmir Culture & Tourism Directorate). Not covered by museum passes (secondary source).
Ephesus Museum (Selçuk)
Artemis statues and finds from the site.
- How
- In Selçuk.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- €10 (Izmir Culture & Tourism Directorate).
House of the Virgin Mary
Pilgrimage site on the mountain.
- How
- Taxi from the upper gate area.
- Time
- About 1 hour with drive
- Tickets
- Unverified. Cover shoulders.
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- Leave the ship as soon as you can.
- Taxi to the upper gate of Ephesus; be there near 08:00.
- Walk downhill; add the Terrace Houses (45 minutes).
- Meet your driver at the lower gate.
- Optional: House of the Virgin Mary or Ephesus Museum.
- Be back in Kuşadası 90 minutes before all-aboard; port security lines can be slow.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Very hot, little shade, slippery marble.
- Huge crowds 10:00–13:00 with several ships.
- Shop stops pushed by drivers and guides.
- Prices quoted in euro but charged in lira.
Do this
- Bring a hat, sunscreen and water.
- Buy water before the gate.
- Pay ticket prices by card to avoid cash problems.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- US citizens with ordinary passports can visit Türkiye without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (announced 2024; EY tax alert). Check the State Department before you go.
- Ephesus €40; Terrace Houses €15; Ephesus Museum €10 (Izmir Directorate).
Accessibility
Ephesus has uneven marble paths and slopes. The Terrace Houses have stairs and walkways. Hard for wheelchairs.
Money
Turkish lira (TL). Many ticket offices charge in lira or by Visa/Mastercard; at Ephesus euro and dollar cash are not accepted at the ticket office (secondary source). Shops and taxis in tourist areas often take euros or dollars, but at a worse rate. Use an ATM inside a bank. Amex is often not accepted.
More of the Greek Isles & Eastern Med
Sources & what we could not confirm · 6 sources · checked 2026-11
- Izmir Culture & Tourism Directorate: Museum and ancient city entrance fees
- Türkiye Ministry of Culture: Ephesus museum page
- Tours Around Turkey: Ephesus ticket prices update
- Tours Around Turkey: Kuşadası cruise port to Ephesus
- EY: Türkiye visa exemption for US nationals
- Ege Port Kuşadası, cruise port (official)
- Taxi round-trip prices
- Dolmuş fare and times
- Summer opening hours at Ephesus
- House of the Virgin Mary fee