Princess Cruises at Kusadasi: Private Taxi to Ephesus

Princess ships calling at Kusadasi dock in the town centre, about 20-25 minutes by car from Ephesus. With a private taxi your party leaves the port as soon as you are ashore, sees Ephesus at its own pace and is back at the ship with time to spare. It works for families, for couples and for travellers who prefer an unhurried day.

Good to know: our standard cruise port taxi is the round trip to Ephesus. The House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Şirince are not part of the Ephesus transfer; they can be added as extra stops for an additional charge. Tell us which ones you want when you book.

Ephesus at your pace

Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2015). The driver drops you at the upper gate and collects you at the lower gate, so the whole walk is downhill: Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Allow about 2 hours. The Terrace Houses need a separate ticket and add 30-45 minutes.

The walk is on old stone paving with little shade. Comfortable shoes, water and a hat make a real difference. If walking is difficult for anyone in your group, tell us before booking so we can plan a shorter day.

Extra stops

Time in port decides how much you can add. Our planning estimate (traffic and queues vary):

Time in port	What fits
About 5 hours	Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis
About 6.5 hours	House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, Temple of Artemis
8 hours or more	All four, with Şirince last
Under about 4.5 hours	No safe round trip to Ephesus

House of the Virgin Mary: a small chapel on Bülbüldağı above Ephesus, where tradition says Mary spent her last years. Popes Paul VI (1967), John Paul II (1979) and Benedict XVI (2006) visited. Allow 45-60 minutes; shoulders and knees covered.

Temple of Artemis: at the edge of Selçuk, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A single re-erected column stands there today; 15-20 minutes.

Şirince: a hill village about 8 km east of Selçuk, about 15-20 minutes from Ephesus by car, known for its stone houses and fruit wines. Cars stop at the village entrance and the lanes are steep and cobbled. Allow 60-90 minutes.

Pamukkale is about 3 hours each way. It is a separate full-day trip, not part of the Ephesus transfer; ask us about it when you book.

Returning to the ship

You are back at the port at least 60 minutes before the ship departs, or earlier if your all-aboard time requires it. If anything runs late, an optional stop is cut short.

How the taxi works

• Your driver meets you at the cruise port exit with a name sign (meeting point on the map).
• Private vehicle for your party only, up to 8 passengers; larger groups get a second vehicle.
• Child seats are free on request.
• The driver waits at every stop.
• It is transport, not a guided tour. Entrance tickets are not included and are paid at each site.
• No prepayment: cash to the driver on the day, in EUR, USD or TL, or by card online.

Kusadasi Transfer is a local, D2-licensed transfer company. To book, send your ship, call date, times, number of passengers and any children's ages through the cruise port taxi booking page.

Ships from this line calling at Kusadasi: call dates and times are in our guides for Enchanted Princess and Sun Princess. Other Princess ships with a single visit are in the one-call cruise ships roundup.

FAQs

Is Ephesus manageable with limited mobility? The route is about 2 hours on foot over old paving and is not suitable for wheelchairs throughout. Contact us before booking and we will suggest a shorter plan.

Do we need to pay before the day? No. You pay the driver in cash on the day, or by card online.