Windstar in Kusadasi: Private Taxi to Ephesus and Şirince

Windstar's Wind Surf, Wind Star and Star Legend all call at Kusadasi, where the cruise port is in the town centre and Ephesus is about 20-25 minutes away by car. Kusadasi Transfer, a local D2-licensed transfer company, runs private cruise port taxis: one vehicle for your party, a driver who waits at every stop, and a plan built around your ship's times.

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, top to bottom

Ephesus has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. The driver drops you at the upper gate and collects you at the lower gate, so you only ever walk downhill: Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre. Allow about two hours. The main street has uneven marble paving, so sturdy shoes help.

The Terrace Houses need a separate ticket and add 30-45 minutes. On a long call they are well worth it. There is little shade on the site, so in summer start early and carry water.

Şirince and the other extra stops

• Şirince. A hill village about 8 km east of Selçuk, 15-20 minutes' drive from Ephesus, with old stone houses and fruit wines. Cars stop at the village entrance and the lanes are steep and cobbled. Allow 60-90 minutes.
• House of the Virgin Mary. A small chapel on Bülbüldağı above Ephesus where, by tradition, Mary spent her last years. Popes Paul VI (1967), John Paul II (1979) and Benedict XVI (2006) visited. Cover shoulders and knees; allow 45-60 minutes.
• Temple of Artemis. At the edge of Selçuk, the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, now a single re-erected column. A 15-20 minute stop.

On a long call, a sensible order is: port, House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, Temple of Artemis, Şirince, back to the port. With an evening departure you can also see Şirince first and do Ephesus later in the day.

How long your call needs to be

Our planning estimate; traffic and queues vary. It includes about 30 minutes to get off the ship and a return to the port at least 60 minutes before the ship departs, or earlier if your all-aboard time requires it.

• 8 hours or more: all four stops.
• About 6.5 hours: House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis.
• About 5 hours: Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis.
• Under about 4.5 hours: a round trip to Ephesus is not safe.

How the taxi works

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

Ships from this line calling at Kusadasi

For call dates and times, see our per-ship guides: Star Legend, Wind Star and Wind Surf.

To book, send your ship, call date, times, number of passengers and any children's ages through the cruise port taxi booking page.

FAQs

Can we fit Ephesus and Şirince into one call? Yes, if the call is long enough. Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and Şirince together fit comfortably on a call of about 8 hours; tell us your times and we will plan the day.

Is the Ephesus walk hard going? It is downhill from the upper gate to the lower gate, about two hours at an easy pace, on uneven marble paving. Comfortable shoes are the main thing.