On our European cruise last month, one of our port stops was Kusadasi, Turkey. This port is mostly known for being a few miles from the ancient ruins of Ephesus. My daughter said the port reminded her of Hollywood because of the sign:
Ephesus has a a long, interesting history. It was ruled by multiple empires and is considered an important city for early Christianity (read more here). My husband and I booked a tour of Ephesus, and our kids opted to stay on board and enjoy the ship. Based on our experience, here are some tips for visiting Ephesus.
Hire a Tour Guide
You will probably get more out of your visit to Ephesus if you go on a guided tour. You can book one through your cruise line, or even hire one outside of the gates. There is so much to see at Ephesus, but at the same time there is almost no shade and the temperature is hot. So, a guide can show you the most important sites within Ephesus in an efficient amount of time.
Start at the Second Entrance
If you decide to go to Ephesus on your own, start at the second entrance. Ephesus has two entrances. If you start at the second entrance, you will gradually make your way down hill and you can catch a taxi at the first entrance. However, if you start at the first entrance, you will be trudging slightly uphill the entire way.
Understand it will be crowded
We visited on May 31, which is a few weeks before the peak tourism. However, it was still crowded. Don’t expect to be able to wander the streets and take photos without others in the background.
Prepare for the Heat
Bring water with you. There are a few vendors before each entrance. If your tour does not provide you with water, buy some before you enter the site. There are no vendors inside the park! I also recommend a hat. Our tour guide says that in the summer, some visitors pass out from the heat.
Wear Appropriate Footwear
Touring Ephesus involves walking on uneven surfaces and marble. Even when it’s not wet, marble is somewhat slippery. Wear shoes that have good gripping souls. I witnessed a few people falling.
Skip the High-Pressure Carpet Sales Presentation
Many tours to Ephesus end by dropping you off inside a Turkish rug “factory” for a tour. It’s not really a tour, it’s a high-pressure sales pitch. The rugs are beautiful, but they are EXPENSIVE. Some of them cost tens of thousands of dollars. If you have no interest in buying one, just walk back to the ship across from the “factory.” This sales pitch as well as some aggressive vendors near the port was our least favorite part about visiting Kusadasi.
Final Thoughts
I love visiting old ruins. I’m always amazed at how well some things held up (like the mosaic floors and the marble streets). I’m so glad we got to see Ephesus on our cruise.
Is Ephesus on your list to visit?
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
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My spouse and I visited here in November during 2020 Covid. There was less than 20 people in the entirety of the ruins. We lucked out. During our 3 weeks in Turkey, by far, our favorite place we stayed was nearby in Selcuk, at Ayasoluk Butik Otel. Phenomenal hospitality, meals were extraordinary, beautiful rooms, quiet area, staff people treated us like family. We walked to Ephesus from there, a pleasant 1/2 hour walk on a special path the local town created.
Thanks for the tips! we’ll be stopping there next November and I cant wait! Hopefully it wont be as hot or crowded then.
@Sara Yes, hopefully good weather and low crowds for you!
Been there 20 years ago, in May – there were no crowds and weather was favorable. I liked the Hellenic city remains, and our guide Showed us ruins across the library of a brothel (House of Pleasure) and baths – apparently back in that time people enjoyed both bodily and intellectual pleasures side by side. The port itself, as I remember, wasn’t much of interest (as most ports are).
@Aleks Glad you didn’t have crowds when you visited!