Turkey day trip from Samos: Kusadasi and Ephesus

Boat across the Aegean to walk through two thousand years of trade and empire

A day trip from Samos to Kusadasi and Ancient Ephesus by ferry and bus, departing Pythagorio at 8am and returning at 6:30pm. The boat takes ninety minutes each way across eighteen nautical miles. You spend the middle of the day exploring Kusadasi's bazaar and the excavated streets, houses, stadiums and theatres of Ephesus on an optional guided excursion. An English-speaking guide meets you in Turkey. Boat and bus transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Kusadasi and Ancient Ephesus

• Depart from Pythagorio at 8:00
• Arrive at Kusadasi port at 9:30
• Explore Kusadasi bazaar
• Optional trip to Ancient Ephesus
• Return to Kusadasi for free time at 15:00
• Depart Kusadasi at 17:00
• Arrive at Pythagorio at 18:30

The experience

The boat leaves Pythagorio port at 8am sharp (you need to arrive thirty minutes early for passport control), and crosses the Aegean in ninety minutes. Kusadasi sits at the mouth of a bay on Turkey's Aegean coast, a working port town named for the small island at its entrance. The bazaar fills the old quarter near the waterfront, a maze of stalls selling spices, textiles, leather and souvenirs that draws Turkish and international traders year-round. You have free time to walk it alone or with other passengers, or to sit in a café and watch the port traffic.

From Kusadasi, an optional excursion takes you by bus inland to Ephesus, one of the largest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. The excavations stretch across a hillside: the marble-paved streets where merchants and philosophers walked, the Library of Celsus with its columned facade still standing, the Grand Theatre carved into the slope, the houses of wealthy residents with their mosaics and frescoes still visible. A guide walks you through the site and explains what you are looking at. You return to Kusadasi by 3pm, leaving five hours of free time before the boat departs at 5pm for the return crossing.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your visit. You can arrange a Turkish visa online beforehand or apply for one on arrival. Bring your passport and any required travel documents to the port. The boat is the Venus, a small passenger ferry. The crossing is open-air on deck or sheltered below. Children from age three are welcome, though infants must sit on an adult's lap. You should be in moderate physical condition for the walking at Ephesus and the uneven terrain of the excavations.

What’s included

• Boat transport from Pythagorio to Kusadasi and back.
• bus transport from Kusadasi to Ephesus and return.
• English-speaking guide in Turkey.
• access to the Ephesus archaeological site on the optional excursion.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 9 May 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 13

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cretan Holidays

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to visit both Ephesus's excavations and Kusadasi's bazaar in one day from Samos, and you're willing to spend a full day away from the island.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I see at Ephesus?

Ephesus is an open-air archaeological site where you walk through the streets of an ancient city: the Library of Celsus with its two-storey columned front still standing, the Grand Theatre built into the hillside, the houses of wealthy residents with mosaics and frescoes, and the paved streets where residents and merchants moved daily. A guide explains the layout and the history as you walk.

How much time do I actually spend in Kusadasi?

You arrive at 9:30am and depart at 5pm, giving you seven and a half hours in the town. After the optional Ephesus trip returns at 3pm, you have five hours of free time to explore the bazaar, eat, or rest before boarding the return ferry.

Do I need a visa to enter Turkey for this day trip?

Most nationalities can arrange a Turkish e-visa online before travel, or apply for a visa on arrival at the port. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your visit. Check the Turkish government's e-visa website for your nationality before you book.

What's included in the price and what do I pay for separately?

The boat crossing both ways, bus transport to and from Ephesus, and an English-speaking guide are included. Food, drinks, gratuities, and the optional Ephesus excursion itself are not included in the base price. You arrange and pay for those separately once you arrive in Turkey.

How long is the boat crossing and what is it like?

Each crossing takes ninety minutes. The Venus is a small passenger ferry with deck and cabin seating. The Aegean crossing is generally calm in summer, though the boat can rock in rougher conditions. You travel with other passengers booked on the same departure.