Explora II calls at Kuşadası from April to September 2027, staying until 19:00 or 21:00. A yellow taxi plan with Şirince late in the day.
Explora II, of Explora Journeys, appears seven times in the Kuşadası port schedule we follow, from April to September 2027; the port data lists it as "MSC Explora 2". Most calls run from 09:00 to 19:00, and three stay until 21:00, one of them arriving at 08:00. A late departure changes the shape of the day: you do not have to rush back after lunch, and the village of Şirince can come at the end, when the light softens.
The late-afternoon plan
Start with the hard work while it is cooler. From a 09:00 arrival you are in the taxi at about 09:30:
- About 10:00 to 12:15: Ephesus, dropped at the upper gate and collected at the lower gate after the walk down Curetes Street.
- About 12:30: the House of the Virgin Mary in the hills above, 30 to 45 minutes.
- About 13:45: the Temple of Artemis at the edge of Selçuk, a short stop, then a late lunch in Selçuk or a break.
- About 15:30 to 17:00: Şirince, when the day-trip crowds start to leave.
- About 17:40: back at the port.
On a 19:00 departure you need to be back by 18:00, so this plan leaves a margin. On the 21:00 calls you can stay longer in Şirince, eat there, and still be back by 20:00.
Dinner timing on the 21:00 calls
With a cut-off of 20:00, an early dinner in Şirince is possible: leave the village by about 19:15 for the roughly 35 to 40 minute drive to the port. Say at the port exit that you want to eat there, so the driver can plan the return. Opening hours of the sites change by season; check them, as you may reach Ephesus in the middle of the day.
Explora II calls
- Fri, Apr 9 · 09:00–19:00
- Sat, May 15 · 09:00–21:00
- Wed, Jun 9 · 09:00–19:00
- Wed, Jun 30 · 09:00–19:00
- Wed, Jul 21 · 09:00–19:00
- Wed, Aug 11 · 08:00–21:00
- Sat, Sep 11 · 09:00–21:00
Booking and payment
The driver is paid in cash; there is no card in the taxi. Entrance fees, food and drinks are not included. The basic ride is the port to Ephesus and back; the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Şirince cost extra, and a longer evening stay is worth mentioning when you book. Our Explora II page covers the port pickup.