Celebrity Xcel calls at Kuşadası from June to September 2027, 08:00 to 18:00. Hills first or Ephesus first on a hot day: two orders compared.
Celebrity Xcel is in Kuşadası four times in the port schedule we follow, once a month from June to September 2027, every call from 08:00 to 18:00. Those are the hottest months of the year here, so the order of your stops matters more than usual. There are two sensible ways to start, and they suit different people.
Option 1: Ephesus first
In the taxi at about 08:30 and at the Ephesus upper gate around 09:00, before the heat builds and before most groups. The walk to the lower gate takes about two to two and a half hours on open marble. After that you are done with the hardest part, and the rest of the day can be shaded and slow: the House of the Virgin Mary in the hills, the Temple of Artemis, and lunch in Şirince.
Best for: people who want the big site at its quietest and do not mind an early start.
Option 2: the hills first
Start at the House of the Virgin Mary, higher up and often a little cooler in the morning air, and drive about 15 minutes down to the Ephesus upper gate. The walk then runs mostly downhill to the lower gate, with no backtracking at all. The trade-off: you walk Ephesus later in the morning, when it is warmer and busier.
Best for: a smoother route with less driving, and anyone who wants to see the house before the queues.
Either way: water, shade and a hat
Ephesus has very little shade. Carry plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen, and choose shoes with grip for the polished stone. In Şirince you can sit on a shaded terrace for lunch before the drive of about 35 to 40 minutes back to the port.
All four stops take about 7.5 to 8.5 hours port to port. With an 08:30 start and a 17:00 cut-off they fit, with lunch, but not with long breaks.
Celebrity Xcel calls
- Mar, Hun 29 · 08:00–18:00
- Mar, Hul 27 · 08:00–18:00
- Mar, Ago 24 · 08:00–18:00
- Lun, Set 20 · 08:00–18:00
Payment and extras
You pay the driver 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 are added at an extra charge. If the all-aboard time printed on board is earlier than 17:00, use that. Our Celebrity Xcel page covers the port pickup.