Explorer of the Seas: Are the Terrace Houses Worth It?

Explorer of the Seas calls at Kuşadası from June to October 2027, 08:00-18:00 or 09:00-19:00. Whether to add the Terrace Houses to your Ephesus taxi day.

Explorer of the Seas comes to Kuşadası six times in the port schedule we follow, from June to early October 2027, mostly on Saturdays. Four calls run 08:00 to 18:00 and two run 09:00 to 19:00. Ten hours gives you time to see Ephesus properly, and that raises a question most short-call visitors never face: should you buy the extra ticket for the Terrace Houses?

What the Terrace Houses are

Beside Curetes Street, in the middle of Ephesus, a hillside of Roman houses has been excavated and covered with a roof. Walkways take you through the homes of wealthy families, rather than the public monuments you see elsewhere on the site. They need a separate ticket, bought at the site on top of the main entrance.

Worth it if...

• you have already seen photos of the Library of Celsus and want something less familiar
• you enjoy daily life more than grand buildings
• you want a break from the sun; it is one of the few covered places in Ephesus
• your call is long enough that it does not push out another stop

Skip it if...

• you want all four classic stops and a relaxed lunch
• anyone in your group finds stairs and walkways tiring
• the budget for entrance fees is already stretched

Fitting it into a ten-hour day

Allow roughly an extra hour inside Ephesus. On an 08:00 to 18:00 call, a good shape is:

• About 08:30: in the taxi
• About 09:00 to 12:15: Ephesus with the Terrace Houses, upper gate to lower gate
• About 12:30: the Temple of Artemis
• About 13:00: lunch in Selçuk or Şirince
• About 15:30 to 16:00: back at the port, before the 17:00 cut-off

On the 09:00 to 19:00 calls, shift it by an hour; the House of the Virgin Mary can join if you keep lunch short.

Explorer of the Seas calls

Booking notes

The driver is paid in cash; there is no card in the taxi. Entrance fees, including the Terrace Houses ticket, and food and drinks are not included. The basic ride is the port to Ephesus and back; the Temple of Artemis, the House of the Virgin Mary and Şirince cost extra. Our Explorer of the Seas page covers the port pickup.