Hi,<BR> I'm going to be in Kusadasi for one day on a cruises ship. I would like to go to Ephesus on my own rather than with the ship's tour. Does anyone know if I can take the bus from the pier and how long it would take? When I get to Ephesus, how much should I pay for a tour guide? Should I barter or is it a flat rate? Any info would be most helpful. Thank you

Topping for Elizabeth. <BR><BR>Anyone out there who can help her?

Elizabeth, Ephesus is crawling with tourists and Turkey is swarming with people ready to serve or fleece them. I'm sure you can find somebody to take you to Ephesus but you would probably be better off taking the shore tour provided by your cruise ship. At least you be sure to be back on board for sailing to your next port.

Elizabeth,<BR><BR>I agree in that you should just take the shore excursion. We were in Ephesus, also on a cruise, and just for a day. I don't know what cruise you're on (we were on Royal Olympic), but our guide was very well informed (she did not work for Royal Olympic, but rather a local tour company).<BR><BR>For the hours that you will be there, it really is better to save yourself the hassle and just go with the shore excursion. Plus, it was also nice to have other people to admire the great ruins with, from the tour. Have a great time!

Elizabeth, we took a shore excursion to Ephesus and really enjoyed it. We normally don't do shore excursion but it made sense at the time due to the limited time we had in port.<BR><BR>Now that I've been to Turkey a couple of times I would probably try to do what you are doing. The tourism industry is really hurting in that port due to all the cruises that cancelled this year. I imagine you could easily find someone in port to take you for a fraction of the ship tours.<BR><BR>Definitely get a guide, it will be worth it for the explanation of the site.<BR><BR>You might try posting on a cruise website such as cruisecritic and see if anyone has tried it solo. Or maybe on Lonely Planet.

I think it depends on how much time they are allowing you once you get to Kusadasi. We arrived on the Samos ferry and rented a car when we arrived in Kusadasi and drove there ourselves. I don't remember how long it took us to get there since we stopped at a couple other minor ruin sites on the way. I would guess over an hour to Kusadasi if you don't stop along the way, but I really can't remember. We rented the car on the main drag that was close to the piers. So, time and money is probably the issue. I think those escorted tours are pretty expensive per person but you will be back in time if the ship is leaving that day. <BR><BR>Hope you enjoy it at any rate. It was something that I will always remember, just amazing.

If you can start at the top (south) and walk down, the sun will also be at your back. much easier walk. Kusadasi to Selcuk is only about 20km and Selcuk to Ephesus is only 3km.

I agree with Gary. Its not long distance from Kusadas&yacute; to Selcuk-Ephesus<BR><BR>20 Min. By car / Taxi<BR>I would suggest you to visit the Selcuk Museum first than to Ephesus. There are official guides available t the gate of Ephesus.<BR><BR>Have a nice time in Turkey <BR>

Thank you all so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

I remembered that Ephesus was only 15 kilometres from Kusadasi, but I believe Gary is right, because he knows the exact kilometres. You can take a taxi from the pier, and negotiate the price with him so that he will wait for you at the gate.<BR><BR>There are always eager, multi-lingual guides waiting for tourists. Take one, and you will have a private tour around the place, and the guide is there just for you.

Elizabeth,<BR><BR>Get a taxi and go to Top entrance of Ephesus there are many tour guides at the entrance. But you may have timing problem with cruise, because the cruise which going to KUSADASi stay there only 4 or 5 hours. The tour company take tourist to Ephesus or other places in this time limits, If you take a tour guide at the gate you have t o tell them you have time limit because they are excellent guide so taking tour with them takes (sometime)more then 3 hours. this is only Ephesus<BR>Have a nice trip <BR>ABC

We were on a Princess cruise a couple of yrs. ago and opted for the shore excursion to Ephesus. Although we RARELY take tours w/ a group, in this case it was much easier to do so. No bartering on prices for taxi, tour, taxi back, etc. All a waste of time - for what? MAYBE to save a couple of $'s. I'm not so sure I would want to be trying to find a taxi back to the ship when other daytrippers (and not ones necessarily from the ship) are trying to do so also. If you miss the ship, where will you have to find your own transportation to? Istanbul wouldn't be that bad, but if it's Venice that's another story.

Elizabeth-our family went to Turkey last spring break on our own. We spent two nights in Selcuk(Hittel Hotel-very nice) and drove over to Ephesus for the day. We started at the top of the ruins and hired a local guide for about $40.00 US (he had been an english prof at a local college).It seemed to be the going rate for all of the guides up to 6 people in your group.The man was very knowledgeble but somewhat long winded.I must admit that having a guide is the ONLY way one should do Ephesus.I do agree that I would take the ship's tour with their guide as time might be the determining factor.Take the earliest morning tour as the sun is really hot(no matter what time of the year) and the crowds are less? Kusadasi around the ship's pier seemed very tacky(prices higher than in Istanbul) and definitely geared to people who weren't going to stray far from the ship area.We did have a marvelous lunch on the water in the main town area with a view to kill for.If you are a calamari lover-this is the place!!!We loved Turkey and the wonderful people we met. My two teenagers thought that it was one of our best family vacations!Have fun-Debbie