Izmir to Ephesus
Ephesus is 56 km from Izmir. Trains run from Basmane to Selçuk, but only every few hours, which is the constraint that matters on a port day.
- Trains on this line run roughly every four hours, not hourly. Getting there is easy; getting back on a schedule that suits your ship is the hard part, so check the return departure before you leave Selçuk.
Most ships also sell a coach excursion to Ephesus. However you travel, being back aboard before all-aboard is your own arrangement to make — we publish the journey, not your sailing. Your guide plays either way, and it is yours to keep.
Ephesus is 56 km from Izmir but only 20 km from Kusadasi, which is the port most ships use for it. From Izmir the journey is long enough that the return needs arranging before you set out, not after.
- 15–30 min Alsancak cruise berth to Basmane station, by taxi or the city metro.
- 80–95 min TCDD regional train Basmane to Selçuk, about 1h20 to 1h30.
- 10–20 min Selçuk to the Ephesus gate, a short dolmuş or taxi ride.
1.8–2.4 hours each way
Plan your return against your ship's all-aboard time, which is on your daily programme. It is earlier than the departure time, and if you are coming back by tender the last tender leaves earlier still.
Open live transit directions — times on the day, in your own maps app.
Checked 2026-09-15. Sources: turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Aegean/I..., selcukephesus.com/information/train....