Shore Excursions

A day in port goes fast. Our private shore excursions make the most of it: a licensed guide and a driver wait for you at the cruise terminal, show you what you most want to see and bring you back to the ship with time to spare. Unlike a ship tour, the group is only yours, the pace is yours and the plan follows your ship’s timetable to the minute.

Shore Excursions in Istanbul

In Istanbul, cruise ships dock at Galataport in Karaköy, on the European shore of the Bosphorus near the mouth of the Golden Horn. The terminal itself is unusual: passengers pass through a large hall under the quay, and when no ship is in port, the waterfront above stays open as a public promenade. Still comparing? Read shore excursion or ship tour. Our Istanbul shore excursion starts at the port.

From the terminal exit, the old city is close. By car, Sultanahmet is often 15 minutes away. So in one day you can see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace, then walk through the Grand Bazaar and finish with a Bosphorus cruise back toward the ship.

Plan around the closing days

Istanbul’s sights do not all open every day, and a cruise day cannot move. Topkapı Palace closes on Tuesdays, Dolmabahçe Palace on Mondays, and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays. The great mosques close to visitors during prayers, and on Fridays around midday for longer. For the famous ones and how to visit them, see mosques in Turkey. When you send us your ship’s date, we build the day around these rules, so you never stand in front of a closed door.

If you have been to Istanbul before

On a second visit, we suggest something different. For example, walk the colorful streets of Balat and the Golden Horn, or take the ferry to the Asian side for Kadıköy‘s food market. And when the ship stays overnight, an evening in Karaköy, right next to the terminal, is easy to arrange.

Shore Excursions from Kuşadası to Ephesus

On the Aegean coast, cruise ships call at Kuşadası, the gateway to Ephesus. The ancient city lies about 19 kilometers (12 miles) from the pier, so the drive takes about 20 minutes. Our Ephesus shore excursion starts at the pier.

With a private guide, you reach the ancient city early and walk its marble streets in the cool of the morning. We often enter at the upper gate and walk downhill to the Library of Celsus, so you never climb back up in the heat. Then add the House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John in Selçuk, or the village of Şirince. See also our guide in Ephesus.

Other Turkish Ports

We also arrange shore excursions in other ports on request. From İzmir, Ephesus is a longer drive, but the city’s own bazaar and seafront fill a day well; read our İzmir cruise stop guide. From Bodrum, the castle and the Mausoleum are close to the port, and our Bodrum shore excursion takes in both. For Troy and Gallipoli, read our Çanakkale cruise stop guide, and for Kaleiçi and Aspendos, our Antalya cruise stop guide.

How Our Shore Excursions Work

First, send us your ship, the port, and the arrival and departure times. Then we suggest a plan that fits the hours you have. On the day, your guide meets you at the terminal exit with a sign. Finally, we bring you back to the port well before “all aboard”, because missing the ship is never an option.

To plan by port, read our Turkey cruise ports 2027. For the same idea at the airport, see our layover services. Most cruise ships in Istanbul dock at Galataport, and we meet you at the terminal exit.