Port-day guide Plan by month
Kusadasi Cruise Port in December
December is winter in Kusadasi, but a gentle Aegean winter: cool days, a real chance of rain, very few ships and an Ephesus that, on a dry morning, can feel almost like your own.
The short answer
Kusadasi is cool, not warm, in December. Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) normals for Aydin province give a 14.6°C (58°F) average high, a 5.9°C (43°F) low and about 13 rainy days, the wettest month of the year. Our port schedule lists only 18 calls for December 2026, never more than two ships a day, so the sites are calm. Bring a warm layer and a waterproof jacket.
- Average high / low
- 14.6°C (58°F) / 5.9°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- about 13 in the month, the wettest of the year
- Sunshine
- about 3.5 hours a day on average
- Ship calls, December 2026
- 18 listed (30 in November), at most two ships a day
Is December a good month to visit Ephesus from a cruise ship?
Yes, if you dress for it: December gives you Ephesus in one of its calmest months, with very few ships in port and no summer heat at all. Walking the marble street from the Upper Gate down to the Library of Celsus without a crowd around you is the real gift of a winter call.
The price is weather. December is cool and often wet, and a gray, rainy day is more likely now than in any other month of the year. With a warm layer and a good rain jacket, it is still a lovely visit, and on a bright winter morning the light on the white stone is wonderful. Our month-by-month weather guide shows how December compares with the main season.
What is the weather like in Kusadasi in December?
December in Kusadasi is cool and damp: the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) gives Aydin province an average high of 14.6°C (58°F), an average low of 5.9°C (43°F) and a monthly mean of 9.6°C (49°F). A sunny midday can feel pleasant on the open site, but mornings and late afternoons are chilly.
This is the rainiest month of the year in the MGM table: about 13 rainy days and around 126 mm of rain on average. Sunshine drops to about 3.5 hours a day, the lowest of the year, and dusk comes early. None of this closes Ephesus; it simply means you plan for both sun and rain.
Planning the day? Match a tour to your hours ashore
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Time in port: Under 5 hours ashore
The Open-Air Circle
No tickets and almost no walking: Artemis, Selcuk and a drive past the ruins.
Tour length: 3-4 hours
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Time in port: 5 to 8 hours
Just Ephesus
Ephesus from the Upper Gate down to the Lower Gate, and back with time to spare.
Tour length: 3-3.5 hours
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Time in port: 8 to 9 hours
Marble, Mosaics and Artemis
All of Ephesus, the Terrace Houses and the Temple of Artemis.
Tour length: 5.5-6.5 hours
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Time in port: 9 hours or more
The Road of Paul and John
Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, St. John and Artemis.
Tour length: 6-7 hours
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Time in port: Late arrival, tender or tight call
All-Aboard Ephesus
We plan backward from all-aboard and fit in only what fits.
Tour length: Fits your call
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Time in port: You have your own list
Your Ship, Your Day
Tell us your ship and your wishes; we build the day around both.
Tour length: Fits your call
Every tour is private and priced from €33 per person for groups of 8 or more; smaller groups get a private quote. Any group size: 1 to 52 people per coach, and more coaches for larger groups. Entrance tickets are extra, at the official price.
How busy is Kusadasi cruise port in December?
December is one of the quietest months of the year at the port; on our list, only February 2027 has fewer calls. The Kusadasi cruise port schedule shows 18 calls for December 2026, against 30 in November, and no day has more than two ships in port. Many December days have no cruise ship at all.
Viking makes most of the December calls, 13 of the 18, with ships such as Viking Neptune, Viking Vesta and Viking Mira; the ship Aroya makes the other five. Viking Neptune is listed on December 25 and again on December 31. Schedules can change at short notice, so your cruise line's own program always wins. If you sail with Viking, our Viking page has notes for that line.
What should I wear for Ephesus in December?
Dress as you would for a cool, wet spring day at home: a warm sweater or fleece, a waterproof jacket with a hood, long trousers and closed shoes with a good grip. Ephesus is open to the wind and has almost no shelter, so a hood beats an umbrella, and a light scarf or hat helps on a breezy morning.
Grip matters most of all this month, because the ancient marble paving is slippery when wet. A small bag for the layers you take off at midday is useful. At the House of the Virgin Mary, shoulders should stay covered, which winter clothes take care of. Our what to wear to Ephesus guide goes through it item by item.
What if it rains on my December port day?
Rain changes the order of the day, not the day itself. Ephesus stays open in the rain; we slow down on the wet marble, wait out a heavy spell under the nearest arch, and walk on when it eases.
December is the month to keep a roof in the plan. The Terrace Houses sit under a large protective canopy, and the Ephesus Museum in Selcuk is fully indoors, so either one makes a good answer to a wet hour. A warm, sit-down lunch is also a pleasure on a cold day; lunch is optional on our tours, and our lunch on a port day page explains the choices. On a private tour your guide can reshuffle the stops on the spot, which is why many winter guests choose a custom shore excursion.
Are the sites open at Christmas and New Year's Eve?
Yes, December 25 and December 31 are normal working days in Turkey, so Ephesus and the museums keep their usual winter schedule. Turkish state museums and sites run shorter winter opening hours, and the official times on muze.gov.tr are the ones to check for your date.
Because daylight is short in December, we start a winter tour as soon as you step off the ship and keep the outdoor sites for the brightest part of the day. Entrance tickets are never included in our tour price; we buy skip-the-line tickets in advance and you pay the official price, as our Ephesus entrance fees page explains.
How do I plan a December port day with Info Ephesus?
Send us your ship, your date and your all-aboard time, and we plan the day backward from that time. Our how long in Ephesus guide shows what fits into each length of call, and the All-Aboard Ephesus tour is built around the ship's clock.
We meet you right outside the cruise terminal exit at Kusadasi port; once you are out, it takes about a minute to meet your guide. When you are ready, use the inquiry form, and we reply within 24 hours, usually the same day.
Questions cruise guests ask us
Is Kusadasi warm in December?
Not warm, but mild for winter. MGM normals for Aydin province give an average high of 14.6°C (58°F) and an average low of 5.9°C (43°F) in December, so bring a warm layer and a jacket.
Does it rain a lot in Kusadasi in December?
Yes, December is the wettest month of the year in the MGM table, with about 13 rainy days and around 126 mm of rain on average. A hooded waterproof jacket and shoes with grip are the two things to pack.
Do cruise ships call at Kusadasi in December?
Yes, but only a few. Our port schedule lists 18 calls for December 2026, mostly by Viking, with never more than two ships in port on the same day.
Is Ephesus crowded in December?
Almost never. With so few ships in port, December is one of the calmest months of the year at Ephesus and in the Terrace Houses.
Is Ephesus open on Christmas Day?
Yes. December 25 is a normal working day in Turkey, so Ephesus keeps its usual winter hours. Check the official times on muze.gov.tr for your date.
Read next
Port-day guide
Port-day guide
Port-day guide
Port-day notes
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