Port-day guide Plan by month
Kusadasi Cruise Port in May
May is when the cruise season really starts in Kusadasi: warm, sunny days, very little rain, and a port that has a ship alongside on most days of the month.
The short answer
Kusadasi in May is warm and mostly dry. Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) normals for Aydin province give a 28.3°C (83°F) average high, a 14.3°C (58°F) low and about 6 rainy days. Our port schedule lists 59 calls for May 2027, more than twice April's 25, with a ship in port on 27 of the 31 days. Start early, carry water and wear a hat.
- Average high / low
- 28.3°C (83°F) / 14.3°C (58°F)
- Rainy days
- about 6 in the month, around 36 mm of rain
- Sunshine
- about 7.8 hours a day on average
- Ship calls, May 2027
- 59 listed so far (25 in April, 63 in June), up to four ships a day
Is May a good month to visit Ephesus from a cruise ship?
Yes, May is one of the best months for Ephesus: the days are warm and bright, rain is rare, and the real heat of summer is still a few weeks away. A morning walk down the marble streets from the Upper Gate is pleasant, and the white stone glows in the clear spring light.
The two things to plan around are the midday sun and the number of ships. May is the month the port gets busy, so the timing of your visit matters more than it did in April. Our month-by-month weather guide shows how May sits between a mild April and a hot June, and our April page covers the quieter month before it.
What is the weather like in Kusadasi in May?
The weather in Kusadasi in May is warm and sunny: the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) gives Aydin province an average high of 28.3°C (83°F), an average low of 14.3°C (58°F) and a monthly mean of 20.9°C (70°F). Mornings off the ship are comfortable, and by midday the open site feels properly warm.
Rain is no longer much of a factor. The MGM table gives about 6 rainy days and around 36 mm of rain in May, down from about 8 days in April, and sunshine climbs to about 7.8 hours a day. The month also warms up as it goes: early May still feels like late spring, while the last week can feel close to summer, with June highs averaging 33.5°C (92°F).
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 May?
Busy, and getting busier through the month. The Kusadasi cruise port schedule lists 59 calls for May 2027 so far, against 25 in April and 63 in June. There is a ship in port on 27 of May's 31 days. Most days have one to three ships; the two busiest days on our list, May 15 and May 19, have four each.
Celestyal makes the most May calls, 13 of the 59, with Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey. Viking and Royal Caribbean have six calls each, Windstar and Celebrity five each, MSC four and Princess three, and more than a dozen other lines call once or twice. Our cruise line pages have notes for each line. Schedules can change and calls can still be added, so your cruise line's own program always wins.
How do you avoid the crowds at Ephesus in May?
Start early and keep the plan simple. On a day with three or four ships, the groups arrive at Ephesus at much the same time, and Curetes Street and the Library of Celsus fill first, because almost every tour walks down the same way. Being off the ship and on the road early gives you the quietest hour of the day on the marble street.
A private tour also lets you change the order of the day. On a busy morning your guide can spend longer at the quieter stops and time the library for a gap between groups, or take you to Selcuk first and reach Ephesus a little later. Our page on busy port days and Ephesus crowds explains how we plan around it.
What should I wear for Ephesus in May?
Dress for a warm day in the sun: light, breathable clothes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. A thin layer for the morning is enough; a rain jacket is rarely needed in May. Comfortable closed shoes with a good grip still matter, because the old marble paving is uneven and polished smooth in places.
Ephesus has very little shade, so carry a bottle of water and drink before you feel thirsty. The Terrace Houses, under their large protective roof, are the one shaded stop on the walk. At the House of the Virgin Mary, shoulders should stay covered, which a light scarf or shirt takes care of. Our what to wear to Ephesus guide goes through it item by item.
Are the sites open on May public holidays?
Yes. May has two national public holidays in Turkey: May 1, Labor and Solidarity Day, and May 19, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. The ancient sites normally stay open on national holidays, and on May 19 you will see flags across the towns. That day also happens to be one of the four-ship days on our 2027 list, so it pays to start early.
Opening times for Turkish state museums and sites are published on muze.gov.tr, and those are the ones to check for your date. 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 May 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, with you back at the port at least 45 minutes before all-aboard. 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. On a hot afternoon, a shorter walk with a cool stop indoors, such as the Ephesus Museum in Selcuk, can be a better plan than a longer one.
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. If you already know your date, write early: use the inquiry form, and we reply within 24 hours, usually the same day.
Questions cruise guests ask us
Is Kusadasi warm in May?
Yes. MGM normals for Aydin province give an average high of 28.3°C (83°F) and an average low of 14.3°C (58°F) in May, so the days are warm and sunny and the mornings are pleasant.
Is Kusadasi hot in May?
Warm rather than hot for most of the month. May highs average 28.3°C (83°F) in the MGM table, against 33.5°C (92°F) in June. The open marble of Ephesus feels hotter at midday, so an early start, water and a hat help.
Does it rain in Kusadasi in May?
Not often. The MGM table gives about 6 rainy days and around 36 mm of rain in May, and sunshine averages about 7.8 hours a day.
Is Ephesus busy in May?
Yes, May is the start of the busy season. Our port schedule lists 59 calls for May 2027, with a ship in port on 27 of the 31 days and up to four ships on the busiest days, so an early start makes a real difference.
Which cruise lines call at Kusadasi in May?
Celestyal makes the most May calls on our 2027 list, 13 of the 59, followed by Viking and Royal Caribbean with six each, Windstar and Celebrity with five each, MSC with four and Princess with three. More than a dozen other lines call once or twice.
Read next
Port-day guide
Port-day guide
Port-day guide
Port-day notes
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