Best of Ephesus Private Tour For Cruise Travelers

Alper showed us an amazing time in Ephesus. We highly recommend the tour. We got to see the best spots and Alper history of everything was wonderful. He picked an amazing lunch spot and I may or may not have left with a magic carpet. Highly recommend. Traveled with family of 4, kids 12 and 10

My wife rated this as a 4/5 and I rated it as a 3/5, but I am grumpier than she is. The van that we were picked up in was nice and our tour guide, Ali, was on time. We headed from the port, which is flanked by stores selling fake Rolexes and Louis Vuitton bags, straight to Ephesus. Before we were five minutes into the ride, we had to be very firm with our guide that we were absolutely not interested in going to see rugs being made or to a pottery shop. They essentially bring you to these places to hard sell you into buying rugs or pottery. No thanks. The ruins at Ephesus were cool and Ali knew a lot of the history of the ancient city. Make sure to wear sunscreen because there is very little shade. It was very crowded. Also make sure to note that admission to the ruins and terrace houses is not included in your tour fee. Entrance was 40 euros per person and another 15 per person for the terrace houses. When we finished at Ephesus, we went to the Basilica of St. John and there was another nominal admission fee. We spent about 30 minutes and headed back toward the port. Ali seemed annoyed that we didn’t want to have lunch at his suggested restaurant, where I’m sure he earns a commission. All in all, the tour part of it was good. Just be prepared to be enticed to do things like buy rugs, pottery, or eat at their (not your) preferred restaurant. Telling us that he was taking us to see rug making five minutes into the tour turned me off, and that is the reason for the kind of harsh review. I wouldn’t do it again, period.

Nora was absolutely wonderful! Super knowledgeable and so pleasant! She made our whole tour! She went along with our schedule and prioritized what was important to us. Loved it!

We weren't sure what to expect when we booked this private tour (our first time trying one). Wow were we pleasantly surprised at just how great it would be! Feliz and her driver picked us up at the cruise ship port in a comfortable Mercedes air-conditioned van and drove us on a well-planned route to see the Virgin Mary House, followed by Ephesus, and finally the temple of Artemis. Feliz's expertise was obvious right away as she timed our itinerary to avoid the largest crowds. She gave us a very informative tour of each location - paced perfectly to our desires (not too fast, not too slow). She told us a lot of interesting things about each site and answered all of our questions. And, because she lives in the area, she also talked about what life is like in this part of the country which was a huge bonus over the normal large, canned tours. After all our site visits were complete, we ended our tour at a wonderful local restaurant where Feliz helped us select authentic local Turkish food that was delicious across the board. What a day! We highly recommend the private tour option . And ask for Feliz - she is absolutely wonderful.

Murat was our guide and he was excellent! Very knowledgeable and speaks very good English. We really enjoyed our day with him. I recommend the tour ESPECIALLY if Murat is your tour guide.

The trip to Pumakkal and Ephesus was memorable experience thanks to our tour guide Çetin Dogan, he was knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant.

We loved every minute of it. Our tour guide, Neslihan was very knowledgeable of the history and she was very patient with us. My husband is 81 years old and I’m 77 with bilateral knee replacement.

Neslihan was very knowledgeable of the history and the places in Kusidasi.

Our private tour of Ephesus with Murat was truly one of the best experiences my mother and I have ever had. From the moment we began, Murat was incredibly knowledgeable, guiding us through each part of Ephesus with detailed and engaging commentary that brought the history to life. He made sure we didn’t miss a single highlight, while also taking the time to explain the significance of every stop along the way. What made the experience even more special was Murat’s thoughtfulness and attention to detail. He went above and beyond by capturing the most beautiful photos of my mother and me, knowing exactly where to stand for the best angles and views. Those moments are now memories we’ll cherish forever. If you’re visiting Ephesus, I highly recommend booking a tour with Murat. His expertise, professionalism, and genuine care made this an unforgettable experience.

We did our tour with Melis, and had an amazing day. She was kind and thoughtful and really helped my dad who had some mobility and medical challenges. It was perfect for us to move at his pace. Meeting and chatting with her was like speaking with a friend. I learned so much about the people and country that I wouldn't otherwise had learned. The meal was amazing, and included a bunch of items I might not have tried without the choices being made for us. Thank you Melis!!!!