PRIVATE & GROUP: Ephesus & Virgin Mary Tour ENTRY FEES & LUNCH
Description
BEST-SELLING EPHESUS TOUR WITH A LOCAL EXPERT GUIDE! Tour Highlights: Ephesus Ruins – Walk in the footsteps of Mother Mary as you explore ancient streets. Marvel at iconic landmarks like: The Great Theater Celsus Library Trajan Fountain Odeon Temple Terrace Houses (where the wealthiest Ephesians lived) House of the Virgin Mary – Visit the sacred place where Mary spent her final days. Capture stunning photos from the best vantage points! Learn the rich history of early Christians and Romans from your expert guide. Choose Your Experience: Small Group Tour – A more intimate experience with up to 10 people. Private Tour – A fully personalized tour tailored just for you. Book now for an unforgettable journey through history!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Based on the pick-up time we will coordinate with your ship's arrival, meet your guide at the Kusadasi Cruise Port to begin your journey to the first stop on the itinerary.
The House of the Virgin Mary, located 6 km north of the ruins of Ephesus, is believed to be the place where Mary spent her final days. A church was built here in the 6th century AD on the foundations of a 1st-century house, and it has been recognized by the Church as her last residence.
The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was renowned for its grand scale and sacred significance. Dedicated to the goddess Artemis, the temple made Ephesus a major pilgrimage center in antiquity. It featured 127 Ionic columns, each standing 19 meters tall. Remarkably, the temple also functioned as one of the earliest known banks in the ancient world.
Ephesus Ancient City is an archaeological treasure and the best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. In the 1st century AD, it was the second-largest city in the world after Rome, with a population exceeding 250,000. Strategically located at the heart of the ancient world, Ephesus served as a major gateway between East and West, thanks to its vast harbor and thriving trade. More than just a commercial hub, Ephesus was also steeped in romance—it was famously the honeymoon destination of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. The city is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the magnificent Temple of Artemis. Today, Ephesus remains so well preserved that a walk through its ancient streets feels like stepping back in time. Visitors can marvel at grand monuments like the Library of Celsus, the third-largest library of the ancient world, and the Great Theatre—the largest Roman theatre in Asia Minor. Exploring Ephesus is truly a journey through history.
After the tour concludes, we head back to Kusadasi Port for your departure.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
EXPLORE ICONIC HISTORICAL SITES WITH A LOCAL EXPERT! Discover the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus Ruins, and the Temple of Artemis on a guided tour designed exclusively for cruise guests from/to Kusadasi Port. ⚓ Ephesus Tour Information – Group & Private Options Available ◉ Tour Options: Choose between Group or Private tours, with flexible options that include or exclude entry tickets. ✅ Entry Tickets Included Option Pre-pay for your entry tickets at the time of booking with the "Entry Tickets Included" option. ✔ Skip the ticket lines – your guide will have your tickets ready. ✔ Enjoy a seamless experience without waiting at the entrance. ❗ Entry Tickets Excluded Option Prefer flexibility? Pay for your entrance fees on the day of the tour, either in cash or by credit card. ➤ Especially for Private Tours, you only pay for the sites you choose to visit. No obligation to pay for unused entries. ️ Lunch Included A delicious lunch will be served at a local Turkish restaurant, where you’ll enjoy authentic regional dishes. Group Tour Option Group size: Maximum 10–12 people Groups are formed with passengers from the same cruise ship Private Tour Option A personalized experience with your own dedicated tour guide Flexible itinerary: Stay longer at your favorite sites or add extra stops based on time availability Designed for Cruise Guests Pick-up & drop-off: Kusadasi Cruise Port only Tour start time is customized to match your ship’s arrival and departure We GUARANTEE your timely return to the port ⏳ FLEXIBLE TOUR TIMING FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS Book with confidence and enjoy a seamless tour experience! Stores to visit: Carpet Weaving Village Leather Factory
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children aged 8 and under enter free. Please bring passports for verification.
- We GUARANTEE your on-time return to the port
- We can accommodate dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.
- ✅INCLUDES ENTRANCE FEES OPTIONS: Enjoy the privilege of skipping the ticket lines.
- ❌EXCLUDE ENTRANCE FEES OPTIONS: y Especially in Private Tours, you’re not required to pay for sites you choose not to visit.
- House of the Virgin Mary Entrance Fee is 700 TRY. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
- Ephesus Entrance Fee is 40 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
Reviews(12)
The tour of the main historical sites was conducted in a spacious, air-conditioned vehicle. Berkay, our guide, was generous in his explanations, providing context about the history and influence of the civilizations that have succeeded one another in the region.
Merci d'avoir partagé votre expérience. Nous sommes ravis d'apprendre que vous avez apprécié votre voyage avec nous. Vos commentaires nous encouragent à toujours mieux vous servir. Au plaisir de vous revoir bientôt. Cordialement, The Tour Specialist
Enjoyed visiting Ancient Ephesus and the House of Saint Mary. Had a great lunch at a rug factory although our visit there was a bit too long.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, The Tour Specialist
Small group tour met our needs perfectly. Very informative and well organised. Our tour guide was lovely.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, The Tour Specialist
We started off a bit late since we booked the small tour group we had to wait for two guest coz they cannot follow instructions. Not the tour companies fault coz they gave us clear instructions where to find them. So regarding the tour itself. All i can say is for the price that we paid it was a very high quality tour. Out tour guide Yelis she was very Knowledgeable, Super nice and very considerate since we have a 11 month old baby with us. She always made sure that we are comfortable like being in the shade when she is explaining the area. And letting us know where the baby can feel more comfortable since it was really really hot that day. The food was amazing. It was a little taste of turkish food. Our bus had a little bit of a problem with air conditioning but they had a replacement bus right away so that was not a big trouble. All in all the tour was amazing and worth every penny spent. Thank you to our tour guide Yelis and put driver for doing an amazing Job!
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, The Tour Specialist
**This tour comes highly recommended and exceeded all our expectations.** Our driver was outstanding—extremely knowledgeable, kind, professional, and remarkably patient. We were captivated by the rich history of Türkiye, which he shared with such passion and depth. He was especially considerate and accommodating, ensuring our comfort throughout, even when one of our group members required a rolling walker on rocky and slippery terrain. His attentiveness to our needs and his dedication to providing a meaningful, personalized experience made this tour truly unforgettable. The lunch provided was exceptional, and we thoroughly enjoyed engaging in thoughtful conversations about the local culture. **If you're looking for an insightful, well-organized, and memorable experience, I cannot recommend this tour highly enough.**
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, The Tour Specialist
Our tour guide Cemal was fantastic. Good sense of humour and wonderful knowledge of all the sites we saw. Very personable.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, The Tour Specialist
We located our guide without difficulty, however it was very crowded & we didn’t know to look on the name board
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Kind Regards, The Tour Specialist
Erdem was very knowledgeable and speaks excellent English. We had a good time and learned a lot. The tour was a very good value too!
Dear Margie, Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour of Ephesus, Şirince, and the carpet village. Erdem will be thrilled to know that his knowledge and English skills made your experience even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your feedback and are so glad that you found the tour to be a great value. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure in the future! Best regards, The Tour Specialist
Incredible tour and guide. Pleasant, extremely knowledgeable about area and history. The sites are a must see and going with an expert guide is a must. Would highly recommend to family and friends.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for sharing your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tour and found our guide to be knowledgeable and pleasant. It’s our goal to provide enriching and memorable experiences, and we’re delighted that you found the historical sites a must-see. We truly appreciate your recommendation to family and friends—it means the world to us! Should you ever plan another visit, we’d love to welcome you again for more unforgettable moments. Best regards, The Tour Specialist Team
Our tour with Vedat was excellent! He is extremely kind and knowledgeable. He customized the tour to our preferences and gave us a wonderful education on the area. Highly recommended! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear that Vedat provided an excellent and personalized experience for you in Ephesus. It's wonderful to know that his kindness and knowledge made your day memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another great tour in the future!
