Experience Ephesus and Mary's House on a seamless PRIVATE shore excursion crafted exclusively for CRUISE PASSENGERS. Travel in comfort with your personal local guide and private, air-conditioned minivan as you explore the UNESCO-listed Ancient City of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis—all at your own pace. Your guide will take care of every detail, from coordinating with your ship’s schedule to managing entrance tickets, rest breaks, and optional cultural or shopping stops. • Private excursion designed specifically for CRUISE PASSENGERS • Visit three essential landmarks in one day: Ephesus Ruins, House of the Virgin Mary, and Temple of Artemis • Fully flexible itinerary with your own expert guide and private A/C vehicle • Stress-free shore experience with port pickup/drop-off and timing planned around your ship • Personalize your day with optional visits such as the Terrace Houses or a traditional Turkish lunch
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $100.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 12.
We will meet you at the Cruise Port! Once your tour is booked, we’ll reach out promptly with your customised meeting time and precise meeting location, arranged according to your cruise ship’s arrival & departure.
Ephesus Ruins is the largest open-air museum in Turkey, dating back to the Greek and Roman periods. Within this remarkable ancient city, we will explore the Senate Building, the Ancient Hospital, the Temple of Domitian, the Nike Statue, Hercules Gate, Trajan Fountain, the Temple of Hadrian, the iconic Celsus Library, the Grand Theatre of Ephesus, and many other fascinating structures.
The House of the Virgin Mary is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites, believed to be the place where Mary came to Ephesus with John the Apostle and spent the last ten years of her life. Pope Paul VI visited the shrine in 1967 and unofficially acknowledged its authenticity. Pope John Paul II followed in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2006. The question of whether Mary actually died in Ephesus remained uncertain until the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich—a bedridden German nun who had never visited Ephesus. She described the House of the Virgin Mary in remarkable detail to the writer Clemens Brentano, who later published her accounts. Emmerich passed away in 1884. In 1891, Father Paul of the Lazarist Order in Izmir read about her visions and discovered a small structure matching her descriptions. This led to archaeological excavations, which eventually revealed the site we visit today as Mary’s House.
Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt and twin sister of Apollo, was later worshipped as the Goddess of the Moon. Her temple, built around 650 BC, stood on a site already sacred to the Anatolian Mother Goddess Cybele. Financed by the wealthy Lydian king, it was constructed on marshy ground to help protect it from earthquakes. Despite this, the temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times due to natural disasters.
*OPTIONAL VISIT DEPENDING ON REQUEST* Terrace Houses were the houses of rich & upper class people in Ephesus City have been lived, famed for gorgeous mosaics, frescoes, and wall paintings. One of the best-preserved sites in the Ephesus in which archeological works still continue.
*OPTIONAL VISIT DEPENDING ON REQUEST* You can see the Saint John Basilica from a distance when we are in the Temple of Artemis. It is believed that the Evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the in & around Ephesus and buried in the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. The tomb of St John was under the central dome of the Basilica.
You will also have the chance to explore authentic local handicrafts and, if you choose, enjoy a truly genuine shopping experience. Your professional local tour guide will be by your side to offer valuable insights—highlighting the finest traditional crafts, recommending the most reputable places to visit, and providing expert tips to ensure a smooth, enjoyable, and completely hassle-free experience.
We will drive through the Kusadasi Town and will have a panoramic view while listening the key informations from our Local Tour Guide.
Also called Pigeon Island! One of the earliest settlements of modern Kusadasi. We will pass by and have an opportunity of seeing it in a distance. It is located very close to the Port, you might be able to have time after your tour if you are interested.
At the end of our tour, we will return to the Cruise Port. PLEASE NOTE THAT: There are several Ships with different arrival and departure times. We carefully check all the timings, confirm with the passengers, and coordinate the return time. OUR TOURS ARE WITH GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN TO THE BOAT!
*****CRUISE PASSENGERS WHO WILL JOIN FROM THE CRUISE PORT***** • Upon your ship's arrival at the port, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to meet with our team WITHIN 30 to 45 MINUTES. By doing so, you can bypass the crowds, school busses, and harsh weather conditions, ensuring an enhanced and MORE ENJOYABLE TOUR EXPERIENCE OF EPHESUS. • WHY CHOOSE OUR PRIVATE TOURS OVER THE GROUP TOURS? In Ephesus, every moment counts, especially if it's your only chance to visit. OUR PRIVATE TOURS ensure you savor every bit of this extraordinary experience. Ever been on a group tour where one person's mishap halts the entire group? IN PRIVATE TOURS, your journey remains undisturbed, focused solely on your enjoyment. Flexibility reigns supreme in a PRIVATE TOUR. Your day in EPHESUS isn't bound by someone else's timetable. You dictate the pace, sights, and timeline of your excursion. Large groups often miss the nuanced details of each site due to logistical constraints. In OUR PRIVATE TOUR, delve deeper into the most intriguing facets of EPHESUS. Bid farewell to lagging behind, snapping hurried photos, or missing the guide's insights. In our PRIVATE TOUR, these hassles fade away, granting you a more immersive experience. No more struggling to hear or keep pace in a crowd. Our PRIVATE TOUR caters exclusively to your preferences, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey. Long queues for tickets or entry? Not on your watch. Our PRIVATE TOUR GUIDE takes care of all logistics, ensuring swift access to ruins and museums. Your own guide. Say goodbye to sharing with a throng of strangers. In our PRIVATE TOUR, the spotlight is solely on your experience. When it comes to exploring EPHESUS from the CRUISE PORT, our PRIVATE TOURS redefine what it means to truly experience this historical marvel. NOTE: ADDITIONAL FEES APPLY FOR PICK-UPS FROM IZMIR, BODRUM, OR OTHER PORTS THEN KUSADASI.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 1,244 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
FOR CRUISERS: Private Ephesus Tour with GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN lasts about 4–6 hours. The itinerary has 10 stops.
Prices start at $29 per person for this Kusadasi experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $100. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. *****CRUISE PASSENGERS WHO WILL JOIN FROM THE CRUISE PORT***** • Upon your ship's arrival at the port, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to meet with our team WITHIN 30 to 45 MINUTES. By doing so, you can bypass the crowds, school busses, and harsh weather conditions, ensuring an enhanced and MORE ENJOYABLE TOUR EXPERIENCE OF EPHESUS. • WHY CHOOSE OUR PRIVATE TOURS OVER THE GROUP TOURS? In Ephesus, every moment counts, especially if it's your only chance to visit. OUR PRIVATE TOURS ensure you savor every bit of this extraordinary experience. Ever been on a group tour where one person's mishap halts the entire group? IN PRIVATE TOURS, your journey remains undisturbed, focused solely on your enjoyment. Flexibility reigns supreme in a PRIVATE TOUR. Your day in EPHESUS isn't bound by someone else's timetable. You dictate the pace, sights, and timeline of your excursion. Large groups often miss the nuanced details of each site due to logistical constraints. In OUR PRIVATE TOUR, delve deeper into the most intriguing facets of EPHESUS. Bid farewell to lagging behind, snapping hurried photos, or missing the guide's insights. In our PRIVATE TOUR, these hassles fade away, granting you a more immersive experience. No more struggling to hear or keep pace in a crowd. Our PRIVATE TOUR caters exclusively to your preferences, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey. Long queues for tickets or entry? Not on your watch. Our PRIVATE TOUR GUIDE takes care of all logistics, ensuring swift access to ruins and museums. Your own guide. Say goodbye to sharing with a throng of strangers. In our PRIVATE TOUR, the spotlight is solely on your experience. When it comes to exploring EPHESUS from the CRUISE PORT, our PRIVATE TOURS redefine what it means to truly experience this historical marvel. NOTE: ADDITIONAL FEES APPLY FOR PICK-UPS FROM IZMIR, BODRUM, OR OTHER PORTS THEN KUSADASI. Pickup points include Kusadasi Cruise Port.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 26 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by BEST TURKEY TOUR.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Dennis was fantastic. He provided a great overview of the activities of the day and was very knowledgeable regarding the history of the area. Restaurant was authentic and the food was fantastic. Just a great tour overall.
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your kind words. Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours. Best Turkey Tour Team
Wonderful experience fully recommend… A+++ Good value for money ;) The Ephesus tour is truly worthy and the guide was really knowledgeable…
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your kind words. Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours. Best Turkey Tour Team
Canan was very professional and knowledgeable. She was really good. I will advice her who wants to visit. We went to St John Church. We visited Turkmen where women weaving. It was nice to see. Highly recommended
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your kind words. Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours. Best Turkey Tour Team
What a fantastic tour guide...Dennis. He was so very knowledgeable, kind, friendly and helpful. This was a private tour for just me. Since I walk with a cane, I need to stop many times when walking long distances. Dennis was very patient with me and accommodated my needs. I highly recommend taking this tour with Dennis.
Dear Guest, What a joy to hear your trip was a success! Thank you for celebrating the beauty of Turkey with us. Until next time! Best Turkey Tour Team
Some part of the tour was good. Fatima was knowledgeable about the city and history. The only caveat was that I realized afterwards she manipulated us to go to leather shop and the carpet shop. I wanted to visit a good local restaurant but found out the restaurant she said was so great was part of the carpet shop lol. She said it was part of the government program which was not true after doing research afterwards. The sales pitch part was actually funny so there is some entertainment value I guess. We bought some stuff at the leather shop but it was very overpriced even with discounts. I guess it was stupid of me to trust her because I genuinely wanted to like her and help her. She is a very good salesman with a lot of subtle tactics. It left a bitter taste in my mouth about turkey after researching and finding out the whole country tourism is run this way. But having said that if you are smart unlike me and say no to things firmly you can have a decent tour.
Where do I begin, this was the best guide and tour. He was so knowledgeable and thought provoking and answered things before we could ask. From the ruins to Mary’s house to the Firca pottery where we had Turkish coffee and tea and watched a pottery demonstration of how they still make there pottery. My husband bought me the pottery in the picture and not only came in the allotted 60 days but they made it glow in the dark for me. We were of course worried since we had to wait and it was being sent from Turkey but it definitely was worth it my adult sons loved it and thought haw unique and great it was. I will always remember our guide and the time we had in Ephesus. This is definitely a must do in Turkey. Thank you for the memorable time
Dear Guest, We want to express our sincerest gratitude for your TripAdvisor review of your recent experience with us. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are thrilled to receive such positive remarks Your support and recommendation mean the world to us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future for another exceptional visit. Warmest Regards Iglesias Tour Turkey Team
The tour was perfect in every details...we loved it! Ezgi, our guide, was very kind and professional, and also the driver was very gentle. The meeting point was easy to reach they were punctual and careful.
Dear Guest, We want to express our sincerest gratitude for your TripAdvisor review of your recent experience with us. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are thrilled to receive such positive remarks Your support and recommendation mean the world to us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future for another exceptional visit. Warmest Regards Iglesias Tour Turkey Team
Knowledgeable, friendly local guide with good language skills and a sincere interest in a good tour. Flexible and adjusted the tour for our requirements. Great local lunch with clean comfortable transportation.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for sharing travel experience you had with us. Our company values put customer satisfaction as top priority and we are committed to our customers. We look forward to serving you again. Best Wishes Best Turkey Tour Team
We would like to thank Denise Taskin our private tour guide who definitely provided a wonderful, unforgetable day in Ephesus , temple of Artemis and House of the Virgin Mary. Our driver Yildirim made us feel so safe with his professional driving along the winding road to the House of Virgin Mary. They both made us feel special riding in the mercedes benz van.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for sharing travel experience you had with us. Our company values put customer satisfaction as top priority and we are committed to our customers. We look forward to serving you again. Best Wishes Best Turkey Tour Team
Fatima is a knowledgeable, well organized tour guidessses. We enjoyed all trip in Ephesus. This private shore excursion worth the money.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for sharing travel experience you had with us. Our company values put customer satisfaction as top priority and we are committed to our customers. We look forward to serving you again. Best Wishes Fatima& Ismail
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOR CRUISERS: Private Ephesus Tour with GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN | 4–6 hours | 4.9 (26) | $29 | |
 FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return | 4–6 hours | 5.0 (12,097) | $39 | View |
 FOR CRUISERS: Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi Port /GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN TO BOAT | 4–6 hours | 4.9 (68) | $35 | View |
 For Ship Guests:BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR & On Time Return | 4–6 hours | 5.0 (2,257) | $39 | View |
 Ephesus for Cruisers: Skip-the-Line & Guaranteed Return | 5–6 hours | — | $65 | View |
 Private Ephesus Tour | Skip-Line and Guaranteed ON-TIME Return | 4–6 hours | 5.0 (1) | $25 | View |
 Private Ephesus Shore Excursion: Skip-the-Line & On-Time Return | 3–6 hours | 5.0 (61) | $44 | View |