Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi: Library of Celsus & Artemis

Ancient Ephesus unfolds from the Library of Celsus to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders.

A guided tour of Ephesus starting at Kusadasi cruise port, where your English-speaking guide meets you and leads you through three to four hours of ancient ruins including the Library of Celsus, Marble Street, the Great Theater, and the Temple of Artemis. Lunch, air-conditioned transport, and entrance fees are included or available at checkout. You return to the port with time to spare before departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ephesus2h
2. Temple of Artemis45m

Explore Ephesus ancient ruins

• Meet guide at Kusadasi port
• Visit Library of Celsus
• Walk along Marble Street
• See the Great Theater
• Explore Terrace Houses mosaics
• Visit Temple of Artemis ruins

The experience

Your guide meets you at the Kusadasi cruise port and drives you to Ephesus in an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour moves through the major sites on foot: the Library of Celsus first, where you stand in front of the reconstructed facade that once held thousands of scrolls, then the Marble Street where traders once moved goods through the city, and the Great Theater carved into the mountainside. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is the final major stop. What remains are foundation stones and a few standing columns, but the scale of what once stood there becomes clear as your guide describes the massive structure that drew pilgrims from across the Mediterranean.

The guide provides historical context at each site (how the Library functioned, what the theater hosted, why the temple mattered to the ancient world), and leaves room for questions and photographs. Lunch is included partway through the tour. The whole experience runs three to four hours, timed so cruise passengers return to the port with a buffer before ship departure. An air-conditioned vehicle handles the transport between sites, and parking fees are covered. Entrance fees to Ephesus are either included or available as an add-on at checkout, depending on which option you select.

Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle. The walking is moderate. You move between sites but are not climbing steep terrain or covering long distances at once. Payment for entrance fees can be made in Turkish lira or by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) if you choose to pay on the day.

What’s included

• Pickup at Kusadasi cruise port and return transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• entrance to Ephesus ruins.
• lunch during the tour.
• parking fees and insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 90 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (under 14)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 45

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Online Travel Turkey

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary comfortably without translation or a separate audio device. The three to four hour schedule is built around cruise ship timing, which means you're back at the port with a buffer before departure. The arrangement that matters most when you're docked for a single afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (under 14).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Library of Celsus and why is it the first stop on this tour?

The Library of Celsus is a reconstructed ancient Roman building that once housed thousands of scrolls and was a center of learning in Ephesus. It's the opening stop because the facade is one of the most recognizable structures in the ruins and sets the tone for understanding how advanced the city was.

Is the Temple of Artemis still standing, or are there just ruins?

The Temple of Artemis is largely ruined: what remains are foundation stones and a few standing columns. Despite its fragmentary state, the scale of the original structure becomes apparent when your guide explains its dimensions and significance as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

How much time do I have to walk around and take photos at each site?

The tour is structured to give you ample time at each major stop to explore, ask questions, and photograph the ruins. The three to four hour total includes walking, guidance, and pauses at the Library of Celsus, Marble Street, the Great Theater, and the Temple of Artemis.

Are entrance fees to Ephesus included in the tour price?

Entrance fees are available as an add-on at checkout. You choose whether to include them when you book. If you pay them on the day, Turkish lira and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are both accepted.

Will I have time to return to the ship before it departs?

Yes. The tour is scheduled for three to four hours with the cruise port departure in mind, so you return with time to spare before the ship leaves.