Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary tour: No shopping stops

Two sacred sites in one morning, no detours to bazaars

A private tour of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary with skip-the-line entry, English-speaking guide, and port pickup. You walk through one of Turkey's most preserved ancient cities, then visit the house where Mary is believed to have spent her final years. Children under 6 enter free with ID.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ephesus2h · entry included
2. House of the Virgin Mary45m · entry included

Visit Ephesus and Virgin Mary House

• Explore ancient city of Ephesus
• Visit House of the Virgin Mary

The experience

The tour picks you up at the port and drives you straight to Ephesus in an air-conditioned minivan: no stops at carpet shops, leather dealers or souvenir stalls along the way. Your guide meets you at the entrance with skip-the-line access already arranged, so you move past the crowds at the gate. Ephesus itself is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Turkey, a Roman city so well preserved that you walk through streets, past temples and into structures that have stood for nearly two thousand years.

From Ephesus, the same guide takes you to the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone dwelling in the hills where Christian tradition holds that Mary was brought by Saint John and lived out her final days. The site draws pilgrims and visitors from across the world. After both stops, you return to the port with time built in. The schedule is set so the whole day fits inside a port call without rushing.

Children under 6 get in free to both sites if you bring a passport or ID copy as proof of age. The tour runs five hours total. Your guide speaks English throughout, and the minivan has air conditioning, wheelchair-accessible entry at both sites, and room for strollers if you're traveling with infants.

What’s included

• Skip-the-line entry to both Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• all entrance fees and local taxes.
• round-trip transport by air-conditioned minivan from the port.
• wheelchair-accessible vehicles and site access.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (8 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Turkey Private Tours

Is this one for you?If you're arriving by ship and don't have a rental car, port pickup and drop-off mean you don't need to arrange separate transport or navigate to the sites on your own. The fixed five-hour schedule is built to fit inside a port call, so you're back before the ship leaves.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly do I see at Ephesus?

Ephesus is a Roman city with temples, streets, and structures still standing from ancient times. You walk through the site with your guide, who points out the major ruins and explains what you're looking at. It's one of the most preserved ancient cities in Turkey.

Is the House of the Virgin Mary a church or a house?

The House of the Virgin Mary is a small stone dwelling, not a large church building. It's a modest structure in a hillside setting where Mary is believed to have lived her final years after being brought there by Saint John.

How much time do I spend at each site?

The tour is five hours total from port pickup to drop-off, split between Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. Your guide manages the pace so both sites fit comfortably inside a port call without feeling rushed.

Will we stop at shops or markets?

No. This tour has no shopping stops. You go directly from the port to Ephesus, then to the House of the Virgin Mary, then back to the port.