Ephesus Shore Excursion: Ancient Sites & Turkish Bath

Walk marble streets of a Roman city, then soak in a Turkish bath

This guided shore excursion from Kuşadası Port combines three ancient sites: Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John, and the Temple of Artemis, with a professional guide, traditional Turkish lunch, and a full hammam experience. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours with guaranteed on-time return to your cruise ship. Entrance fees for the Temple of Artemis are included. Entry to Ephesus, the Basilica, and the Turkish bath are optional add-ons you choose at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Ephesus2h
2. Basilica of St. John1h
3. Temple of ArtemisEntry included15m

Explore Ephesus and local culture

• Visit Ancient City of Ephesus
• Tour Basilica of St. John
• See Temple of Artemis ruins
• Enjoy traditional Turkish lunch
• Attend carpet presentation
• Relax at Adasaray Turkish Bath

The experience

Ephesus is one of the world's best-preserved ancient cities, and a professional guide walks you through it on marble streets once traveled by Roman emperors. You'll see the Library of Celsus, the Grand Theatre, and Hadrian's Temple: each one a landmark that anchors the story of what this place was. The guide brings the daily life and myths of the city to life as you move through the ruins, so the architecture becomes more than stone.

From there, the tour moves to the Basilica of St. John in nearby Selçuk, a 6th-century structure built over the tomb of St. John the Evangelist and commissioned by Emperor Justinian. The hilltop setting gives you views across the landscape, and the ruins themselves carry the weight of early Christian history. Then comes the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: only fragments remain, but your guide explains the temple's scale and the goddess it honored, turning a few stones into a window onto antiquity.

The day includes a traditional Turkish lunch and a visit to a Turkish handicrafts cooperative where you'll see carpet weaving and local artisanship. There's no obligation to buy. The tour ends at Adasaray Turkish Bath, where you get a full hammam experience: a warming steam room, an exfoliating body scrub, and a foam massage by professional attendants. Air-conditioned vehicles move you between sites, and port pickup is included. The operator guarantees you'll return to your ship on time, which is the detail that makes a full day of history and culture possible inside a port call.

What’s included

• Professional licensed local guide in English.
• traditional Turkish lunch.
• visit to a Turkish handicrafts cooperative.
• entrance fee for the Temple of Artemis.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport between all sites.
• port pickup and guaranteed on-time return to your ship.
• parking fees and taxes. Entrance to Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John, and the Turkish bath are optional add-ons you select at checkout.

Information

Lasts 6h–7h, runs every day, 5 start times, from US$ 100 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: 07:30, 08:30, 09:30, 10:00 and 10:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 409 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.8 with pickup ›

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 to 85 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

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.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Samyeli Travel

Is this one for you?If you have a port day in Kuşadası and want to see Ephesus without arranging transport or timing yourself, this tour handles the logistics (the guide, the vehicle, the lunch, and the return to your ship), so you walk the ancient city and the other sites without building the day yourself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

11 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

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's actually left to see at the Temple of Artemis after all these centuries?

The Temple of Artemis survives as ruins and fragments near Ephesus, but your guide explains its original grandeur and the role it played as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, so the few stones that remain become a window into what stood there.

How much time do I spend walking around Ephesus itself?

Ephesus is the centerpiece of the tour, and you'll walk the ancient city on marble streets, seeing the Library of Celsus, the Grand Theatre, and Hadrian's Temple with your guide. The exact pacing depends on the group, but the tour is designed to be well-paced rather than rushed.

Is the Turkish bath included, or do I pay extra for it?

The Turkish bath at Adasaray is an optional add-on you choose at checkout. If you include it, you get the full hammam experience with steam, scrub, and massage after the historical sites.

Will I have time to buy anything at the carpet cooperative?

The tour includes a visit to a Turkish handicrafts cooperative where you'll see carpet weaving and local crafts, and there's time to browse, but there's no obligation to purchase anything.

What happens if my ship returns early or my tender is delayed?

The tour operator guarantees on-time return to Kuşadası Port, which is the commitment that makes a full day of sightseeing possible inside a port call. This is the defining feature of a cruise-friendly shore excursion.