Ephesus Day Tour from Kusadasi: Library & Virgin Mary House

Ancient Ephesus in one day: the Library, the Theatre, the Temple ruins, and a working carpet loom

A full-day guided tour of Ephesus from Kusadasi or Selcuk hotels takes you through the ruins of one of the Roman Empire's second-largest cities, with stops at the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Temple of Artemis site, and the House of the Virgin Mary. Lunch at a traditional carpet weaving village and all entry fees are included. A professional guide speaks English, Spanish, French or German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Temple of Artemis30m
2. House of the Virgin Mary1h · entry included
3. Isa Bey Mosque30m

Explore Ephesus and local culture

• Visit ancient city of Ephesus
• See Temple of Artemis
• Tour House of the Virgin Mary
• Explore Isa Bey Mosque
• Walk through State Agora
• View Hercules Gate
• Visit Vedius Gymnasium
• Discover carpet weaving village
• Enjoy traditional Turkish lunch

The experience

Ephesus was the second-largest city in the Roman Empire, home to over 250,000 people in the 1st century BC, and the tour moves through its most significant remains. You'll walk past the Library of Celsus, one of the ancient world's grandest structures, and stand in the Great Theatre where crowds once gathered. The Temple of Hadrian, the Hercules Gate on Curetes Street, and the Vedius Gymnasium (built in the 2nd century AD and funded by a wealthy citizen to teach young people art, sports, literature and speech) show the scale of daily life here. The Isa Bey Mosque, constructed in 1374–1375 on the outskirts of Selcuk, marks the shift to Ottoman architecture.

The House of the Virgin Mary sits apart from the main ruins, a pilgrimage site where Christians believe Mary spent her final years. Entry is 700 TRY, payable to the guide if you want to skip the line. The tour then moves to a traditional carpet weaving village where you watch local artisans work with natural dyes and centuries-old techniques, then sit down to a lunch of fresh, locally prepared Turkish food in the village setting itself.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from Kusadasi or Selcuk. The tour runs 4 to 6 hours depending on your pace and interests. The vehicle is fully air-conditioned, and entry to all archaeological sites is covered in the price. Ephesus entry is 40 €, also available as a skip-the-line ticket through your guide. If you're staying in Sirince, Ozdere, Davutlar or Guzelcamli, a surcharge applies for pickup. The operator guarantees your return in time for cruise departures.

What’s included

• Fully air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• admission to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and all archaeological sites.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, French or German.
• traditional Turkish lunch at the carpet weaving village.
• insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day16 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 15:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Turkey Tours Company

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a fixed itinerary and schedule, which keeps all the major sites (the Library, the Theatre, the Temple ruins, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the carpet village) inside a single afternoon or morning. If you want to move at your own pace or prefer a private guide, a different tour format would suit you better. If you want the main sites covered without planning the route yourself, the group structure makes it work.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What was Ephesus like when it was a living city?

Ephesus was the second-largest city in the Roman Empire, with over 250,000 people in the 1st century BC. It was a harbour city and a centre of commerce, government and culture. The gymnasiums taught young people art, sports, literature and speech, and the agora served as a meeting place for governmental discussions. The Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre show the scale of public life.

Can I skip the line at Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary?

Yes. Both sites offer skip-the-line tickets. You pay the guide directly. Ephesus entry is 40 € and the House of the Virgin Mary is 700 TRY. The guide will arrange this for you on the day.

What happens at the carpet weaving village?

You watch local artisans at work, see how they use natural dyes and traditional techniques passed down over centuries, then eat a traditional Turkish lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients in the village itself. It's an active stop, not just a shop visit.

Does the tour return in time for a cruise departure?

Yes. The operator guarantees your return on time to the cruise port. If you're staying outside Kusadasi or Selcuk (in Sirince, Ozdere, Davutlar or Guzelcamli), a pickup surcharge applies, but the timing commitment remains the same.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the air-conditioned vehicle, entry fees to all archaeological sites, lunch at the carpet village, and a professional guide who speaks English, Spanish, French or German. Drinks and tips are not included.