Ephesus & Turkish Bath Private Tour: Ancient City & Hamam

Walk through millennia of ruins, then soak in a hammam

A private tour of Ephesus, the second-largest city in the ancient world, combines visits to the House of the Virgin Mary and a traditional Turkish bath (hamam) with an English-speaking guide, lunch, air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup. The tour runs five to six hours; entrance fees to Ephesus, the House of Mary and the hamam are optional at checkout, with hamam packages varying by massage choice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Ephesus, House of Mary, Turkish Bath

• Visit House of Virgin Mary
• Explore ancient city of Ephesus
• Enjoy traditional Turkish Bath

The Experience

The day starts at your hotel and moves straight into Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities anywhere. Your guide walks you through the Odeion (where the advisory council met), the Roman Baths, the Celsus Library and the Grand Theater—columns, monuments and ruins that span thousands of years. The city was believed to be founded by the Amazons, though historians now trace it to the Hittite settlement of Apasas. You'll see the scale of what stood here: the layout still reads as a functioning place, not just scattered stones.

From the ancient city, you climb to a small Byzantine church in the upper ruins—the House of the Virgin Mary. Christians visit to pray and leave offerings, believing Mary lived and died here after Jesus's death. The site sits apart from the main city, quieter and more intimate than the sprawling ruins below.

The tour closes with a traditional Turkish bath (hamam). After the walking and the history, you move into the hammam's warm rooms—the ritual of scrubbing, rinsing and soaking that has been the most common form of relaxation in Turkey for centuries. Massage packages are available if you want them, and you can choose the level of service at checkout. Lunch is included during the day; the guide handles the route and timing, and the air-conditioned vehicle moves you between sites.

What’s included

• Lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup.
• parking fees.
• insurance.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Online Travel Turkey

Is this one for you?The five to six hours is tight enough to fit into a single day without eating the rest of your schedule, but long enough that you see the major structures of Ephesus, not just the famous library and theater. A private guide means you move at your own pace and can linger at the sites that matter to you, rather than keeping time with a larger group.

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Top questions

What exactly will I see when I visit Ephesus on this tour?

Ephesus includes the Odeion, Roman Baths, Celsus Library and Grand Theater—major structures and monuments from the ancient city's 3,000-year history. Your guide will walk you through the layout and explain what each building was and how the city functioned, so you understand the scale and purpose of what remains.

Is the House of the Virgin Mary inside Ephesus or separate?

The House of the Virgin Mary is a small Byzantine church located in the upper ruins of Ephesus, reached by passing through the upper gate of the ancient city. It's part of the same site but sits apart from the main sprawl of columns and theaters.

What happens during the Turkish bath part of the tour?

The hamam is the final stop, where you experience the traditional Turkish bathing ritual in warm rooms. Massage packages are optional and vary in price and intensity; you choose which one suits you when you book.

How long is this tour, and what's included in the price?

The tour runs five to six hours total. Lunch, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, hotel pickup and parking fees are included. Entrance fees to Ephesus, the House of Mary and the hamam are separate and optional at checkout.

Will I have a private guide, or will I be in a group?

This is a private tour for your party only—not a shared group tour. Your guide is dedicated to your group for the full five to six hours.

Can I pay entrance fees with a credit card, or do I need cash?

Entrance fees can be paid in Turkish lira (cash) or by Visa or Mastercard credit card at each site, so you have flexibility on how you settle them.