Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi: Ancient Sites Tour

One tour covers four ancient sites without leaving the port schedule behind

A private guided tour from Kusadasi port takes you through Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis ruins over seven hours, with a professional English-speaking guide, lunch, and minivan transport included. The tour departs and returns on your cruise schedule, and you can adjust the itinerary to suit your interests since it's a private group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ephesus2h 30m
2. House of the Virgin Mary45m
3. Temple of Artemis30m

Explore Ephesus and nearby sites

• Meet guide at Kusadasi port
• Drive to Ephesus (30 minutes)
• Explore ancient city of Ephesus
• Visit House of the Virgin Mary
• Enjoy included lunch and cultural visit
• See Temple of Artemis ruins
• Return to Kusadasi port

The experience

Your guide meets you at Kusadasi port and you travel by minivan to Ephesus, a 30-minute drive away. Once there, you walk through the well-preserved ancient city itself: built in the 10th century BC on the coast of Ionia and later controlled by the Roman Republic from 129 BC onward. The guide explains the layout, the history layered into the streets, and what daily life looked like for the Greeks and Romans who lived here.

From Ephesus you head to the House of the Virgin Mary, a Catholic shrine on Mt. Koressos about 7 kilometres away. Lunch is included during the tour, and you'll also visit a teaching village where local artisans demonstrate traditional carpet and rug weaving by hand, plus see Ephesus ceramics. The Temple of Artemis (once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) rounds out the stops. Only foundations and fragments remain now, but the guide walks you through what the temple was and why it mattered.

Because this is a private tour, you can ask your guide to linger longer at a site that interests you or move through another more quickly. The minivan waits for your group, and timing is built around your ship's departure, so you're back at the port with time to spare.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• private minivan transport from port to Ephesus and between sites.
• lunch.
• port pickup and drop-off timed to your ship's schedule.
• access to Ephesus ancient city, House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis ruins, and the teaching village with traditional carpet weavers and ceramic artisans.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:30 and 09:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (4 to 6 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 61

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Smart Turkey Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary without translation. Book this if you want the history explained as you walk rather than reading plaques on your own. Since it's private and the timing is locked to your ship, you can ask questions, adjust the pace, and still make it back to port without rushing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long does the whole tour take from when I leave the ship?

The tour runs seven hours total, including the 30-minute minivan ride to Ephesus, time at each site, and lunch. Your guide coordinates the return to match your ship's schedule.

What exactly is left to see at the Temple of Artemis?

The Temple of Artemis was destroyed by 401 AD, so only foundations and fragments of the final temple remain at the site. Your guide explains what the structure was and its significance as one of the ancient wonders, even though the building itself is gone.

Is the House of the Virgin Mary included in every tour?

The House of the Virgin Mary is a stop on the itinerary, though you can customize the tour since it's private. Your guide can adjust which sites you visit based on your interests.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is included during the tour as part of the package. The guide will introduce you to local food and cultural aspects of the Ephesus area during the meal.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English and will explain everything you see throughout the tour.