Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour from Kusadasi - Skip Line

The Temple of Artemis is now just one column standing in a marsh, but the scale of what was there still hits you.

This guided tour from Kusadasi covers Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis in 4 to 6 hours, with pickup at the cruise port and a professional English-speaking guide. You choose between a private tour or small group, and you can add skip-the-line entry tickets to walk straight into the sites without waiting at the gate. The return time is coordinated with your ship's departure so you don't miss it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ephesus2h
2. Temple of Artemis30m
3. Kusadasi Castle15m
4. Ephesus Terrace Housespassing by
5. House of the Virgin Mary30m

Ephesus and Virgin Mary tour for cruisers

• Meet at Kusadasi Cruise Port
• Explore Ancient City of Ephesus
• Visit the Temple of Artemis ruins
• Tour the House of the Virgin Mary
• Return to Kusadasi Cruise Port

The experience

The tour starts at Kusadasi cruise port, where your guide meets you in an air-conditioned Mercedes. From there you drive to Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the Mediterranean. You walk the marble streets past the Library of Celsus (its three-story façade still standing after an earthquake destroyed it in the 10th century), and the Grand Theater, where the guide brings the Roman Empire to life through what stood where. The Terrace Houses show you how wealthy Romans lived, with glass floors revealing geometric mosaics and frescoes still bright on the walls.

After Ephesus, you continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims believed to be where Mary spent her final years. Then you stop at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only one column and the foundation remain, standing in a marshy basin. The original temple was rumored to be four times the size of the Parthenon. The guide explains what you're looking at and why it mattered. Throughout the day, the timing is locked to your ship's departure, so the return to port happens when you need it to, not when the tour operator decides.

You can book this as a private tour or a small group. If you add skip-the-line tickets, you walk past the queue at each site entrance instead of waiting outside. Without the ticket upgrade, you still get entry but you join the line. Either way, pickup and drop-off at the cruise port are included, as are all taxes and the vehicle with a separate driver.

What’s included

• Port pickup and drop-off at Kusadasi cruise port.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned Mercedes vehicle with a separate driver.
• entry to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis (included in the ticket options.
• excluded in the no-ticket options).
• all taxes. You choose skip-the-line entry tickets at checkout if you want to bypass the queues.

Options for this experience

4 options

Small Group, entry tickets not includedGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 14:00Duration: 5 hours. Pickup is included.

Private tour, entry tickets not includedGuide in English · 16 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:30Entry tickets are not included. Customize: this option lets you choose the sites you want to visit and spend as much time as you like at each one. Mercedes High Model Minibus. Pickup is included.

Small group tour including admission ticketsGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 14:00Pickup is included.

Private tour including admission ticketsGuide in English · 16 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:30Entry tickets to Ephesus and House of Mary are included. This option lets you choose the sites you want to visit and spend as much time as you like at each one. Mercedes High Model Minibus. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day16 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (6 to 19 years) · Child (under 6): 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Moira Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Choose private or small-group to match your party size, with return timing locked to your ship's departure so you catch both Ephesus's highlights and your vessel.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 6): free.

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 is the Library of Celsus and why is it still standing?

The Library of Celsus is a three-story Roman building constructed between 110 and 135 AD in Ephesus. An earthquake destroyed it in the 10th century, but its façade remains one of the most spectacular sights in the ancient city, and you walk past it on the tour.

How much time do I spend walking around Ephesus itself?

The tour runs 4 to 6 hours total, with Ephesus as the main stop. You explore the marble streets, the Library, the Grand Theater, and the Terrace Houses on foot, guided through the highlights and the history of what you're seeing.

Will I have time to visit all three sites? Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis?

Yes. The tour includes all three sites. Ephesus takes the bulk of the time, then you visit the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis before returning to the cruise port, all timed so you don't miss your ship's departure.

What does skip-the-line entry mean, and is it worth the upgrade?

Skip-the-line entry tickets let you walk straight into Ephesus and the other sites without waiting in the queue at the gate. You can book the tour with or without this upgrade. The choice is yours at checkout.

How does the tour handle different ship departure times?

You confirm your ship's onboard time when you book. The guide coordinates the return to Kusadasi cruise port around that departure, so the tour timing adjusts to your specific schedule, not a fixed itinerary.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed.