Ephesus tour from Kusadasi: Skip-the-line entry included
Walk among the best-preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean, with no ticket lines to cross.
A guided tour of Ephesus departing from Kusadasi Cruise Port with skip-the-line entry tickets included and guaranteed return timing. You pick one of three site combinations (Temple of Artemis, Terrace Houses, or House of the Virgin Mary), and tour with either a private guide or a small group. All entrance fees are covered, and the guide speaks English, Russian, or Japanese.
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Step-by-step itinerary
- Ephesus1h 30m
- Ephesus Terrace Houses30m
- House of the Virgin Mary45m
- Temple of Artemis30m
Explore Ancient Ephesus and Surroundings
- Meet guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port
- Visit House of the Virgin Mary
- Tour Ancient Ephesus ruins
- Explore Terrace Houses of Ephesus
- See Temple of Artemis
- Optional lunch break
- Return to Kusadasi Cruise Port
The experience
Your guide meets you at Kusadasi Cruise Port at a time arranged around your ship's arrival. Ephesus itself was the second-largest city on the planet during the 1st century AD, with over 250,000 residents, and what remains is the best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. You walk the ancient streets past the third-largest library of antiquity and the largest Roman theatre on the Asian continent: the scale and detail of what survives makes the place feel like stepping into a time that did not end.
Which sites you visit depends on the option you choose at checkout. The Ephesus+Temple of Artemis combination takes you to one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, where 127 ionic columns once stood 19 meters high. The temple was also the earliest bank of antiquity. The Ephesus+Terrace Houses option shows you the homes of the city's wealthiest residents, clinging to the slopes with vivid mosaics, colorful frescoes, and heating systems that reveal how the Roman elite lived. The Ephesus+House of the Virgin Mary option includes a church built in the 6th century AD on the foundations of a 1st-century house, located 6 kilometers north of the ruins. All entrance tickets are included, so you skip the lines at each site.
A lunch break is built into the day, and your guide will suggest restaurant options if you request one. The tour lasts between four and five hours, and the operator guarantees your return to Kusadasi Cruise Port in time for your ship's departure. The timing is planned around your specific dock and onboard times. If you book a private option, the guide is yours alone and you can stay at any site as long as you wish. If another site interests you and time allows, it can be added to the itinerary.
What’s included
- Kusadasi Cruise Port pickup and drop-off.
- all entrance tickets for your chosen site combination (Ephesus plus either Temple of Artemis, Terrace Houses, or House of the Virgin Mary).
- a professional licensed tour guide speaking English, Russian, or Japanese.
- guaranteed on-time return to the port.
Options for this experience
4 optionsYou pick the guide language when booking.
Before you book
Prices and times updated yesterday
Operated by Tour Altinkum Travel
Is this one for you?Choose the private option if you want to linger at any site without watching the clock, or the group option if you prefer a set itinerary and a lower price. Either way, the tour is built for cruise passengers: pickup time adjusts to your ship's arrival, and the return is guaranteed in time for departure.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Russian and Japanese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 7).
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 was Ephesus like when it was an active city?
Ephesus was the second-largest city on the planet in the 1st century AD, with more than 250,000 residents. It sat at the center of the known world as a gateway between East and West, and its giant harbor made it the trading hub of antiquity. The city was wealthy enough to be the honeymoon destination of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, and it housed one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world in the Temple of Artemis.
Can I see the Temple of Artemis on this tour?
The Temple of Artemis is included in the Ephesus+Artemis Temple option, which you select at checkout. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, with 127 ionic columns standing 19 meters high, and is also considered the earliest bank of the ancient world.
What are the Terrace Houses, and what will I see there?
The Terrace Houses are the homes of Ephesus's wealthiest residents, built on the slopes of the city. They display vivid mosaics, colorful frescoes, and ingenious heating systems that reveal the comfort and artistry of ancient Roman life at its highest level. They are included in the Ephesus+Terrace Houses option.
Is the House of the Virgin Mary worth visiting if I'm not religious?
The House of the Virgin Mary sits 6 kilometers north of Ephesus and is a church built in the 6th century AD on the foundations of a 1st-century house. Whether its spiritual significance appeals to you depends on your interests, but it is a distinct historical site from the ancient city itself and is included in the Ephesus+Mary's House option.
Will I have time to eat during the tour?
A lunch break is built into the four- to five-hour tour. Your guide will suggest restaurant options if you request one on the day of the tour.
How does the private option differ from the group tour?
On a private tour, the guide is yours alone and you can stay at any site as long as you wish. If another site interests you and time allows, it can be added to the itinerary. On a group tour, you follow a set schedule with other travelers. Both options include all entrance tickets and guaranteed return to the port.
Ephesus tour from Kusadasi: Skip-the-line entry included
4h–6h · EN +2 · at your hotel
from US$ 15 per person
4.9512,363 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider