Ephesus Private Tour: Celsus Library & Virgin Mary's House

The Celsus Library still stands: the third largest in the ancient world, its marble facade intact after two thousand years.

A private tour of Ephesus departing from Kusadasi port or your hotel, with a guide in your choice of language, covering the ruins of the second-largest Roman city and three major sites: the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis, and the ancient city itself. The tour lasts 4 to 5 hours with all stops and transfers included. Entrance fees to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary are available as add-ons at checkout. Pickup and drop-off are guaranteed on time for cruise passengers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Ephesus2h
2. Temple of Artemis20m
3. House of the Virgin Mary45m

Explore Ephesus and nearby sites

• Pickup from Kusadasi Port or hotel
• Travel to Ephesus
• Visit Ephesus ancient city ruins
• Explore the House of the Virgin Mary
• Visit the Temple of Artemis
• Return to Kusadasi Port or hotel

The experience

The drive from Kusadasi takes about 20 minutes, then you spend the bulk of the day walking through Ephesus itself: the Parliament House, the Temple of Domitian, the Heracles Gate, bathhouses, and the shops that once lined the streets when the city held over 250,000 people in the 1st century B.C. The Celsus Library, the third largest of the ancient world, still shows its marble columns and carved facades. Your guide points out the mosaics underfoot, the Largest Theatre of Turkey where St. Paul preached, and the smaller monuments (the Memmius Monument, the Trajan's Fountain) that fill in the shape of daily life two thousand years ago.

Two stops break the walking: the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, now reduced to a single standing column and scattered stones; and the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone structure 6 kilometers outside the city, surrounded by pine and olive trees. Christian tradition holds that St. John brought Mary here after the crucifixion to escape persecution, and she spent her final years in this humble house while Ephesus thrived as a trading port. The site is quiet and set apart from the ruins.

You choose your guide's language at checkout (English, Spanish, Italian or French), and the same person travels with you in a private air-conditioned vehicle for the full 4 to 5 hours. Lunch is included. If you're arriving by cruise ship, the operator guarantees your return to the port on time. If you're staying at a hotel in Kusadasi, pickup and drop-off happen there instead.

What’s included

• Private professional guide in your choice of language.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full tour.
• pickup and drop-off from Kusadasi port or your hotel.
• lunch.
• parking fees at all sites.

Options for this experience

4 options

Private tour of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis, with pickup from your cruise ship or hotelGuide in 4 languages · 14 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:00Pickup is included

Tour guide who speaks Spanish40 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:00Private tour with pickup and drop-off included

Italian Speaking Guide40 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:00Private tour with pick-up and drop-off, pickup is included

French Speaking Guide43 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Private tour with pick-up and drop-off, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day43 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (5 to 14 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Private Transfer and Daily Tours - Breathtaking Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move at your own pace with a single guide and driver rather than join a group, or if your ship's schedule requires a guaranteed return time to port. The private format also means the guide can spend time on the sites that interest you most (whether that's the library, the theatre, or the House of the Virgin Mary) without waiting for other passengers.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 14 years); Infant (under 5): 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 Celsus Library and why is it worth seeing?

The Celsus Library was the third largest library in the ancient world and still stands in Ephesus with its marble facade and carved columns largely intact. It shows what a major public building looked like when the city was at its height, and it's one of the most recognizable structures on the tour.

How far is the House of the Virgin Mary from the main ruins of Ephesus?

The House of the Virgin Mary is located 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from Ephesus. It's a separate stop on the tour, set in a quiet area surrounded by pine and olive trees, away from the main archaeological site.

Can I add entrance fees to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary when I book?

Yes, entrance fees to both Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary are available as add-ons at checkout. They are not included in the base tour price, so you can choose whether to add them when you reserve.

Is the tour timed to get me back to my cruise ship on time?

Yes, the operator guarantees on-time return to Kusadasi port if you're arriving by cruise ship. If you're staying at a hotel in Kusadasi, pickup and drop-off happen at your accommodation instead.