Private Ephesus & Mary's House Tour: Skip-the-line access

Ephesus stone house tour: Visit Mother Mary's historic hideout near ancient city ruins

A private guided tour of Ephesus takes you through the Parliament House, the Third Largest Library of the Ancient World, the Largest Theatre of Turkey, and the Temple of Artemis (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) before driving to the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone dwelling surrounded by pine and olive trees where Christian tradition says Mary spent her final years. The tour runs four to five hours with a licensed English or Spanish-speaking guide, includes private transportation and lunch, and skips the entrance lines at each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

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

Explore Ephesus and Mary's House

• Visit ancient Ephesus ruins
• See Temple of Artemis
• Tour House of the Virgin Mary

The experience

Ephesus holds two thousand years of structures that survived: the Parliament House, Temple of Domitian, Heracles Gate, mosaic-covered pavements, bathhouses, public toilets. The Third Largest Library of the Ancient World still stands, and the Largest Theatre of Turkey, where St. Paul preached, seats thousands. A licensed guide walks you through the layout and the stories, pointing out what each ruin was and why it mattered. The skip-the-line access means you move through the archaeological zone without waiting at the gate while other groups queue.

The Temple of Artemis (Diana) closes out the Ephesus portion of the day. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and what remains is the foundation and a few standing columns: enough to understand the scale of what once stood there. After Ephesus, the tour drives six kilometers outside the city to the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone structure surrounded by pine and olive trees. Christian tradition holds that after the crucifixion, St. John brought Mother Mary here to escape Roman persecution. They spent their final years in Ephesus, which was a prosperous trading city at the time, and the house (humble and made of stone) is where she is believed to have lived.

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle moves you between sites, and lunch is included during the tour. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and the itinerary is built for people interested in ancient history who want to see the major sites in a single day without arranging entry or transport themselves.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation between all sites.
• lunch during the tour.
• licensed guide in English or Spanish.
• skip-the-line entry at Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary.

Information

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 150 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (2 to 7 years)

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by One Day in Ephesus Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you're traveling with a small group and need flexibility around your ship departure or hotel checkout: your guide adjusts the pace and timing to match your schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 7 years).

What is the House of the Virgin Mary and why is it significant?

The House of the Virgin Mary is a small stone dwelling six kilometers from Ephesus where Christian tradition says Mother Mary lived after St. John brought her there to escape Roman persecution in the first century. It sits surrounded by pine and olive trees and is recognized as an important site in Christian history.

What can I see at the Ephesus archaeological site?

Ephesus contains the Parliament House, Temple of Domitian, Heracles Gate, mosaic-covered pavements, bathhouses, public toilets, the Third Largest Library of the Ancient World, and the Largest Theatre of Turkey where St. Paul preached, along with many other two-thousand-year-old structures.

Is the Temple of Artemis included in this tour?

Yes, the Temple of Artemis (Diana) is the final historical stop on the tour. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and you see the remaining foundation and standing columns.

How long does the tour take and what is included?

The tour runs four to five hours and includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, and a licensed guide who speaks English or Spanish. Skip-the-line entry at each site is also included so you don't wait in queues.

Where does the tour pick me up?

Pickup is included with the tour. The operator will arrange the specific location based on where you are staying in the area.