Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi: Skip the Lines
Four ancient sites in seven hours: Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, the House of Virgin Mary, and a weaving village.
A private shore excursion from Kusadasi cruise port takes you to Ephesus Ancient City, the House of Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis with a licensed English-speaking guide. You skip ticket lines at the port, travel by minivan, and return in time for your ship to depart. Lunch and entry fees are included.
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Step-by-step itinerary
- Ephesus2h 30m · entry included
- House of the Virgin Mary1h · entry included
- 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
- Lunch and cultural introduction
- See Temple of Artemis ruins
- Return to Kusadasi port
The experience
Your guide meets you at the Kusadasi cruise port and walks you straight to a waiting minivan: no queuing for tickets or transport. The drive to Ephesus takes half an hour. Once there, you explore a city built in the 10th century BC on the coast of Ionia, later controlled by Rome from 129 BC onward. Your guide explains the layout and history as you walk through the preserved streets and structures that have survived two thousand years.
From Ephesus, you travel to the House of Virgin Mary, a Catholic shrine on Mt. Koressos about 7 kilometers away. After that stop, lunch is served, included in the price, and you visit a teaching village where local artisans demonstrate traditional carpet and rug weaving by hand. You'll also see Ephesus ceramics made using methods passed down through generations. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in its final form, rounds out the day. Only foundations and fragments remain now, but your guide provides the context that brings the site into focus.
The whole tour runs seven hours, timed so you're back at the port before your ship leaves. A professional guide in English narrates throughout, and the minivan is private to your group, which means no waiting for other travelers and no fixed departure times beyond the return window your cruise schedule demands.
What’s included
- Private professional guide in English.
- port pickup and drop-off timed to your ship.
- entry to Ephesus Ancient City and the House of Virgin Mary.
- lunch.
- luxury minivan transport.
- and access to the Temple of Artemis site.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Operated by Smart Turkey Tours
Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary without translation or a separate audio device. A moderate level of fitness helps, since the tour involves walking through ancient ruins and around archaeological sites, but the pace is set by the group and there's no rushing between stops.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.
What was the Temple of Artemis, and why does it matter?
The Temple of Artemis, also called the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis and stood in Ephesus. It was completely rebuilt twice (once after a devastating flood and again three hundred years later after arson), and in its final form was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. By 401 AD it had been ruined or destroyed, and only foundations and fragments of the last temple remain at the site today.
How long is the drive from Kusadasi port to Ephesus?
The minivan ride from Kusadasi cruise port to Ephesus takes about half an hour.
Is lunch included in the price?
Yes, lunch is included in the tour price and is served during the day.
What happens at the teaching village?
At the teaching village, local artisans demonstrate traditional carpet and rug weaving done by hand, and you'll see Ephesus ceramics made using traditional methods.
Will I have time to get back to my ship?
The tour is timed so that you return to the Kusadasi cruise port before your ship departs. Your guide coordinates the schedule around your vessel's departure window.
Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi: Skip the Lines
7h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 110 per person
4.9623 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider