Ephesus Full-Day Tour from Kusadasi: Small Group with Guide

Walk through two millennia of Mediterranean trade and faith in a single day

A full-day guided tour of Ephesus from Kusadasi with a maximum of 10–12 travelers, including hotel or port pickup, air-conditioned transport and an English-speaking guide. The itinerary covers the major ruins of the ancient city (the Celsus Library, Great Theatre, Temple of Artemis and Roman Baths among them), then climbs to the House of the Virgin Mary, a shrine 9 km inland where Mary is believed to have spent her final years. The tour runs 5.5 hours and suits all fitness levels. Entrance fees are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Ephesus50m
2. House of the Virgin Mary30m

Explore Ephesus and Virgin Mary House

• Meet guide at pick up point
• Visit Ephesus ancient ruins
• See The Odeon and Bouleterion
• Explore Fountains, Temples, Brothel
• Visit Celsus Library and Agoras
• See Great Theatre and Roman Baths
• Explore Gymnasiums and Temple of Artemis ruins
• Visit House of the Virgin Mary
• Return to departure point

The experience

Ephesus was once the most important Greek city and trading center in the Mediterranean, and the ruins that remain are extensive enough to fill an entire day. Your guide meets you at your hotel or port in Kusadasi and drives you to the site in an air-conditioned Mercedes van. The tour takes in the Odeon, Bouleterion, Temples, Brothel, Celsus Library, Agoras, Great Theatre, Roman Baths and Gymnasiums: each one a piece of the city's layered history. The Celsus Library alone, with its two-story facade, gives a sense of the wealth and ambition that once filled this place.

The Temple of Artemis is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, though what remains now are the foundations and a few standing columns in the fields outside the city proper. You walk among them to understand the scale of what was built there in the Hellenistic Age. After the ruins, the route climbs to the House of the Virgin Mary, a small shrine nestled on a hillside 9 km from Ephesus. The site is quiet and set among trees, and it marks the place where Mary is believed to have lived out her final days. The contrast between the grand public monuments below and this intimate, remote sanctuary shapes the arc of the day.

The group stays small (no more than 10 to 12 people), which means the guide can move at a pace that lets you linger at the stops that hold your attention. Parking fees and transport are included. Entrance fees to the sites are paid separately at each stop. The van is non-smoking and the driver handles all navigation, so the only planning you do is arranging to meet at your hotel or port at the start.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup and drop-off in Kusadasi.
• air-conditioned Mercedes van transport.
• parking fees.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• access to both Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary.

Information

Lasts 5h 30m, runs every day at 08:30 and 09:00, from US$ 63 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 157 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by BB Tour

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary without translation or a separate audio device. Small groups under a dozen people move at a conversational pace, which suits anyone who wants to ask questions and linger at the major sites without feeling rushed through the day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What exactly is the Temple of Artemis when I get there?

The Temple of Artemis is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, but only the ruins of its foundations remain visible today, along with a few standing columns scattered in the fields near Ephesus. You walk among them to grasp the scale of the original Hellenistic structure.

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

The House of the Virgin Mary sits on a hillside 9 km from Ephesus, in a quiet setting among trees. The drive is short, and the shrine marks a shift in the day from the grand public monuments to a more intimate, remote site.

Does the tour include entrance fees to the sites?

Entrance fees are not included and are paid separately at each stop. The tour price covers hotel or port pickup, air-conditioned transport, parking and your English-speaking guide.

What is the Celsus Library like?

The Celsus Library is one of the most recognizable ruins at Ephesus, with a two-story facade that still stands and conveys the wealth and importance of the ancient city. It is one of several major structures you visit during the day.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour suits all fitness levels. You walk among the ruins at Ephesus and climb to the House of the Virgin Mary on the hillside, but the pace is set by the small group and your guide, and there is no requirement to cover every inch of ground.

Can I book this tour if I'm arriving at the port in Kusadasi?

Yes, pickup is included from Kusadasi hotels or the port itself. You arrange the meeting point when you book, and the driver will meet you at your arrival point to begin the tour.