Ephesus Tour from Marmaris: Ancient City & Virgin Mary House

The Ephesus theatre still stands after two thousand years, and you walk past it on the same streets Julius Caesar once crossed.

A full-day tour from Marmaris to Ephesus, the UNESCO World Heritage Site ancient city on Turkey's coast, with hotel pickup, a two-hour guided walk through the ruins, lunch in Selcuk, and entry to either the House of the Virgin Mary or the Archaeological Museum. The drive takes around three hours each way. Breakfast is served en route. Your guide speaks English or Russian and leads the group through the temples, library and theatre before you choose which site to visit after lunch.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ephesus2h
2. House of the Virgin Mary1h

Full-day tour to Ephesus and Virgin Mary House

• Hotel pickup in Marmaris
• Drive to Selcuk with breakfast
• Short comfort break
• Guided tour of ancient Ephesus
• Lunch at local restaurant in Selcuk
• Visit House of Virgin Mary or Archaeological Museum
• Drive back to Marmaris

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Marmaris or İcmeler hotel, then a three-hour drive south to Selcuk where the remains of Ephesus sit. Breakfast comes as a packed lunch box during the journey. Once you arrive, a short comfort break precedes the main event: a two-hour guided tour through the ancient city itself. You'll walk past the theatre, the early temples and the remains of the public library. The structures that made Ephesus one of the Roman Empire's most important ports.

After the guided walk, the group heads to a local restaurant in Selcuk for an open buffet lunch. Then your guide offers a choice: spend the afternoon at the House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site believed to be where Mary spent her final years, or visit the Archaeological Museum in town to see artefacts from the dig. Only one entrance fee is included, so you pick based on what draws you. The return drive to Marmaris takes the same three hours, with the group arriving back in the evening.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup and drop-off in Marmaris and İcmeler.
• breakfast during the drive.
• two-hour guided tour of Ephesus with a professional guide.
• lunch at a local restaurant in Selcuk.
• entry to either the House of the Virgin Mary or the Archaeological Museum (your choice).

Before you book

Days and timesThursdayDeparts at 05:30

Book up to7h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (under 7)

GroupUp to 45

Live guideEnglish and Russian

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

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Arbek Travel

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Marmaris means you don't need a car or arrange transport to the coast. The tour collects you and returns you at the end of the day, so it works whether you're staying in town or at a resort.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7).

How long is the drive from Marmaris to Ephesus?

The drive takes around three hours each way. Breakfast is served during the outbound journey, and you'll have a comfort break upon arrival before the guided tour begins.

What exactly do I see on the guided tour of Ephesus?

Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the two-hour guided walk takes you through the ancient city's main structures: the theatre, the early temples and the remains of the public library that once served the Roman port city.

Do I have to visit the House of the Virgin Mary, or can I choose something else?

After lunch in Selcuk, your guide offers two options: the House of the Virgin Mary or the Archaeological Museum in town. You pick one based on your interest. Only one entrance fee is included in the tour price.

What's included in the meals during the day?

Breakfast is served as a packed lunch box during the drive to Ephesus. Lunch is an open buffet at a local restaurant in Selcuk. Drinks are not included and are charged separately at the restaurant.