Ephesus, Virgin Mary & Artemis Private Tour from Kusadasi with Lunch

Three ancient sites: Ephesus marble streets, pilgrimage house, Artemis worship ruins in one day

A private guided tour from Kusadasi covers Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis in five to six hours, with entrance fees, traditional Turkish lunch and hotel or port pickup included. Your English-speaking guide meets you at the port or hotel and handles all tickets in advance so you skip the lines. The tour returns you to your starting point on time, with no hidden costs. Everything from transport to meals to entry is settled upfront.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. EphesusEntry included2h
2. House of the Virgin MaryEntry included1h
3. Temple of ArtemisEntry included15m

Private tour of Ephesus and surroundings

• Meet private guide at Kusadasi
• Drive 20 minutes to Ephesus
• Visit Ephesus ancient city
• Visit House of Virgin Mary
• Enjoy traditional Turkish lunch
• Visit Temple of Artemis
• Return to Kusadasi drop-off point

The experience

Your guide meets you at Kusadasi port or your hotel with a sign bearing your name, then drives twenty minutes to Ephesus. You walk the marble streets of one of the ancient world's most important cities: past the Library of Celsus, built in the 2nd century as a memorial to a Roman proconsul, and the Grand Theatre, which once held 24,000 spectators after the Romans expanded it in the 1st century. The Baths of Scholastica and the Temple of Hadrian stand among the other public buildings that line the route. Your guide explains what each structure was and why it mattered to the traders and pilgrims who moved through this port city on their way into Asia Minor.

After Ephesus, you drive five miles into the Aladag Mountains to the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone dwelling on a hillside. According to tradition claimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, Mary came here with St. John in 37 AD and lived until her death in 48 AD. The Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892, and Pope Paul VI visited and prayed there in 1967. You spend time at the house before returning downhill for a traditional Turkish lunch near Ephesus.

Your final stop is the Temple of Artemis, where only scattered marble blocks and one standing column remain of what was once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. After you've seen the site, your guide drives you back to Kusadasi port or town center, timed to meet your ship or your schedule. The tour includes all entrance fees paid in advance, so your guide simply walks you through each site without stopping at ticket windows. Transport, lunch, guide, taxes and facility fees are all built into one price with no additions at the end.

What’s included

Your private English-speaking guide, all entrance fees to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis (pre-paid so you skip the lines), traditional Turkish lunch, private air-conditioned transportation, hotel or port pickup and drop-off, all taxes, facility fees and parking.

Options for this experience

2 options

Lunch included, without the TerracesGuide in English · 12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Entrance fees are included: private tour. Please check the inclusions and exclusions carefully when comparing our rates with others. There are no hidden costs in our tours. Pickup is included.

Lunch and Terrace Houses includedGuide in English · 12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Entrance fees are included: private tour. Please check the inclusions and exclusions carefully when comparing our rates with others. There are no hidden costs in our tours. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 5h–6h, runs every day, 12 start times, from US$ 179 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Ephesus Shuttle Private & Small Group Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you're docking at Kusadasi and need guaranteed return to your ship. Choose with Terrace Houses to add Roman homes to Ephesus, the Virgin Mary site, and the Temple of Artemis.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's actually left to see at the Temple of Artemis after all these centuries?

The Temple of Artemis stands as scattered marble blocks and a single standing column: what remains of a structure that once ranked among the seven wonders of the ancient world. Your guide explains what the full temple looked like and why so little survives.

How much walking is involved in a day visiting all three sites?

Ephesus itself requires walking the marble streets among the ruins, which involves uneven ground and some elevation change. The House of the Virgin Mary is a smaller site on a mountainside. The Temple of Artemis is a brief stop. Altogether, you should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

Will I have time to see everything in five to six hours, or does it feel rushed?

The five to six hour tour covers all three sites with your guide explaining the history at each one and time to look around. The twenty-minute drive to Ephesus, the lunch break, and the return journey to Kusadasi are built into that timeframe, so the day holds together without feeling compressed.

Can I choose what time the tour starts, or is there a set departure?

You decide on the departure time when you book. Your guide meets you at your chosen hour at the port or your hotel, so the tour fits your ship schedule or your own plans for the day.

What's included in the traditional Turkish lunch?

The tour includes a traditional Turkish lunch served near Ephesus. The meal is part of the all-inclusive price, with no separate charge. Your guide will take you to the restaurant as part of the day's itinerary.

Is this tour suitable if I'm arriving or leaving on a cruise ship?

Yes, the tour is designed for cruise passengers. Your guide meets you at Kusadasi port, and the operator guarantees an on-time return to the port so you don't miss your ship. If you're staying in a hotel instead, pickup and drop-off are included there as well.