Ephesus Tour from Izmir: Ancient City & Temple of Artemis

Ephesus marble streets tour with guide for an immersive ancient experience

This guided tour from Izmir begins at the House of the Virgin Mary, then moves to Ephesus, where you walk the ancient city's marble streets and explore major sites including the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and Great Theatre with a local guide. The tour includes hotel or airport pickup, lunch at a local restaurant in Selçuk, entry to both the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus, and a stop at the Temple of Artemis on the return to Izmir. Tours run in English or Spanish, and the full day lasts between 6 and 10 hours depending on traffic and group size.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. House of the Virgin MaryEntry included45m
2. EphesusEntry included2h

Visit House of Virgin Mary and Ephesus

• Start tour at 8:30 am
• Visit House of Virgin Mary
• Explore Ephesus Ancient City
• Lunch at local restaurant in Selçuk
• Return to Izmir and drop off guests

The experience

The tour starts at 8:30 am with pickup from your hotel, port or airport. You spend 45 minutes at the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final days, seeing its sacred fountains and wishing wall before moving on to Ephesus. The drive between sites takes roughly an hour and a half, so you arrive at the ancient city with time to explore.

At Ephesus, you have two hours to walk the marble streets with your guide. The stops include the Odeon, State Agora, Curetes Street, Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, Library of Celsus, Commercial Agora, and the Great Theatre, which once held approximately 24,000 spectators. Your guide brings the city to life through stories about its history, architecture, culture and daily life. The kind of detail that makes a ruin into a place where people actually lived. After Ephesus, you eat lunch at a local restaurant in Selçuk with an open buffet, then visit local workshops to see traditional craftsmanship and regional products before heading to the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, on the way back.

The return to Izmir takes about an hour. Your guide stays with you throughout, and the tour operates in English or Spanish depending on which option you choose. Hotel and airport pickups are included, as are all entrance fees and transport by air-conditioned car or minivan sized to your group. If you have a flight the same day, let the operator know so they can plan the return timing.

What’s included

• The tour includes a local guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel, port or airport pickup and drop-off.
• entrance fees for both the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus Ancient City.
• lunch with an open buffet in Selçuk.
• transport in an air-conditioned car or minivan.
• and a panoramic view of the Temple of Artemis on the return journey.

Options for this experience

2 options

English Tour08:00Pickup is included

Spanish Tour08:00Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 6h–10h, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 118 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Gezenthi Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Book the English tour if your group speaks English, or the Spanish tour if Spanish is your preference: the guide and all logistics stay the same, so the choice is just about the language you hear the history in. If you're flying out the same day, mention your flight time when you book so the return to Izmir fits your departure.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the House of the Virgin Mary and how long do we spend there?

The House of the Virgin Mary is believed to be where she spent her final days, located near Ephesus. You spend 45 minutes there with your guide, seeing its sacred fountains and wishing wall.

Which ancient sites do we actually walk through at Ephesus?

Ephesus includes the Odeon, State Agora, Curetes Street, Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, Library of Celsus, Commercial Agora, and the Great Theatre, which once seated approximately 24,000 spectators. You have two hours to explore these sites with your guide.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Yes, lunch is included at a local restaurant in Selçuk with an open buffet, served after you finish exploring Ephesus.

What time does the tour start and how long is the full day?

The tour starts at 8:30 am and lasts between 6 and 10 hours depending on traffic and group size. The return drive to Izmir takes approximately one hour.

Do I need to arrange my own transport, or is pickup included?

Hotel, port and airport pickup are included in the tour price. You travel by air-conditioned car or minivan sized to your group, and the driver drops you at your address at the end of the day.