Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Private Tour from Kusadasi

Walk marble streets lined with ancient temples, then climb to a sacred mountain shrine.

A private guided tour from Kusadasi covers Ephesus, the House of Virgin Mary on Aladag Mountain, and the Temple of Artemis, with entrance fees, Turkish lunch and transportation included. You choose your departure time and how long to spend at each site. Your guide meets you at your hotel or the cruise port with your name sign and holds pre-paid tickets to skip the lines. The tour runs five to seven hours depending on how you pace it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ephesus2h · entry included
2. Ephesus Terrace Houses30m · entry included
3. House of the Virgin Mary45m · entry included
4. Temple of Artemis15m

Visit Ephesus, Virgin Mary House, and Lunch

• Meet guide at Kusadasi hotel or port
• Drive 20 minutes to Ephesus
• Explore Ephesus ancient city
• Visit Ephesus Terrace Houses
• Visit House of Virgin Mary
• Enjoy Turkish lunch with grilled dishes
• Stop at Temple of Artemis
• Return to Kusadasi city center and port

The experience

Your guide meets you at Kusadasi port or hotel at the time you choose, then drives twenty minutes to Ephesus. The ancient city spreads across marble streets lined with the Library of Celsus, the Baths of Scholastica, the Temple of Hadrian and the Grand Theatre: a structure built in the third century B.C. and later expanded to hold twenty-four thousand spectators. You walk at your own speed. There is no group to wait for and no fixed schedule inside the site itself.

The itinerary branches here depending on which option you book. If you choose the Terrace Houses, you climb the residential units built on three man-made terraces on Pion Mountain's slope: six houses where wealthy Ephesians lived, decorated with wall frescoes and floor mosaics. The ascent is steep with many steps. It is not recommended for people with walking difficulties or fear of heights. Without this option, you move directly to the House of Virgin Mary.

The House of Virgin Mary sits on Aladag Mountain five miles from Ephesus. According to tradition established at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., Mary came here with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived until 48 A.D. The site became a place of pilgrimage after its discovery, and Pope Paul VI visited and prayed there in 1967. After the shrine, you stop at the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, before returning to the port or town center. Turkish lunch (grilled chicken shish, grilled meatballs with salad, three kinds of mezes and seasonal fruit) is served during the day. Entrance fees are pre-paid, your guide is a licensed professional who speaks English, and the vehicle is air-conditioned.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Ephesus, the House of Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis with pre-paid skip-the-line tickets.
• private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a professional licensed guide who speaks English.
• traditional Turkish lunch with grilled meats, salads, mezes and seasonal fruit.
• hotel or port pickup in Kusadasi.

Options for this experience

2 options

Terrace Houses option not includedGuide in English · 13 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:30All-inclusive version without the Terrace Houses: When comparing our rates with other operators, please review what each one covers and leaves out. Our rates cover ENTRANCE FEES and lunch. Pickup is included.

Includes the Terrace Houses optionGuide in English · 13 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:30Terrace Houses INCLUDED: When comparing our rates with other operators, please review what each one covers and leaves out. Our rates cover ENTRANCE FEES and lunch. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (8 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Private & Small Group Ephesus & Istanbul & Turkey Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you're docking at Kusadasi and want to set your own pace through Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary. Your guide meets you at the port and you control departure time and how long you spend at each site.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What is the Library of Celsus and why is it one of the main stops in Ephesus?

The Library of Celsus is one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus, built in the second century A.D. by Gaius Julius Aquila as a memorial to his father, the proconsul of the Province of Asia. It stands along the marble streets you walk through on the tour.

Can I choose when the tour starts from Kusadasi?

Yes. You decide on your departure time when you book, and your guide will meet you at your hotel or cruise port at that time with your name sign.

What is included in the price, and are there any hidden costs?

All entrance fees, private transportation, a professional English-speaking guide, and Turkish lunch are included with no hidden costs. Tips and personal expenses are not included.

Is the Terrace Houses stop mandatory, or can I skip it?

The Terrace Houses are optional. You can book the tour with or without them. If you choose to include them, you'll climb the residential units on Pion Mountain's terraces, though the ascent involves many steps and is not recommended for people with walking difficulties.

How long does the tour take, and will I get back to the port on time if I'm on a cruise?

The tour runs five to seven hours depending on how long you spend at each site. The operator guarantees an on-time return to the port so you won't miss your ship's departure.

What does the Turkish lunch include?

Lunch includes grilled chicken shish, grilled meatballs with salad, three kinds of mezes (appetizers), and seasonal fruit.