Ephesus & Temple of Artemis tour from Kusadasi with guide

Stand in the ruins of an ancient Roman city that shaped the Mediterranean world

This guided tour visits Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary from Kusadasi, with a local English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, lunch and air-conditioned minivan transport. The tour runs six hours and covers the classical city's main monuments, including the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and the pace suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Ephesus and Virgin Mary's House

• Travel to House of Virgin Mary
• Visit House of Virgin Mary
• Travel to Temple of Artemis
• Visit Temple of Artemis
• Travel to Ephesus
• Visit Ephesus ancient city
• Pass by Viaport Marina

The Experience

You start at your hotel in Kusadasi, picked up and driven in an air-conditioned minivan to Ephesus. The city itself is one of the world's finest examples of a classical ancient settlement, and your guide walks you through the ruins—the Library of Celsus, the Theatre, the Temple of Hadrian—explaining what each building was and how the city functioned when it was one of the Roman Empire's most important ports. The scale of what survives makes the history concrete in a way that photographs do not.

Next is the Temple of Artemis, the site where one of the seven wonders of the ancient world once stood. What remains now is modest—a few columns and the ground plan—but the guide explains what archaeologists know about the temple's size and the role it played in the city's religious and economic life. From there you visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone structure on a hillside thought to be where Mary spent her final years; it is a pilgrimage site for Christians and a quiet counterpoint to the grand ruins of the city below.

Lunch is included partway through the day. The tour also stops at Viaport Marina and includes a visit to the Isa Bey Mosque, which dates to the 14th century and shows a different architectural tradition from the classical structures. By the end of the six hours, you are back at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Kusadasi accommodation.
• professional local guide speaking English.
• lunch during the tour.
• air-conditioned minivan transport between all sites.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Turista Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Book this if you're committing a full morning or afternoon to walking at a moderate pace through open-air ruins, and you want a guide who can connect the major sites—Temple of Artemis, House of Virgin Mary, Isa Bey Mosque—rather than navigating between them yourself.

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Top questions

What is the Temple of Artemis and why is it important?

The Temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, built in Ephesus as a massive sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Artemis. It was one of the largest and most ornate buildings of its time, and the site held enormous religious and economic importance to the city. Today only foundations and a few columns remain, but the guide explains its history and significance during the tour.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour involves moderate walking through the ruins of Ephesus and around the other sites. You move between different areas of the ancient city and climb to the House of the Virgin Mary on a hillside. The pace is suited to all fitness levels, and infants or small children can travel in a pram or stroller if needed.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, making it accessible for families with young kids. The six-hour duration and mix of sites—ancient ruins, a religious pilgrimage site and a mosque—work for different ages and interests.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Kusadasi; a professional English-speaking guide; lunch; and air-conditioned minivan transport to all sites. Drinks are not included in the price.