Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour from Kusadasi Port: Skip-the-Line

Ancient ruins, a pilgrimage site, vineyard tastings, and a traditional lunch in one morning

A guided tour from Kusadasi Port combines skip-the-line access to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, wine tasting in Sirince, and a traditional Turkish lunch at a carpet weaving village, with guaranteed return to your ship. Your private guide walks you through the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, and Temple of Hadrian, then moves to the vineyard for regional wines and local snacks before the meal and village visit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. House of the Virgin Mary45m
2. Ephesus2h
3. Sirince1h 30m

Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tour

• Pick up from Kusadasi Port
• Visit House of the Virgin Mary
• Explore ancient city of Ephesus
• Wine tasting at local vineyard
• Visit carpet weaving village and lunch
• Drive back to Kusadasi Port

The experience

How do you fit Ephesus, a pilgrimage site, wine tasting, and lunch into a cruise day without missing your ship? This tour picks you up from Kusadasi Port in an air-conditioned van and builds the day around skip-the-line entry to Ephesus: the 40-euro entrance fee you pay to your guide means no queue at the gate. Your licensed guide leads you through the marble streets to the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Terrace Houses, explaining each one as you walk. The tour is built for cruisers: it guarantees your return to the port on time.

After Ephesus, you move to the House of the Virgin Mary, a serene pilgrimage site in the hills where Christians believe Mary spent her final years. Then comes Sirince, a village known for wine. You'll taste a variety of regional wines at a local vineyard or wine cellar, paired with local snacks and light appetizers. The winery also walks you through how the wines are made and the history of production in the region. From there, you head to a traditional carpet weaving village to watch artisans at work and see the natural dyes and hand-weaving techniques they use: centuries-old methods still practiced the same way. Lunch is a traditional Turkish meal prepared with fresh local ingredients, eaten in the village itself.

You choose between a private tour (just your group) or a small group tour (other cruise passengers) at checkout. Both include the guide, the van, wine tasting, lunch, and the skip-the-line tickets you'll need. The 4- to 6-hour timeline is tight by design: it leaves room for your ship to depart on schedule.

What’s included

• Professional licensed expert guide in English or Spanish.
• skip-the-line access to Ephesus.
• fully air-conditioned private van or shared vehicle depending on your option.
• wine tasting at Sirince Village with local snacks.
• traditional Turkish lunch at the carpet weaving village.
• car park fees and local taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour in a small group, departing from the portGuide in English or Spanish · 19 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:00Small group tour, tickets not included: If you select this option, the tour will be a small group tour. Pickup is included.

Tour for a private group, departing from the portGuide in English or Spanish · 16 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 13:30Private tour, tickets not included: If you select this option, the tour will be a private tour. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 4h–6h, runs every day, 19 start times, from US$ 41 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day19 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to12h before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Anatolia Expedition

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if your group wants the guide's full attention and flexibility to linger at any site. Choose the small group tour to share the cost with other cruise passengers while keeping the same itinerary and guaranteed return time. Either way, the skip-the-line tickets and fixed schedule are what make Ephesus, the pilgrimage site, wine tasting, and lunch fit into a single cruise day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

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

What exactly is the Library of Celsus and why is it worth seeing in Ephesus?

The Library of Celsus is an ancient Roman building that once held thousands of scrolls and stands as one of the best-preserved structures in Ephesus. Your guide explains its architecture and historical significance as you walk through it, showing how it was built to protect the scrolls from temperature changes and moisture.

Do I have to pay the entrance fees to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary separately?

Ephesus entrance is 40 euros and the House of the Virgin Mary is 700 Turkish lira. You pay both to your guide on the day, and these fees give you skip-the-line access so you don't wait at the gates. The tour operator will send you pre-purchased museum tickets in advance so the process is seamless when you arrive.

What kind of wines will I taste at Sirince, and how long do we spend there?

Sirince is a village famous for regional wines, and you'll sample a variety produced locally, paired with local snacks or light appetizers. The winery visit includes a brief overview of how the wines are made and the history of wine production in the area. The exact time depends on the winery's schedule and your group's pace.

Will we have time to see the Great Theatre and other major sites, or just a few highlights?

The tour includes the Great Theatre, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Trajan Fountain, Odeon Temple, and the Terrace Houses. Your guide takes you through the main landmarks and explains each one. The 4- to 6-hour window is structured to fit all of these into the day while keeping you back at the port on time for your ship.

What's included in the traditional lunch at the carpet weaving village?

Lunch is a traditional Turkish meal prepared with fresh local ingredients and served in the village itself. The meal is part of the tour, and you'll eat after watching the carpet weavers at work and learning about their techniques and natural dyes.

If I book the small group tour, how many other people will be on it?

The small group tour operates with other cruise passengers, but the exact group size varies by departure. Your guide and driver remain the same, and the itinerary is identical to the private tour option.