Kusadasi Private Ephesus Tour: Ancient Sites & Sirince Village

Walk the marble streets of Ephesus where Paul preached and emperors ruled.

A private guided tour of Ephesus departing from Kusadasi covers the UNESCO archaeological site, the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders), terrace houses with ancient murals, and the House of the Virgin Mary, ending with lunch in the hilltop Greek-Turkish village of Sirince. Your guide speaks English or German, pickup is included from your hotel or cruise port, and the itinerary is flexible to your interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. House of the Virgin Mary1h
2. Ephesus2h
3. Ephesus Terrace Houses30m
4. Temple of Artemis30m

Private tour of Ephesus and surroundings

• Visit House of Virgin Mary shrine
• Explore ancient city of Ephesus
• See Ephesus Terrace Houses
• View Temple of Artemis ruins

The experience

Ephesus spreads across a hillside in layers: start at the House of the Virgin Mary, where tradition holds Mary spent her final years after arriving with Saint John, then descend into the main archaeological zone. Your guide leads you down the marble-paved Curetes Street, pointing out the Odeon, the State Agora, Hadrian's Temple, and the Library of Celsus, a three-story facade that once held 12,000 scrolls. The walk takes in the Great Theatre, where 25,000 people once gathered, and the Arcadiane, the ancient harbor road now buried under fields. Two hours on foot covers the essential structures, though the site is large enough to spend longer if you choose.

The Terrace Houses sit on a steep slope above the main ruins. These were homes of wealthy residents, their walls decorated with frescoes of gladiators, animals, and graffiti declaring love and poetry. The murals survive because the houses were buried by earthquakes and preserved under ash. The Temple of Artemis, one of antiquity's Seven Wonders, is now a field of scattered stone columns. What remains is modest compared to what stood here, but the guide explains the scale and significance of what was lost.

After Ephesus, the tour climbs to Sirince Village, a stone settlement perched above the Aegean where Greek and Turkish families have lived side by side for centuries. Lunch happens here. The village is small, quiet, and built on narrow streets that wind uphill. You have time to walk, rest, and eat before the return to Kusadasi. The entire outing runs five to six hours depending on how long you linger at each stop. Your guide adjusts the pace and can skip or extend sections based on what interests you most.

What’s included

• Private professional guide in English or German.
• private air-conditioned minivan.
• hotel or port pickup and return.
• parking fees.
• visits to the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus archaeological site, Terrace Houses, Temple of Artemis, and Sirince Village.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day21 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to15h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Infant (under 7)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Apasas travel

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you're docked for a full day and want to see both Ephesus and Sirince without coordinating separate transport and guides. Choose the shorter option if your ship leaves within five to six hours.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 7).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is left to see at the Temple of Artemis?

The Temple of Artemis stands as a field of scattered stone columns and foundation blocks. Once one of the largest buildings in the ancient world, it was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. What remains today gives a sense of the footprint and scale rather than the complete structure, but the guide explains its significance as one of the Seven Wonders and its role in early Christianity.

How much walking is involved in the Ephesus part of the tour?

Ephesus requires roughly two hours of walking on marble streets and stone paths, mostly on level or gently sloping ground. The archaeological site is large, but the main attractions cluster together, and your guide can adjust the route based on your pace and interests.

Is lunch included in the price, or do I pay separately in Sirince?

Lunch in Sirince Village is not included in the tour price. You choose a restaurant and pay for your meal there. The village has several options, and your guide can recommend places based on what you want to eat.

Can I book this tour if my ship arrives late or leaves early?

The tour offers multiple departure times throughout the day, so you can choose a slot that fits your ship's schedule. Pickup from the cruise port is included, and your guide can discuss timing when you book to ensure the tour works with your port call.

What's the difference between the Terrace Houses and the main Ephesus ruins?

The Terrace Houses are ancient residential villas built on a hillside, decorated with frescoes showing daily life: gladiators, animals, love poems, and graffiti. The main Ephesus site contains public buildings like temples, libraries, theaters and government structures. Together they show both how wealthy residents lived and how the city functioned as a whole.