Private Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi: Design Your Day

Build your own itinerary around Ephesus's marble streets and ancient ruins.

A private shore excursion from Kusadasi port with an English-speaking guide and dedicated vehicle lets you choose which sites to visit: the ancient city of Ephesus, Virgin Mary's House, St John's Basilica, the village of Sirince, or the Temple of Artemis. The guide meets you at the port, discusses your preferences, then takes you to whichever attractions interest you most over the course of the day. Port pickup and drop-off, transport, parking and the guide are included. Food, drinks and entrance fees to individual sites are separate.

The experience

How do you spend a port day when you want to see Ephesus but not follow a fixed schedule? This private excursion lets you decide. You're met at Kusadasi port by an English-speaking guide, and after a quick conversation about what you want to see, you set off in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle built for up to 14 people. The guide steers you toward the highlights but the itinerary is yours. You might spend three hours walking the marble streets of ancient Ephesus, tracing the Celsus Library and the theatre, or skip it entirely and head straight to the House of Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims. St John's Basilica sits on what is believed to be the burial site of the Apostle. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, now stands as a single column but the guide helps you picture what it was. Sirince, a former Greek village with cobblestone streets, is a quieter stop where you can taste local fruit wine and browse handicrafts.

The day runs eight hours total, which gives you real time at each place without rushing. Your guide helps you pick a lunch spot: options range from open buffets of home-style food to gozleme (Turkish pancakes), kebabs and pide (Turkish pizza). Entrance fees to the sites vary (Ephesus is 40TL per person, Virgin Mary's House 20TL, St John's Basilica 10TL, the Temple of Artemis is free), and you pay them as you go. The vehicle brings you back to the port in time to reboard your ship.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• private vehicle for up to 14 people.
• port pickup and drop-off at Kusadasi.
• parking fees.
• air-conditioned transport throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Turkey Tours - Tours4Turkey Travel

Is this one for you?The eight-hour window gives you real time at each site without a rigid schedule, so you can linger at Ephesus or skip it entirely and spend the day in Sirince and the smaller basilicas: whatever fits how you want to spend your port call.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is the ancient city of Ephesus actually like when you walk through it?

Ephesus is a sprawling ruins site with marble streets, the Celsus Library (one of the largest buildings in the ancient world), an odeon, an agora and a theatre. Your guide walks you through the highlights and explains what daily life looked like for the Ephesians who lived there when it was the capital of Asia Minor.

Can I visit just one or two sites instead of trying to see everything?

Yes. You design the itinerary with your guide at the start of the day, so you can focus on Ephesus alone, or combine it with one or two other stops like Virgin Mary's House or Sirince. The guide suggests options but you decide how much time to spend at each place.

Does the price include lunch and entrance fees?

The price covers the guide, vehicle, port pickup and drop-off, and parking. Entrance fees to individual sites (ranging from free at the Temple of Artemis to 40TL at Ephesus) and food are separate. You pay them directly as you visit.

What is Sirince, and is it worth the detour?

Sirince is a charming former Greek village with cobblestone streets, local wine tastings, olive oil products and handicrafts for sale. It's known for home-style cooking and offers a quieter contrast to the ancient ruins if you want a break during the day.

Will I have time to get back to the ship before it leaves?

The excursion runs eight hours and ends with drop-off at Kusadasi port. At booking, provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time so the operator can plan the itinerary to get you back in time.