Private Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi: Four Ancient Sites with Lunch

Walk Ephesus from the upper gate down to the harbor, following the same marble streets as Mark Antony and Alexander the Great.

A private full-day tour of Ephesus departing from Kusadasi hotels or cruise terminals, with a licensed English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and lunch included. You start at the House of Virgin Mary, then spend the morning walking through Ephesus from the Magnesia Gate down through the Forum, Library of Celsus, and Great Theater to the ancient harbor, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon takes you to the Basilica of St. John and the Temple of Artemis before returning to your starting point.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. House of the Virgin Mary45m
2. Ephesus2h
3. Ephesus Terrace Houses45m
4. Basilica of St. John30m
5. Temple of Artemis15m

Ephesus and Surrounding Historical Sites

• Meet guide at Kusadasi hotel or port
• Drive to The House of Virgin Mary
• Visit The House of Virgin Mary shrine
• Drive to Ephesus ancient city
• Tour Ephesus including Library and Theater
• Optional visit to Terrace Houses
• Lunch at local restaurant in Selcuk
• Visit Basilica of St. John
• Visit Temple of Artemis
• Pass through Caravanserail
• Return and drop off at Kusadasi port or hotel

The experience

If you're arriving by cruise ship or staying in Kusadasi without a rental car, this tour handles the logistics: pickup from your hotel lobby or the cruise terminal, transport in an air-conditioned van, and a guaranteed return timed to your ship's departure if needed. The guide meets you with a name sign and drives to the House of Virgin Mary first, a 25-minute journey to the pilgrimage site where Pope Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI have all visited to confirm its authenticity.

The heart of the day is Ephesus itself. You'll enter at the upper Magnesia Gate and walk downhill through the ancient city, passing the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus (one of the largest buildings in the Roman world), the Thermal Baths of Scholastika, and the Great Theater. That theater, built in the Greek era and rebuilt under Rome, once hosted Paul preaching to the Ephesians and now hosts concerts. Its acoustics are so precise that a whisper from the stage carries to the back rows. You walk the Arcadian Way, the marble processional street where Mark Antony and Cleopatra once rode. The guide shares stories of Alexander the Great and the other famous figures who crossed these same stones. If you want to add the Terrace Houses (private Roman homes built into the hillside), you can request that at booking.

Lunch is a traditional Turkish meal served at a local restaurant in Selcuk, either Selcuk Köftecisi or Bizim Ev Hanımeli. After eating, the tour continues to the Basilica of St. John on Ayosolug Hill, believed to be the burial place of the evangelist, then finishes at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The guide carries pre-paid entrance tickets to all sites, so you skip the lines at each gate. You pay the entrance fees in cash to the guide at the end of the day. The van returns you to your hotel or cruise port.

What’s included

• Professional licensed tour guide speaking English.
• private air-conditioned Mercedes van transport.
• pickup from your Kusadasi hotel or cruise terminal and return drop-off.
• parking fees at all sites.
• traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant.
• guaranteed on-time return to port for cruise passengers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

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 7 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

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Kusadasi Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving by cruise ship or staying in Kusadasi without a car: pickup from the terminal or your hotel is included, and the return is timed to your ship's departure. The private van and guide mean you move at your own pace through each site without waiting for a group to assemble, and the pre-paid entrance tickets let you skip the lines at the gates.

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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 still standing after two thousand years?

The Library of Celsus was one of the largest buildings in the Roman world, built in the 2nd century AD as a monumental tomb and library combined. Its facade survives because it was buried by earthquakes and sediment for centuries, protecting the marble columns and ornamental stonework from weathering and looting.

Can I add the Terrace Houses to this tour if I want to see how wealthy Romans lived?

Yes, the Ephesus Terrace Houses can be added to your itinerary at booking if you want to see the private Roman homes built into the hillside. Request this when you reserve, and your guide will include them in the day's route.

How does the tour work if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Your guide will meet you at the Kusadasi cruise terminal with a name sign at your pre-arranged time. You provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when you book, and the tour is timed to return you to the port before your ship departs: guaranteed on-time return is included.

What is the Temple of Artemis and why does it matter?

The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a massive Greek sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Artemis. It was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times over centuries, and the ruins you see today are what remains of that sacred site that drew pilgrims from across the Mediterranean.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?

Yes, a traditional homemade Turkish lunch is included at a local restaurant in Selcuk. The meal is served at either Selcuk Köftecisi or Bizim Ev Hanımeli Restaurant, and drinks and gratuities are not included.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

Ephesus requires walking downhill through the ancient city from the Magnesia Gate to the harbor, passing multiple sites along the way. The terrain is paved marble streets and stone pathways. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.