Private Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi: Temple of Artemis & St John

The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, sits in ruins on the same ground where it stood two thousand years ago.

A private full-day tour of Ephesus departing from Kusadasi or Selçuk with a licensed English-speaking guide and hotel or port pickup. You visit five major sites: the Temple of Artemis, the House of the Virgin Mary, the open-air Ephesus archaeological site with the Celsus Library and Grand Theatre, the Basilica of St John where the apostle was buried, and the Cave of Seven Sleepers. A traditional lunch is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. House of the Virgin Mary40m
2. Temple of Artemis20m
3. Ephesus2m
4. Basilica of St. John20m
5. Cave of the Seven Sleepers20m

Explore biblical and ancient Ephesus sites

• Visit House of the Virgin Mary
• See Temple of Artemis
• Explore ancient city of Ephesus
• Tour Basilica of St. John
• Visit Cave of the Seven Sleepers

The experience

The tour leaves from your hotel or the cruise port in Kusadasi and travels by private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide for the full day. You start at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, where only scattered columns remain on the site where the structure once dominated the landscape. From there, the guide takes you through the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where Mary spent her final years, then into the main Ephesus archaeological zone: an open-air museum where you walk among Greek and Roman ruins spanning centuries.

The Celsus Library and the Grand Theatre are the centerpieces of Ephesus itself. Your guide explains their role in the city's history and what daily life looked like in this once-thriving port. After a traditional lunch, you continue to the Basilica of St John, a 6th-century church built where the apostle was buried, then finish at the Cave of Seven Sleepers: the cave where, according to tradition, seven young Christians slept for roughly two hundred years. The entire route is designed to fit within a single afternoon and evening, with the guide handling all the stops and pacing.

A private vehicle means no waiting for other groups and no fixed departure times beyond your hotel or port pickup. The guide speaks English and can answer questions specific to your interests as you move through each site. If you need a vegetarian meal or have other dietary needs, you can request them when booking. The tour works for families with children, though infants' meals aren't included. Specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• round-trip pickup from your hotel or cruise port in Kusadasi or Selçuk.
• professional licensed guide speaking English.
• traditional lunch.
• entry to all five sites including the Temple of Artemis, Ephesus archaeological zone, House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John and Cave of Seven Sleepers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 42 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 effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Ephesus Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're staying in Kuşadası or Selçuk and want a private guide to walk you through all five major sites (Temple of Artemis, Celsus Library, Grand Theatre, Temple of Hadrian, House of the Virgin Mary, Cave of Seven Sleepers, and Basilica of St John) in one full day without backtracking.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6).

What exactly is left of the Temple of Artemis after all these centuries?

The Temple of Artemis survives as scattered marble columns and foundation stones on the original site. Once one of the largest structures in the ancient world, it was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. What remains gives a sense of its scale and location rather than the complete structure.

Can I visit Ephesus if I'm arriving on a cruise ship in Kusadasi?

Yes. Cruise passengers can book this tour with pickup from the port. At booking you'll need to provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time so the guide times your return accordingly.

How much walking is involved across all five sites?

The Ephesus archaeological zone requires the most walking as you move between the Celsus Library, Grand Theatre and other ruins spread across the open-air museum. The other sites (the Temple of Artemis, House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John and Cave of Seven Sleepers) involve moderate walking. The terrain is uneven in places, though all areas are wheelchair accessible and the vehicle handles transfers between stops.

Is lunch included, and what if I'm vegetarian?

A traditional lunch is included in the tour price. Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know at booking if you need one.

What's the difference between the Basilica of St John and the House of the Virgin Mary?

The House of the Virgin Mary is a small chapel on a hillside believed to be where Mary lived in her final years. It's a pilgrimage site with spiritual significance. The Basilica of St John is a much larger 6th-century church built on the site where the apostle John was buried, and it contains his tomb inside the basilica structure.