Private Ephesus tour with Turkish cooking class from Kusadasi

You cook lunch yourself with a local chef after touring the ancient ruins.

A private tour from Kusadasi combines a guided walk through UNESCO-listed Ephesus and a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary with a hands-on cooking class. You shop at a local market for fresh ingredients, then prepare traditional Turkish dishes in a kitchen with a local chef before sitting down to eat what you made.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit historic sites and cook Turkish cuisine

• Visit House of the Virgin Mary
• Explore ancient Ephesus monuments
• Enjoy guided walking tour of Ephesus
• Visit local market for fresh ingredients
• Cook Turkish dishes with local chef
• Enjoy homecooked lunch

The experience

The tour starts with private transportation from Kusadasi in an air-conditioned Mercedes van, picking up from your hotel or ship. Your licensed local guide leads you through Ephesus, where you'll see the monuments of the ancient city and walk the UNESCO site at your own pace. The House of the Virgin Mary comes next. The house where tradition holds that Mary spent her final years.

After the historical sites, you head to a local market to select fresh ingredients with your guide. This is where the cooking begins: you move into a kitchen with a local chef who walks you through preparing a variety of typical Turkish dishes. You're hands-on throughout, not watching a demonstration. Once everything is ready, you sit down to eat the lunch you've made.

The tour runs between four and six hours total. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and the guide speaks English or Spanish. Parking and transportation are included. Entrance fees to the sites and any drinks are separate.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned Mercedes van.
• parking fees.
• a licensed local guide speaking English or Spanish.
• a market visit to select ingredients.
• hands-on cooking instruction with a local chef.
• and the lunch you prepare.

Before you book

Lasts 4h–6h, runs every day, 15 start times, from US$ 84 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 day15 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Ephesus Tour Company

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you follow the commentary comfortably in your language. A minimum of two people per booking means this works for couples or small groups, not solo travelers.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly do I cook during the class part of this tour?

The description says you prepare a variety of typical Turkish dishes with the local chef, though the specific recipes aren't listed in advance. The ingredients come from the market you visit that morning, so what you make depends partly on what's fresh and available that day.

Is the cooking class suitable if I've never cooked before?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and there's no mention of cooking experience required. A local chef leads the hands-on instruction, so beginners are welcome.

How much time do I spend at Ephesus itself?

Ephesus is a major stop on the tour. You get a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed site and see all the monuments of the ancient city. The exact breakdown within the four to six hour total isn't specified, but it's one of the two main historical stops alongside the House of the Virgin Mary.

Can I do this tour if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Yes. The tour includes private pickup, and the operator notes that pickup is included in the booking. Confirm your ship's port time when you reserve so the return can be timed to your departure.

What's the Temple of Artemis, and do I see it on this tour?

The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and stood in Ephesus. Ruins of it remain at the site, and you'll encounter them during your guided walking tour of the ancient city.