Private Guided Ephesus Tour: Temple of Artemis & Terrace Houses

Walk through two millennia of Roman life, from the grandest public buildings to the homes of the wealthy

A private guided tour of Ephesus with a licensed local guide, covering the Temple of Artemis, the Terrace Houses of wealthy Romans, the ancient city center with the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre, and the House of the Virgin Mary. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included. The tour runs 5 to 7 hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Temple of Artemis20m
2. Ephesus Terrace Houses30m
3. Ephesus2h
4. House of the Virgin Mary40m

Explore Ephesus and Virgin Mary House

• Visit Temple of Artemis
• Explore Ephesus Terrace Houses
• Tour ancient city of Ephesus highlights
• Visit House of the Virgin Mary

The experience

The route moves through Ephesus in a logical sweep: starting at the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, where views of the Basilica of St John, the Fortress of Selcuk and the Isa Bey Mosque are visible from the site. From there the guide takes you to the Terrace Houses, the villas of the wealthiest Romans, which were 2 to 3 storied dwellings with private baths and central running water systems. The walls still carry the frescos and mosaics that decorated them two thousand years ago.

The heart of the tour is the ancient city of Ephesus itself, where you see the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre (which held up to 24,000 spectators and is believed to be where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians), the Odeon, Roman Baths, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Agoras. A guide who knows the site walks you through the layout and the stories. The pace is yours to set. The final stop is the House of the Virgin Mary, the holy shrine where she is believed to have lived her last years with St. John. You get free time to see the cistern, the holy water fountains and the prayer wall.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, and you choose the language at checkout. Parking fees and local taxes are covered. Entrance fees to the sites are not, so budget for those separately.

What’s included

• Transportation by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a licensed local tour guide.
• parking fees.
• and local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Ada Vegas Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guide who knows the sites and can answer questions as you walk, rather than navigating on your own or joining a group. The private vehicle means you set the pace and stop when something catches your eye, and the guide speaks the language you choose at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Temple of Artemis and why is it on this tour?

The Temple of Artemis is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and stands as a landmark of Ephesus's importance in the classical era. From the site you can see the Basilica of St John, the Fortress of Selcuk and the Isa Bey Mosque, which gives you a sense of how the region layered different faiths and empires across the same landscape.

What can you actually see inside the Terrace Houses?

The Terrace Houses were 2 to 3 storied dwellings belonging to wealthy Romans, fitted with private baths and central running water systems. The walls still display the frescos and mosaics that decorated them, so you can see how the richest residents of Ephesus lived and what they chose to surround themselves with.

Is the Great Theatre still used, or is it just a ruin?

The Great Theatre, which held up to 24,000 spectators in antiquity, is still used today for local spring festivals. It is believed to be the place where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians, and you can walk through it as part of the tour.

How much time do you spend at the House of the Virgin Mary?

You get free time at the House of the Virgin Mary to explore the holy shrine, the cistern, the holy water fountains and the prayer wall at your own pace, without the guide narrating every detail.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the sites, or is transport provided?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and you travel between all sites in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The guide meets you at your hotel and returns you there at the end of the tour.