The verdict
Our pick
Ephesus: Private Skip-the-Line Tour & Temple of Artemis Lunch★ 4.96 (2,277) · 4h–6h
Best value
Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi: Ancient Ruins & Artemis Temple★ 4.61 (56) · 3h–6h
Top rated
Ephesus, Virgin Mary & Artemis: Private Day Tour with Lunch★ 4.98 (102) · 5h–6h
The 12 best-value of 33 options, side by side
✓ 2026-09-29Real price per person across the 33 options: US$ 6–US$ 578 (median US$ 59). With an extra fee to pay on site: 9 of 33. With 100+ reviews: 15 of 33.
Default order: price per person.
Sort
Private experiences (11)
Ephesus, Temple of Artemis & Virgin Mary: Private half-day tourA private half-day tour of Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle and lunch included. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours and covers the Celsus Library, the Grand Theater, the Odeion and Roman Baths, then moves to the Temple of Artemis—one of the seven wonders of the ancient world—before ending at a Byzantine church where Mary is believed to have lived. Entrance fees to Ephesus and the Virgin Mary House are paid separately; drinks are not included with lunch.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple or small family and want to see three major ancient sites—Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary—without renting a car or navigating entry fees and timing on your own. The private vehicle and guide mean the day moves at one pace, and you don't wait for a group to assemble or move between stops.
Ephesus & Artemis: Private Tour from Kusadasi with LunchYou’ll walk ancient streets in Ephesus with a local guide who brings history alive, stand at what’s left of the Temple of Artemis (with storks overhead), wander Selçuk’s winding roads, and share lunch at a Turkish carpet center where you can watch real weaving up close. Expect small surprises — maybe figs from a market lady or laughter over your first try at tying knots.
Ephesus, Virgin Mary & Artemis: Private Tour with Lunch & EntryYou’ll walk ancient streets in Ephesus with a private guide who brings legends to life, pause for quiet reflection at the House of Mary, and enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch—all entry fees included. Experience real textures under your feet and stories in your ear before returning to Kusadasi with new memories tucked away.
Kusadasi: Ephesus & Temple of Artemis Private Tour, Cruise Return GuaranteedYou get picked up at Kusadasi port by a licensed guide in a private vehicle, visit Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis at your own pace, browse the local market, and return to your ship on time. The early-morning start beats the cruise ship crowds and the afternoon heat. All transport, parking, and guide fees are included; you just need to coordinate your meeting time with your ship's arrival.Is it for me?Right for cruise passengers with a few hours in port who want to see Ephesus without the chaos of group tours or the stress of timing their own return. The early meeting time (30–45 minutes after docking) means you beat the crowds and the heat, which is what makes a full tour of the main sites possible in a single port stop.
Ephesus: Private Shore Excursion with Artemis & Virgin Mary, LunchYou’ll wander Ephesus’ timeworn streets with a local guide who brings its secrets alive, pause by Artemis’ ancient columns, share lunch near Selçuk village, and feel an unexpected hush at Mary’s house—all with easy pickup from your cruise port.
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis: Private Cruise Port Tour from KusadasiYou're picked up at the cruise port and driven straight to Ephesus, where you skip entry lines and walk through the Celsus Library, Roman Theatre, and Temple of Hadrian with a professional guide. You visit the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and return to your ship on time. Private transportation, all entry fees, and parking are included.Is it for me?Book this if you're docking at Kusadasi and want to see Ephesus without arranging your own transport or worrying about missing your ship—the private timing and port-return guarantee are what make a full ancient-city tour possible in a few hours.
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis: Private Shore Excursion from KusadasiYou get a downhill walk through Ephesus's main ruins with a licensed local guide, a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary in the mountains, and the Temple of Artemis — all three in one morning with port pickup and guaranteed return before your ship leaves. Entry fees are included, ticket lines are skipped, and the guide arranges everything so you only show up and walk.Is it for me?Book this if you're on a cruise and want to see Ephesus's main ruins, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis without arranging transport, buying tickets separately, or worrying about getting back to the ship — the private guide and fixed schedule handle all three.
Ephesus: Private Day Tour, St. John Basilica & Artemis TempleYou’ll step through ancient Ephesus with a private guide, pause at the House of Virgin Mary where pine and incense hang in the air, eat meze in a quiet garden, and stand by what remains of the Temple of Artemis—all with hotel or port pickup included. It’s less about ticking off sights and more about feeling echoes under your feet.
Ephesus Private Tour: Terrace Houses, Artemis & Port PickupYou’ll walk ancient marble streets in Ephesus with a local guide who brings history alive, explore hidden mosaics in the Terrace Houses, pause at the peaceful House of the Virgin Mary, and see what remains of Artemis’ temple — all with easy port pickup and guaranteed on-time return to your cruise ship.
Ephesus Private Tour: Ancient City & Temple of ArtemisA private guided tour of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis, with pickup from your cruise port or hotel and an English-speaking licensed guide for the full day. You set the pace at each site — linger at the Celsus Library, ask questions at the Grand Theatre where St. Paul preached, and spend as long as you want at the House of the Virgin Mary. The guide arranges your entry tickets in advance so you skip the lines at the gate.Is it for me?This tour is built around a private pace — you and your travel companions move through the sites without a group schedule, which means you can spend extra time at the Celsus Library or linger at the House of the Virgin Mary if the moment calls for it. The five- to six-hour window works for cruise guests who need to be back at the port by a set time, and the driver tracks your schedule so the return is planned.
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis: Skip-the-Line Private TourYou skip the entry lines at Ephesus and see three major sites—the Temple of Artemis, the ancient city's main ruins, and the House of the Virgin Mary—with a local guide who knows the history and the logistics. Hotel pickup, lunch, and all entry fees are included, so you show up and walk; everything else is arranged.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Ephesus's major attractions without arranging tickets, transport, or timing yourself—the skip-the-line access and private guide mean you spend your time looking at ruins instead of standing in queues or figuring out logistics.
2 to 5 hours (12)
Ephesus & Artemis: Cruise Port Tour with Tickets & LunchYou’ll walk through ancient Ephesus with a local guide, pause at the Temple of Artemis ruins, try homemade Turkish food for lunch (with fresh bread!), and maybe even watch carpet weaving up close. Pickup and drop-off at Kusadasi cruise port means no stress about timing — just enough time to let history sink in before heading back onboard.
Ephesus & Artemis: Skip-the-Line Tour with Lunch & Port PickupYou’ll step onto ancient marble streets in Ephesus with a local guide leading your small group or private tour—no waiting in ticket lines—and stand where Romans once gathered in massive theaters. Enjoy Turkish lunch at a weaving village before exploring what remains of the Temple of Artemis, then relax knowing your timely return to Kuşadası port is guaranteed.
Ephesus & Artemis: Small Group Shore Excursion with LunchYou’ll meet your guide right at Kusadasi port before heading off with a small group to explore ancient Ephesus, light a candle at the House of Virgin Mary, taste homemade Turkish food in a carpet village, and stand where the Temple of Artemis once towered over everything. It’s not just about seeing ruins—it’s feeling them under your skin.
Ephesus: Small Group Tour with Terrace Houses & Artemis TempleYou’ll walk ancient marble streets in Ephesus with a small group and guide, climb into hillside Terrace Houses full of faded mosaics, and stand where Artemis’ temple once stood tall—all with easy pickup from Kusadasi port or your hotel. Expect laughter, real stories from locals, and moments that linger long after you’ve left.
Ephesus, Temple of Artemis & Mary's House Small Group TourA small group tour from Izmir covers Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary in 5 to 7 hours, with a professional English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and skip-the-line entry. Pickup from your Izmir hotel, port or airport is included; site entrances are paid separately at checkout. The itinerary moves through the ancient city's major structures—the theatre that held 25,000 people where St. Paul preached, the Library, Roman Baths, Odeon and Agora—then stops at a ceramic or rug weaving demonstration before finishing at the pilgrimage shrine where three popes have visited.Is it for me?Choose this small group tour if you prefer a shared experience with a guide rather than exploring independently, and need pickup from Izmir to fit the day into your schedule.
Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi: Library of Celsus & ArtemisA guided tour of Ephesus starting at Kusadasi cruise port, where your English-speaking guide meets you and leads you through three to four hours of ancient ruins including the Library of Celsus, Marble Street, the Great Theater, and the Temple of Artemis. Lunch, air-conditioned transport, and entrance fees are included or available at checkout; you return to the port with time to spare before departure.Is it for me?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary comfortably without translation or a separate audio device. The three to four hour schedule is built around cruise ship timing, which means you're back at the port with a buffer before departure—the arrangement that matters most when you're docked for a single afternoon.
Kusadasi: Ephesus & Artemis Temple tour with local guideYou’ll walk ancient marble streets in Ephesus with a local guide who brings history to life, touch stones worn by centuries of travelers, pause at the quiet remains of Artemis Temple, and catch sweeping views over Kusadasi before heading back—moments you’ll remember long after your cruise moves on.
Ephesus & Virgin Mary: Guided Shore Tour with Fast EntryYou’ll walk ancient streets in Ephesus with a local guide who knows every story, pause at the quiet House of Virgin Mary up in the hills, and see what remains of Artemis’ temple — all with easy port pickup and no ticket lines. It’s a day that lingers long after you’re back on your ship.
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis: Skip-the-Line Cruise Tour with LunchYou visit the House of the Virgin Mary, walk through Ephesus with a licensed guide who explains the Roman structures and daily life in the ancient city, and see the Temple of Artemis. Private transport, lunch, and skip-the-line entry are included, and the timing is planned around your ship's departure so you don't have to calculate the return yourself.Is it for me?Built for cruise passengers on a short port stop: the return time is planned around your ship's departure, which is what makes a full day of Roman archaeology possible without the stress of getting back late.
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis tour from Kusadasi with lunchA private guided tour of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis departing from Kusadasi, with Turkish lunch and a carpet weaving demonstration included. The guide speaks English and stays with you for the full five hours; skip-the-line tickets are available as an add-on. Children from age one are welcome, and the tour is wheelchair accessible throughout.Is it for me?The five-hour tour requires a moderate amount of walking across the Ephesus archaeological site, but your private guide sets the pace and the route is wheelchair accessible. If you're docked in Kusadasi and want to see the major classical sites without managing a group schedule or arranging transport yourself, the guaranteed return time means you can book with confidence.
Ephesus Ancient City Tour from Kusadasi with Artemis TempleA 4-hour guided walking tour of Ephesus from Kusadasi takes you through the ancient city's main ruins—the Odeon, Trajan's Fountain, Hadrian's Temple, and the Celsius Library—and includes the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Entrance fees, private minivan transport, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle are included; the guide speaks Spanish. Designed for cruise passengers with limited time in port.Is it for me?The guide speaks Spanish, so book this tour if you're comfortable following commentary in that language. If your group speaks a different language, you'll need to arrange your own translation or look for a tour with a guide in your language.
Ephesus tour from Kusadasi cruise port: Temple of ArtemisA half-day guided tour of Ephesus departing from Kusadasi cruise port takes you through the ruins of a Greco-Roman city, including the Library of Celsus, the Grand Theater and the Temple of Hadrian, then to the House of Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis. Your guide meets you at the port 30 to 45 minutes after ship arrival; the tour runs five hours and returns you in time for your departure. Entry to the archaeological sites is separate; lunch is optional.Is it for me?Book this if your ship docks in Kusadasi and you want a guided tour that starts and ends at the port, timed to fit your departure window without needing your own transport.
Half day and longer (7)
Ephesus Small Group Tour from Kusadasi: Temple of Artemis & LunchYou’ll walk ancient marble streets in Ephesus with a small group and local guide, stand inside the Library of Celsus, visit the peaceful House of Virgin Mary, and see what’s left of the Temple of Artemis. Includes hotel pickup from Kusadasi or Selcuk and a simple Turkish lunch—expect moments that stay with you long after you’ve left.Is it for me?Your guide handles the route, timing, and logistics while you explore Ephesus's main sites at a relaxed pace with a small group.
Ephesus Tour from Izmir: Temple of Artemis & Sirince VillageThis full-day guided tour from Izmir covers the House of the Virgin Mary, the ruins of Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), and the traditional village of Şirince, with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned bus, a guide, buffet lunch and all entrance fees included. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours and suits all fitness levels; a multi-lingual guide may lead the group, and vegetarian meals are available on request.Is it for me?Choose the shared tour if you're comfortable in a group and want the full day at a set pace with a guide handling all the stops and timing. Pick the private option if you travel with family or friends and want flexibility to linger at any site or adjust the schedule—both versions follow the same route and include the same sites, so the difference is group size and how much control you have over the day.
Ephesus, Artemis & Virgin Mary: Day Tour with Port PickupYou’ll wander Ephesus’ ancient marble streets with a local guide who brings history alive, pause by stork-topped columns at Artemis’ temple, share lunch in Selçuk, then find quiet at Mary’s hillside home before returning to your ship — all with pickup included.
Ephesus Day Trip from Istanbul: Temple of Artemis & Ancient RuinsA full-day guided tour from Istanbul to Ephesus by plane, visiting the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and the House of the Virgin Mary. The package includes round-trip flights from Istanbul, hotel pickup at 5am, an English-speaking guide, lunch, all entry fees and air-conditioned coach transport. You return to Istanbul around 10pm the same day.Is it for me?Book this if you have one day from Istanbul and want a guided tour covering multiple Ephesus sites—the early hotel pickup and full-day itinerary mean you won't need to arrange separate transport or navigate between locations yourself.
Ephesus Ancient City Tour from Izmir: Temple of ArtemisA 6-hour guided tour of the ancient city of Ephesus departing from Izmir, with entry to the ruins, the Temple of Artemis, and transport by air-conditioned minivan included. The guide leads you through two hours inside the city itself—past the Celsius Library, the Great Theatre, and temples and baths—then to Selçuk town and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Live guides speak English, Spanish or French.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want the main sites of ancient Ephesus—the Celsius Library, the Great Theatre, and the Temple of Artemis—in a single morning and afternoon, with a guide explaining the history as you walk. The fixed schedule and included transport mean you don't arrange pickups or entry separately; the day holds together without building it yourself.
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis tour from Kusadasi with guideThis guided tour visits Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary from Kusadasi, with a local English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, lunch and air-conditioned minivan transport. The tour runs six hours and covers the classical city's main monuments, including the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and the pace suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this if you're committing a full morning or afternoon to walking at a moderate pace through open-air ruins, and you want a guide who can connect the major sites—Temple of Artemis, House of Virgin Mary, Isa Bey Mosque—rather than navigating between them yourself.
Ephesus Full-Day Tour: Temple of Artemis & Terrace HousesThis full-day sightseeing tour from Kusadasi visits the major ruins of Selcuk and Ephesus with a licensed English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and all entrance fees included. The itinerary covers the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Ancient Wonders), the Library of Celsus, the Terrace Houses with their ornate mosaics and heated flooring, the House of the Virgin Mary on a hilltop, the Basilica of St. John, and ends at Pigeon Island in Kusadasi for sunset. Pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included; the Terrace Houses entrance fee is optional at checkout.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see multiple major historical sites in one day without arranging your own transport or managing separate ticket purchases — the guide, coach and all entrance fees are coordinated for you, so the day holds together as a complete itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book with free cancellation?
Yes: 31 of the 33 options offer free cancellation, so you can book now and confirm your plans later.
How long do these experiences last?
Most options last between 2 and 5 hours. There are also shorter and longer formats to fit your itinerary.
Which one is the travelers' favorite?
Ephesus: Private Skip-the-Line Tour & Temple of Artemis Lunch is the travelers' favorite, rated 4.96 out of 5 across 2,277 reviews.
Are private options available?
Yes, 11 private experiences are available if you prefer a closed group.
