Antique Ephesus Tour: Private Exploration from Kusadasi Port
5.0
246 Ratings
Selcuk
Embark on a private tour of the ancient city of Ephesus and its surroundings from Kusadasi port. Explore impressive ruins, visit Terrace Houses, and discover the House of the Virgin Mary.
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Ancient City of Ephesus - Ephesus was the second largest city in the Roman Empire, with a population of over 250,000 people in the 1st century BC. It was second only to Rome and was also a major harbor city. This vast city was constructed entirely of marble. Did you know Ephesus had the largest amphitheater in the ancient world, seating over 25,000 people? You can also see the Goddess Nike, a local pharmacy, Hadrian’s Gate, the Library of Celsus (the third largest library), Marble Street, and Harbor Street.

  • Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - The House of the Virgin Mary is believed by many to be the place where Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final years. She is said to have arrived in Ephesus with St. John and lived there from 37-45 CE until her Assumption or Dormition.

  • Ephesus Terrace Houses - The Terraced Houses are located on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. Also known as “the houses of the rich,” they provide insight into family life during the Roman period. They were built according to the Hippodamian plan, with roads intersecting at right angles.

  • The Prytaneion - Behind the basilica is the Prytaneion, where religious ceremonies, official receptions, and banquets were held. The sacred flame symbolizing the heart of Ephesus was kept constantly alight here. The building dates back to the 3rd century BC, during the reign of Lysimachus, but the ruins are from the Augustan age.

The four-cornered pit where the sacred fire burned is a relic from Lysimachus’s reign. The front of the building features four columns, leading to a courtyard surrounded by a portico. The north side houses the ceremonial hall and its side rooms, where the eternal flame was located. The red color on the floor marked the flame’s location.

Double columns at the corners of the hall supported the wooden roof. During excavations, archaeologists found two Artemis statues, now displayed in the Ephesus Museum.

  • Fountain of Pollio - Water was brought to Ephesus from three main sources via aqueducts and distributed through a system of baked clay pipes. The sources were Kencherios (42 km) at Kuşadası, the Çamlık village stream of Marnas (15 km), and the Cayster River (20 km). Water was provided free of charge at public fountains, offering refreshment on hot summer days.

The fountain features a high arch facing the Temple of Domitian and was decorated with numerous statues. One of these, the Head of Zeus, is now in the Ephesus Museum. Some statues were likely taken from the Temple of Isis to repair the fountain after an earthquake. The statue group of Odysseus and Polyphemus, once on the basin, is also displayed in the Ephesus Museum.

  • Baths of Varius - The ruins east of the basilica belong to the Baths of Varius, dating to the Roman period. The construction dates to the 2nd century AD, and the mosaics in the 40-meter-long corridor date to the 5th century.

The baths were built of cut marble blocks and had three sections: frigidarium (cold water), tepidarium (warm water), and caldarium (hot water). Excavations are still ongoing.

  • The Temple of Artemis - The Temple of Artemis, also known as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Located in Ephesus, it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
What's Included
  • Deluxe Lunch at Carpet Village
  • Fully Air-Conditioned Vehicle
  • A Bottle of Water During Tour
  • Professional Licensed Tour Guide
What's Not Included
  • Driver & Guide Tips - Gratitue
  • Beverages
  • Admission Fees to Attractions
Additional Information

This is the perfect tour for those looking to independently explore the historic city of Ephesus and its neighboring locales.

Your individual tour guide will greet you at the port of Kusadasi, guide you to the attractions, that include the historic city of Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, and the dwelling of the Virgin Mary.

While in Ephesus, admire the imposing remnants of the ancient city, including the Celsus Library, the Great Theater, and the Hadrian’s Temple. The Terrace Houses, often referred to as the ‘abodes of the affluent,’ are some of the most remarkable buildings in Ephesus, presenting a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the rich aristocrats of yesteryears. Finally, the Virgin Mary’s House, which is widely accepted to be the last sanctuary of Mary.

Upon the conclusion of the excursion, your guide will usher you back to the port of Kusadasi.

Places for Shopping:
Carpets from Turkish Weaving Village
Ceramic Artisans Workshop

  • GUARANTEED ON TIME RETURN TO THE CRUISE.
  • PRIVATE TOUR ONLY FOR YOUR PARTY.
  • EXCLUSIVE PERSONALIZED TOUR.
  • FOR CRUISE TRAVELERS.
  • Ephesus entrance fee is 40 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
  • House of Virgin Mary entrance fee is 500 TRY. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
  • Terrace Houses entrance fee is 15 €. You can pay to the guide for skip-the-line tickets.
  • Personalized greeting with name at the port is an additional 3 euros per person.
Location
Ancient City of Ephesus
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(246 Ratings)
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Isabel
Jun 21, 2024
Nice experience - The day of the tour was very good, Yesra was a very nice guide with very good explanation and we had great food, thank you for everything!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fernandocz8007js
Jun 21, 2024
Ephesus visit - Yesra was an excellent and funny guide. She explained all historical points and curiosities of rhe ancient civilization in Ephesus and Turkey-related data. Also the visits to pottery, carpets and turkish sweets factories were very good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Getaway714537
Jun 19, 2024
Wonderful Experience! Highlight of our trip! - We stopped at Ephesus as part of our Greek Isles and Turkey cruise and got Adam as our tour guide. Excellent communication, Adam was waiting for us at the cruise port and covered all major hot spots. This was definitely the highlight of our trip. Thank you for a great experience!
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Ponchodeanda
Jun 19, 2024
Discovering Ephesus with Yesra was a very pleasant experience. - Yesra is an excellent guide. Super informative, always kind, and very pleasant. It's so important to visit places with someone who knows the history of the place and helps you understand everything better.
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Halas772
Jun 19, 2024
Ephesus Tour - Yesra was my tour guide throughout Ephesus. She briefed me about the region and surrounding areas. She told me about the history of the area and what we will be seeing. Yesra was very friendly and answering all my questions. She has a very friendly smile on her face which made chatting easier and enjoyable. Thank you Yesra for accompanying me on this tour. I was so lucky to have you 😊.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
378rajata
Jun 16, 2024
Ephesus and Selcuk highlights with Yesra - We had a great time at Ephesus, House of Mother Mary, St.John’s and other places in Selcuk. Yesra was a fantastic tour guide - was patient and knowledgeable. She also took us to a great local restaurant for authentic Turkish cuisine! All in all, highly recommended tour for everyone
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ishidas
Jun 10, 2024
3D/2N Pamukale, Ephesus Private Tour - We stayed for 2 nights at Kusadesi, a town by the marina. Very beautiful. Our guide, Utku came on time and we were on the bus for 2.5 hours drive to Pamukale. Visited Heropolis city (Pamukale) and off to the thermal spa in Pamukale. A very nice experience. Utku is very informative. Visited Ephesus whiwj is soo huge. Again Utku is very informative and we were walikg at slow pace taking in all the information obout the history of Ephesus from Utku. Ended with 3D screen showing on the formation/establishment of Ephesus and this is really really good!. Uktu brought us to a nice family restaurant serving various types of traditional turkish pancakes. It was yummy. Abd we were treated with kufna by Uktu, a turkish speciality dessert. It was sooo delicious. I love it! Overall - 10⭐️s to Uktu and for this private tour from Turkey Tour Company.
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Rosiece1430vf
Jun 9, 2024
Ephes - Had a great day! our guide erdem was lovely and enthusiastic giving us some very good information whilst also adding a fun element to the trip. Would definitely recommend beautiful place and wonderful guide!!!
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D2450dsjamesc
Jun 9, 2024
Lovely trip, tour guide Adam was great - Had a brilliant trip. We had Adam who was a lovely tour guide, was enthusiastic and made the experience both informative and enjoyable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daytrip02073742844
Jun 19, 2024
Ephesus in a nutshell - Ergem became our link to history. Bringing us up to date with his knowledge of the terrain and encompassing what is Ephesus through his vivid recounts and tremendous enthusiasm. Apart from the visit to Ephesus we were brought to several places where the culture of the turkish people was illustrated through textile work, artisan pottery, homemade delights and their distinct for fashion was all part of this amazing visit.
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