Ephesus and Virgin Mary Tour: Skip-the-Line Exploration of Ancient City and Historic Sights
5.0
4 Ratings
Selcuk
Explore the ancient city of Ephesus and historic sights on a skip-the-line tour. Visit the House of Virgin Mary, Basilica of St. John, and Temple of Artemision. Customize your tour with a private guide.
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • The Temple of Artemis - The Temple of Artemis is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It was constructed in the region of Ephesus on a flat area that has transformed into a swamp over the centuries. Today, visitors to Ephesus can only see the ruins of the foundations of this magnificent Hellenistic Age structure, which was entirely made of marble and adorned with sculptured column capitals and shafts. The most exquisite remnants of this temple are now displayed in the British Museum in London. 30 minutes • Admission Tickets included

  • Ancient City of Ephesus - Upon arriving at Ephesus, we enter through the Magnesia gate and start a leisurely, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of the former Roman provincial capital. Your path will lead you past the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Great Theatre, and the spectacular Celsus Library. Admission Tickets not included - $16 per person

  • Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - According to Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the apostle John after Christ’s resurrection and spent her final days here. This church was built on the foundation of that house, and its authenticity has been affirmed by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Many visitors describe this as an uplifting or spiritual experience. Admission Tickets not included - $10 per person

  • Temple of Domitian - Situated at the southern end of Domitian Street, it is the first structure in Ephesus known to be dedicated to an emperor. It was constructed on a high and wide terrace measuring 50x100 meters, on vaulted foundations. The northern side of the terrace appears to be two stories high, accessible by stairs that are still visible today. Admission Tickets included

  • Baths of Varius - Built in the First Century and restored in the Fourth Century by a wealthy Christian woman named Scholastica. To the left of the eastern entrance, you can see her headless statue. The original structure was believed to be three stories high, but the upper two stories have since collapsed. The baths have two entrances: one from Curetes Street, which is the main entrance, and another from a side street. Upon entering, you first see the dressing room (apodyterium) with ten cabins, then the cold room (frigidarium) with its pool, followed by the warm room (tepidarium) for relaxation, and finally the hot room (caldarium) with its advanced heating system. The second floor was used for massage and scrubbing as therapy. Admission Tickets included

  • State Agora - The governmental market of Ephesus city, the agora located on the southern part of the Basilica is the State Agora, built during the Roman Period in the first century B.C. This agora was not used for commerce but for business, serving as an important meeting place for governmental discussions. Admission Ticket included

What's Included
  • Professional Tour Guide with Archaeological Background
  • Transport by Luxury Minibus
  • All Parking Fees and Taxes Included
  • Hotel/Port Pickup and Drop-off Service
What's Not Included
  • A Delicious Lunch (8$ Per person)
  • Virgin Mary House Admission Ticket 17 usd person.
  • Pick up from Izmir Airport and Izmir Hotels - 50 USD person
  • Ephesus ancient city admission tickets - 45 usd person
Additional Information

Our Exclusive Ephesus Tour, a best-seller, covers a unique selection of locations! It’s an optimal choice for individuals who can allocate an entire day to explore Ephesus’ key attractions. With pre-arranged tickets, this tour ensures no time is wasted in queues. There’s always room for personalization of your tour with your private guide. Highlights of this trip include the Ephesus Ancient City, once the central business hub of western Anatolia, the House of Virgin Mary purported to be her last residence, St. John’s Basilica where the evangelist St. John is believed to have spent his final days and is buried on the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill, and the renowned Temple of Artemis, revered as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Relish the undivided attention of your licensed local guide and the convenience of your dedicated vehicle.

Location
The Temple of Artemis
Ataturk, Park Ici Yolu No:12,
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
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1 star
Richard_w
May 4, 2024
Ephesus private tour for 8 - Van was new, huge and air-conditioned, our guide Goksel is amazing. We chose not to do lunch and Virgin Mary house. Instead we went to Ephesus and a china making factory. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review provided by Viator
Heycindyh
Dec 7, 2023
Wonderful day, do not hesitate to book this tour. Made me fall in love with Turkey and the people. - My guide Sam was the best! The communication from confirmation to meeting place and time were perfect. Sam was waiting for me and was just a wonderful guide. He was very educated on the history, patient with my questions, very considerate. I also felt his passion for his job which is most appreciated as a customer. I would definately book another tour with him and can't recommend him enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cynthia_h
Nov 29, 2023
My guide Sam was wonderful, very worth booking this tour. - The communication for the meeting place was excellent. Sam was waiting for me. He was so knowledgeable and considerate. I truly appreciate his passion for history and position as a guide. I was so impressed with his knowledge, kindness and professionalism. I feel he took the extra step to make sure I was comfortable. He covered so many things in the time we had, it was just right.
Review provided by Viator
Matt_k
Nov 4, 2023
Excellent tour, fantastic guide, thanks Sam! - Highly recommend this tour. Our guide Goksel (Sam) was excellent. Extremely knowledgeable and took us through all the sights with detailed historical information that was very interesting and we learned quite a lot about the political history and how that impacted the region. Goksel was a fantastic guide, would definitely get him for other tours in the region. Made sure we were always comfortable and he also takes great photos!
Review provided by Viator
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1 Adult
June 2024
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