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Private Ephesus Tour: Tailored Itinerary with Local Experiences from Kusadasi
4.9
54 Ratings
Selcuk
Create your own tailored private tour of Ephesus from Kusadasi. Experience local food, explore shops, and skip the lines with pre-purchased tickets. Only pay for tickets at the end.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - Situated atop the “Bulbul” mountain, 9 km from Ephesus, the House of Virgin Mary is enveloped in lush greenery, creating a serene atmosphere. It is believed to be where Mary spent her final days, possibly arriving with Saint John, who dedicated several years to spreading Christianity in the area. Mary chose this secluded spot over bustling areas. The house is a classic example of Roman architecture, built entirely of stone. In the 4th century AD, a church was constructed, integrating her house and grave. The original two-story house included an anteroom (now a place for candles), a bedroom, a prayer room (Christian church area), and a room with a fireplace (Muslim chapel).
- Ancient City of Ephesus - This archaeological site in Ephesus balances historical preservation with visitor accessibility. Located on Turkey’s southwest coast, Ephesus was a hub for various ancient civilizations, blending architecture and culture. In 356 BC, the Greeks built the Artemesium, a massive Ionic temple dedicated to Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. By the 2nd century BC, Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the eastern Roman Empire, renowned for the Artemision Temple, the Library of Celsus, and its medical school.
- State Agora - Located south of the Basilica, the State Agora was constructed during the Roman Period in the first century BC. Unlike commercial agoras, it served as a venue for governmental meetings. Excavations in the northeast corner revealed numerous graves from the 7th-6th centuries BC, a stone-paved road, and an archaic terra cotta sarcophagus. This indicates that the area was used as a necropolis in the archaic period. A water reservoir at the Agora’s corner, supplied by the Pollio Aqueduct, played a crucial role in Ephesus. Remnants of the aqueduct can be seen 5 kilometers away along the Selçuk-Aydin highway.
- The Odeion - Shaped like a small theatre, the Odeion featured a stage, seating, and an orchestra area. It served dual purposes: as a Bouleuterion for Senate meetings and as a concert hall. Built in the 2nd century AD by Publius Vedius Antonius and his wife Flavia Paiana, it could accommodate 1,500 spectators. The stage building had three doors leading to the podium, which was one meter higher than the orchestra section. The two-story stage building was adorned with columns. Some parts of the seating and the podium have been restored. The Odeon was originally covered with a wooden roof. Ephesus was governed by two councils: the Demos, or public parliament, which met in the great theatre, and the Bouleia, which convened in this smaller theatre.
- Temple of Hadrian - One of the most well-preserved and beautiful structures on Curetes Street, the Temple of Hadrian was built before 138 AD by P. Quintilius and dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, who visited the city from Athens in 128 AD. The temple’s facade features four Corinthian columns supporting a curved arch with a relief of Tyche, the goddess of victory, in the center. The side columns are square. Inscriptions on the pedestal in front of the temple indicate it was the base for statues of emperors from 293-305 CE, including Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius I, and Galerius, though the original statues have not been found.
- Temple of Domitian - Located at the southern end of Domitian Street, this temple is the first in Ephesus known to be dedicated to an emperor. Built on a high, wide terrace measuring 50x100 meters, the northern side appears two stories high and is accessible by stairs, which are still visible today. The pro-style temple had eight columns on the short side, thirteen on the long side, and four additional columns in front of the cella. An u-shaped altar on the northern side, now displayed in the Izmir Museum, was part of the temple. During Domitian’s reign, Ephesus was granted permission to build an Emperor Temple, a significant honor for the city.
- Hercules Gate - Located towards the end of Curetes Street, the Hercules Gate is named for the relief of Hercules on it. Moved to its current location in the 4th century AD, the relief dates back to the 2nd century AD. Only the two sides of the columns remain today. The relief of the flying Nike in Domitian Square is believed to be part of this gate. The gate narrowed the street, making it a pedestrian area from the 4th century onwards.
- Ephesus Terrace Houses - Situated on a hill opposite the Hadrian Temple, these terrace houses, also known as “the houses of wealthy Romans,” provide insights into family life during the Roman period. Built according to the city’s Hippodamian plan, with roads intersecting at right angles, there are six residential units on three terraces at the lower end of Bulbul Mountain. The oldest building dates back to the 1st century BC and was used as a residence until the 7th century AD. The houses are covered with protective roofing resembling Roman houses. The mosaics and frescos have been preserved, and two houses are open to the public as a museum.
- Library of Celsus - One of Ephesus’s most stunning structures, the Celsus Library was built in 117 AD as a monumental tomb for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the governor of the province of Asia, by his son Galius Julius Aquila. Celsus’s grave is beneath the ground floor, across from the entrance, with a statue of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, above it. The library housed over 12,000 scrolls in cupboards within wall niches, with double walls behind the bookcases to protect against temperature and humidity extremes. It was the third richest library in ancient times, after those in Alexandria and Pergamum.
- Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre - The most magnificent structure in ancient Ephesus, the Great Theatre is located on the slope of Panayir Hill, opposite Harbor Street, and is easily visible from the south entrance. Initially constructed in the 3rd century BC during the Hellenistic Period under Lysimachos, it was later expanded during the Roman Period to its current form. It is the largest theatre in Anatolia, with a seating capacity of 25,000. The cavea has sixty-six rows of seats, divided into three sections by two diazoma (walkways). The lower section contained marble pieces used for restoration and the Emperor’s Box. The theatre hosted concerts, plays, religious, political, and philosophical discussions, as well as gladiator and animal fights.
- The Basilica of Saint John - It is believed that St. John the Evangelist spent his final years in the Ephesus region and was buried on the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. Three centuries after his death, a small chapel was built over his grave in the 4th century. During Emperor Justinian’s reign (527-565 AD), the chapel was transformed into a grand basilica. The late 1st century was marked by persecution of early Christians, with Apostle James and Stephen martyred in Jerusalem, and Paul executed in Rome. According to tradition, John brought Mary to Ephesus, where he wrote his Gospel and the Revelation on the Greek island of Patmos in 96 AD.
- The Temple of Artemis - Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis was built in Ephesus on a flat area that eventually became a swamp. Today, visitors can see the ruins of this magnificent Hellenistic Age structure, made entirely of marble with sculptured column capitals and shafts. The most beautiful remnants of the temple are displayed in the British Museum in London.
- Okuz Mehmet Pasa KervansarayI - Commissioned by Öküz Mehmed Pasha, who served as Governor of Ottoman Egypt and Grand Vizier, this caravanserai was built between 1615 and 1618. Designed as a fortress to meet the needs of the time, it functioned as a customs house. The Directorate of Foundations began renovating the nearly ruined caravanserai in 1954, completing the work in 1966 at a cost of ₺2.1 million (approx. US$0.21 million), excluding the cost of nationalizing shanties around the structure.
- Kusadasi Bazaar - At the end of your tour, you can explore the local market area of Kusadasi town. This extensive market offers a variety of shops selling Turkish goods, leather products, sweets, knick-knacks, and numerous counterfeit clothes and watches.
What's Included
- Luxurious Mercedes Vito with A/C and Private Driver
- Exclusive Cruise Guest Pickup and Drop-off
- Skip-the-Line Access Guaranteed
- Savor a Local Lunch
- Expert Licensed Tour Guide
- Transparent Pricing with No Hidden Costs
What's Not Included
- Entrance Fees (Tour guide will have pre-purchased tickets, so you can skip-the long ticket lines)
- Spanish Speaking Tour Guide ($50 per group)
Additional Information
Create your custom-made journey by deciding what to explore and where to go.
Enjoy indigenous Turkish cuisine and visit the country’s attractions all at once.
Take in the local retail scene before embarking on your cruise.
Prevent waiting-line delays with pre-bought tickets. Only pay for these at your tour’s conclusion.
This private trip, expertly guided, is for you alone. The attention of your guide will be solely on you, making wise use of your precious time in the Kusadasi port of call. After linking up with your guide at the harbor, you will craft your bespoke itinerary. Your options to visit include any of the following venues,
Ephesus - The Ancient City
Ephesus’ Terrace Houses
The Abode of Virgin Mary
Basilica of St. John
Artemis’ Temple
Sirince - The Old Greek Village
Kusadasi City Center
Craft Stores and Workshops
*A delightful local lunch inside a village setting.
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- A current valid passport or an ID for children is required on the day of travel
- According to the new regulations in Turkey, the ministry of transport requires all passengers’ full names as on passport, passport numbers and nationality
Location
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
Sultaniye Mahallesi
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(54 Ratings)
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Dinarosa2
May 30, 2024
Excellent visit to Ephesus! - Highly recommend this tour. Eda is an excellent guide and gave us lot of information regarding Ephesus, St John’s Cathedral and House of Virgin Mary. We also enjoy Lunch, Pottery and Carpet presentations!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samantha_m
May 29, 2024
Amazing - We had such a great time during this tour. Our tour guide was Tas and he was excellent. I would recommend him!
Review provided by Viator
Amaninder_b
May 27, 2024
Wonderful tour guide and experience - Everything about the tour was great. Geyhan picked me up right on time. On the way to Ephesus, she explained the history of the area and went over where we would go. She was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of great insights about each site. I was thrilled with the experience and enjoyed my day. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Curiosity34088193767
May 27, 2024
Family friendly tour with fun demonstrations - Nur was our tour guide and she is a true local to the city, which was super helpful - she knew everything there is to know about Ephesus and the surrounding history. The tour wasn’t exactly a tailor made tour, as the plans had already been made, but the day was so much fun! We toured Ephesus, a rug factory where we got to see how silk is made and master weavers work on the rugs, we got to visit a pottery shop run by a local family and even got a pottery demonstration, we saw the Virgin Mary’s house, and more! Nur really made the experience fun for us, and we enjoyed her so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mathans2016
May 20, 2024
Awesome tour of Ephesus! - Nergis was an excellent guide and has extensive knowledge about Ephesus as well as the various Empires and States that have occupied and lived in the region.
We were able to adjust the itinerary based on what we wanted to see and the experience felt very personalised. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mehazatul-amali
May 1, 2024
A well spent day - Very informative & well organized trip by our tour guide Nagehan. Highly recommended. We had a good time & good cultural experience at the carpet school.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joshuact429in
Apr 16, 2024
Amazing - Me and my partner had a full day tour with Tas. Tas was amazing, very knowledgable and answered any questions we had. Have us all the information and history of Ephesus as well as the Artemis temple and the historic places. Would highly recommend booking here as he is one of the nicest guys going.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Korayda
Apr 10, 2024
Gorgeous city of Ephesus and cute little village of Sirince thanks to our wonderful tour guide. - Our tour guide Taylan really made this trip memorable. He knew a lot about the history and informed us well about everything there was in Ephesus. He answered all our questions and had a very relaxed attitude with us so we were able to explore at our own pace since we were two people. Definitely would recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Victorsc6187im
Mar 12, 2024
Best Ephesus Tour! - Our personalized Ephesus tour was amazing and we got a great history lesson from Samet our super experienced tour guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Road34305643939
Feb 26, 2024
Great Private Tour with Informative Guide - Nor was a great guide, very informative. The private tour meant we could spend as much or as little time as we wanted at each stop. Visited everywhere we wanted to see and got to try some local food and wine. Great experience all around.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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