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Historical
Ephesus Full-Day Private Tour
Ephesus·9 hours
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Meeting point
- Hotel pickup in İzmir, Kuşadası, Selçuk or Şirince — or at the Kuşadası cruise port.
- Languages
- English, Turkish, Other languages on request
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
Price on request
Highlights
- Library of Celsus
- Great Theatre
- Curetes Street
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Temple of Artemis
About this tour
Ephesus was one of the great cities of the Roman east, and walking through it downhill from the upper gate is the best way to feel its size. You follow Curetes Street past the Temple of Hadrian and the public latrines to the two-storey façade of the Library of Celsus, then continue to the Great Theatre, where — according to the Acts of the Apostles — the silversmiths of Ephesus rioted against St Paul. The Terrace Houses, where the city's wealthy families lived among mosaics and frescoes, can be added. After lunch in Selçuk, the afternoon takes you up to the House of the Virgin Mary on the wooded slopes of Bülbüldağı and down to the single standing column of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. A licensed guide and a private vehicle stay with you from your hotel door.
Itinerary
- 08:30Hotel pickup
From İzmir (about an hour away) or Kuşadası (about 25 minutes).
- 09:30Upper Gate
Start high and walk down through the city, not up it.
- 10:15Curetes Street
The Temple of Hadrian, the fountains and the public latrines.
- 11:00Library of Celsus
The two-storey façade built in the 2nd century as a library and a tomb.
- 11:45Great Theatre
Seats for around 25,000 people, with the Harbour Street beyond.
- 13:00Lunch in Selçuk
Aegean dishes in the town below Ephesus.
- 14:30House of the Virgin Mary
A small stone house on the slopes of Bülbüldağı, visited by pilgrims.
- 15:45Temple of Artemis
One column left of a Wonder of the ancient world.
- 17:00Hotel drop-off
Back in Kuşadası around 17:30, in İzmir around 18:00.
What's included
- Licensed Guide
- Hotel Pickup & Drop-off
- Private Vehicle
- Lunch
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes for marble and uneven stone
- Sun hat and water
- Shoulders and knees covered for the House of the Virgin Mary
Frequently asked
How much walking is involved?
About 3 km, mostly downhill on marble and uneven stone. Starting at the upper gate means the vehicle meets you at the bottom.
Are the Terrace Houses included?
They need their own ticket on top of the Ephesus entry and are optional — tell us if you want them in your quote.
Are site tickets included?
Your quote states whether site tickets are included. We can include them so there is nothing to pay on the day.
Is it very hot in summer?
In July and August, yes — there is little shade in the ancient city. We start early and keep the shaded House of the Virgin Mary for the afternoon.
Travel guides
Ephesus Day Trip from Istanbul 2026 – Complete GuideGetting there
Arriving in Izmir?
Book the airport ride with us as well — a fixed fare, a chauffeur waiting at the meeting point and your flight tracked.
