Ephesus and House of Mary Tour from Izmir
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore ancient Ephesus ruins
- Visit the House of Virgin Mary
- See the Temple of Artemis
- Discover the Library of Celsus
- Enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Ephesus
- Entry tickets to Ephesus and House of Mary
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Personal expenses
Itinerary
According to the pick-up time that we will arrange according to your ship's arrival time, meet your guide at the port and set out towards the first visit point
it is declared by the church to be the final house where Mary spent her last days. Also, it is believed that the Assumption took place there on the 15th of August.
An Archeological treasure, The best preserved classical city in Eastern Mediterranean. During the 1C AD Ephesus was the second largest city on the planet after Rome with more than 250.000 citizens. It was in the center of the known world and played the role of a gateway between the East and the West. It is also home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis. Ephesus is also well preserved that, walking on the ancient streets among the beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world or the largest roman theatre on Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveler.
Lunch. Taste Turkish cuisine at selected family-owned restaurants.
Considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, Temple of Artemis was dedicated to the goddess of the hunt. Only the foundation and one column remains of this temple which once measured 425 feet long, 220 feet long. Paul’s successful ministry in this city was considered a threat to this very temple.The city reached the Golden Age and became a good model to the Antique World in culture and art, as well.
At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour is conducted in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Photography is allowed; bring a camera to capture memories.
- Be prepared for a moderate amount of walking during the tour.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring ancient ruins.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect against the sun.
- Carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- The tour offer Group and Private Tour options INCLUDE and EXCLUDE ENTRY TICKETS
- Your tour guide may suggest visiting places with handmade items, but it’s completely optional for the guests.
- We GUARANTEE your timely return to the port
- ✅INCLUDES ENTRY TICKETS OPTIONS: You can pay for your entry tıckets at the tıme of booking with Entry tıckets ınclude optıons. Than means we take care of your tickets and enjoy the privilege of SKIP THE TICKET LINES, where your guide will keep the tickets ready for you without waiting in the ticket queue at the entrance of the ruins.
- ❌EXCLUDE ENTRY TICKETS OPTIONS: you can pay your entrance fees in cash or by credit card on the day of the tour. We would like to point out that, especially for the PRIVATE TOUR option, you do not have to pay the entrance fee for the ruins you do not want to see.
- Group Tour Optıon: The group sizes will be up to 10-12 people maxımum. Groups are formed as passengers of the same ship.
- Private Tour Optıon: The tour wıll be provided only for your party wıth personal tour guıde. Stay ın the sites as much you wish, If there is any other site you want to visit, depending on time availability, it can be added to the program.
- The tour specialy designed for the cruise guests. Pick up and drop off only available from Izmir Port. The tour starting time will adjust according to your cruıse dock and onboard times. We GUARANTEE your timely return to the Port.
- Free entry for kids 8yr and below (take passport for children if any)
Traveler reviews
Ephesus is not to be missed
A thoroughly enjoyable day out. Ephesus is so far beyond what I expected. The line ups were quite long for Mary’s house, but that is unavoidable. Our Turkish lunch was also a lovely treat - plentiful, varied and delicious. Firah (sp?) was an excellent and personable guide. Overall, a wonderful experience.
Great Tour
Well organized with our very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide (Ogun). We were provided with ample time at each stop to appreciate the sights. The lunch was plentiful and tasty.
Disappointing Private Tour of Ephesus from Izmir Port
We were really looking forward to our private day tour of Ephesus from our cruise stop in Izmir, especially with multiple ships in port and the crowds we anticipated. Unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations. While the historical sites themselves were impressive, especially Ephesus, both that and the Virgin Mary House were extremely crowded, which is understandable in peak season. However, what made the day disappointing was our tour guide’s lack of engagement. While he seemed knowledgeable, he shared very little voluntarily and offered mostly surface-level facts that echoed what we could read on the plaques. It felt like he was going through the motions rather than bringing the sites to life, which is what we had hoped for in a private tour. The most frustrating part of the day was our lunch stop, which was unexpectedly held at a Turkish carpet cooperative. We had been expecting a nice local restaurant, but instead we were taken to a large facility where multiple tour groups were being funneled through. After lunch, we told our guide we didn’t need or want the carpet factory tour, as we were aware it would end in a high-pressure sales pitch. Despite this, he insisted we would offend the staff if we didn’t go through with it. After that, due to traffic and the time lost, we had to skip the Temple of Artemis, which was disappointing. We understand that crowds and timing are factors outside the tour company’s control, but we booked a private experience specifically to avoid these kinds of pitfalls—and unfortunately, it felt more like a standard group tour with little customization or care. A bright spot was our transportation: the Mercedes Sprinter van was very spacious and comfortable, and our driver was excellent. This tour had potential, but ultimately it missed the mark for us.
Amazing.. well worth the cost.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Mary's house, Ephesus, and the delicious lunch at a local restaurant. The trip was well organized, informative and fun. Feliz gave an interesting and informative commentary on all of the sites and answered questions about the sites, history and culture in Türkiye. i would recommend this tour without question.
An amazing day out in Izmir
Filiz (our tour guide) spoke excellent English for our tour. We were taken to many sites including one of the seven wonders of the world and also to an amazing traditional Turkish restaurant.