Ephesus Terrace Houses Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore ancient Ephesus ruins
- Visit the Terrace Houses
- See the Library of Celsus
- Discover the Temple of Artemis
- Experience the Great Theatre
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Professional licensed tour guide
- Kusadasi Cruise Port pick-up and drop-off
- Car parking fees and local taxes
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your Half day tour
According your Private tour pick up time meet with your guide and dive to Ancient Ephesus An Archeological treasure, The best preserved classical city in Eastern Mediterranea. 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. With its giant horbour it was also the center of trading in antiquity. It was not only a rich commercial city but also an impressive city that even Mark Anthony and Cleopatra spent their honeymoon in Ephesus. 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 the Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveler.
which From the time of Augustus, these dwellings of wealthy Ephesians, were decorated with beautiful frescoes and mosaics. The houses had luxurious bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.
At the end of the tour drive you back to the departure point.
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
- Please inform the tour operator of any special requirements in advance.
- The tour operates rain or shine; dress accordingly.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
- Bring a hat, sunscreen, and water to stay hydrated.
- Be prepared for a moderate amount of walking on uneven terrain.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- 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: This option usually has 8–10 participants. Also, if your group has 10+ people, you can book. 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 Kusadasi 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)
- The tour offer Group and Private Tour options INCLUDE and EXCLUDE ENTRY TICKETS
Traveler reviews
If I could give zero stars, I would!
Let's start with the positives of this tour... 1. It was easy to find the company at the cruise ship terminal 2. The van was comfortable and had good air conditioning. I signed up for the public tour which included the option of adding the Terrace Houses which I did for an extra fee since so many people told me this was the highlight of the tour for them. I also chose this tour because it was the shortest one which included a guided tour of Ephesus as well as visiting the Terrace Houses without adding on Mary's House or something I didn't want to do like shopping or lunch. I was a cruise excursion and short on time so I wanted to get the best use of my time. I was the only one on the tour to pay for the Terrace Houses which was surprising and the guide asked me aside if I really wanted to go to the Terrace Houses (paid advance already to see it!) especially since no one else wanted to go. It caught me off guard and was kind of a weasley thing to do. It seemed like there were 2 or 3 different tours going on at the same time and that they do this to not have to have different vans or guides. I said yes I still want to see it. Guide gave a tour of Ephesus but that's it. Not the library, not the Terrace Houses, and not the Temple of Apollo. She said her approach was just for her not to bore us and that we can just ask her questions. What was the point of booking a guided tour then??? This is where it really went downhill. She dropped me off at the Terrace Houses not giving me ANY background on what I would be seeing. There was zero tour of it from her or anyone and I was given extremely limited time because the group would be waiting for me (despite the itinerary on Viator clearly saying I get 30 minutes for it). I basically brisked through this section because I was so afraid of her leaving me behind. When I then saw her and the group, she gave me a few minutes to look around the library. Again, no guided tour and given just a few minutes. After that, the rest of the time was spent for people to go to the bathroom (for a long time) and go shopping next to the bathroom.... Based off the itinerary you would think then we would get dropped off at the port, but we went to some carpet store where we spent a lot of time in. NO MENTION OF SOME CARPET STORE ON VIATOR!! This man gave some demonstration of Turkish rugs (I have zero interest in this and I had I known this was going to be on the itinerary, I wouldn't have booked this company), and then the salesmen aggressively pull tourists aside to try to convince you to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on their rugs. It was like a timeshare presentation but with Turkish men and carpet who kept pushing you after you said no. I saw in this other tour groups do this. It was clear this tour group has some deal going on with this store. I figure if there's a group of 10 where 1 person buys, they make $$$. Me and other people in my group kept waiting and waiting and waiting to leave but had to wait awhile since some couple showed interest in buying. Eventually we were able to tell our guide that we needed to go as she stalled saying something that the driver wasn't there yet but then somehow the driver appeared.... AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL!!! This was the only day I have ever spent in Turkey and it just left me with a bad taste.
Beautiful visit
Very interesting visit, the site is really well restored. The guide JONCA was excellent, the pickup was easy right at the port exit, a small group of 8 made the visit easier, the van was clean, and the driver drove well. You absolutely must take the tour of the terraced houses, which are the highlight of the visit.
Ephesus with Dilek
We had a fantastic tour of Ephesus and visited the Temple of Artemis with Dilek. She was incredibly knowledgeable and shared many fascinating facts and stories that brought the ancient sites to life. Dilek was friendly, fun, and engaging throughout the day, making the experience both informative and enjoyable. She also looked after our group exceptionally well, ensuring everyone was comfortable and included. Her passion for the history and culture really shone through. We would highly recommend Dilek to anyone visiting Ephesus. Ask about the Baklava!
Mediha was a great guide. Super impressed by Ephesus archeological site. A must see. The most extensive site I have visited.
Nice excursion with good guide.
Pick up went very smoothly. Pleasant guide Ali who spoke good English and knew a lot to tell. Well organized with only guests from the same boat. Back just in time. Good value for the visit to Ephesus. Only downside was that we had to pass a company where leather jackets were sold. Unfortunately I lost my phone somewhere there.