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Ephesus Highlights: Private Tour for Cruise Guests
5.0
8,604 Ratings
Kusadasi
Embark on a private tour of Ephesus, exploring the UNESCO-listed ancient city and the Temple of Artemis. Discover the highlights, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, and capture stunning photos with the guidance of a professional local tour guide.
Embark on a private tour of Ephesus, exploring the UNESCO-listed ancient city and the Temple of Artemis. Discover the highlights, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, and capture stunning photos with the guidance of a professional local tour guide.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Ephesus Port Tours - Ephesus Port Tours will greet you at the cruise port.
- Ephesus Terrace Houses - This visit can be included in the itinerary (entry fees are additional). The Terrace Houses were the residences of the upper class in Ephesus, renowned for their stunning mosaics and wall paintings.
- Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) -…
- Ephesus Port Tours - Ephesus Port Tours will greet you at the cruise port.
- Ephesus Terrace Houses - This visit can be included in the itinerary (entry fees are additional). The Terrace Houses were the residences of the upper class in Ephesus, renowned for their stunning mosaics and wall paintings.
- Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - The House of the Virgin Mary is a significant pilgrimage site for Christians, where the Virgin Mary spent her final days and passed away. Pope Paul VI visited the shrine in 1967 and ‘unofficially’ affirmed its authenticity. Pope John Paul II visited in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. During their visits, they presented gifts to the shrine, which are on display.
- Ancient City of Ephesus - Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman ancient cities globally, known for the Odeon, where music concerts were held; the Domitian Temple, one of the first temples dedicated to a human; the Celcius Library, the third-largest library of ancient times; the Amphitheatre, one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 24,000, where St. Paul preached; Roman Baths; Fountains; Temples; Agora; Love House; and Public Toilets.
- The Temple of Artemis - One of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
- Kusadasi Castle - Also known as Pigeon Island, Kusadasi Castle is located next to the port. It can be seen from your boat or visited independently after the tour.
- Kusadasi Shopping Center - We will pass by the Kusadasi Shopping Center, which is just a 5-minute walk from the port. You will have free time after the tour, and your guide will point out the shopping area.
- Okuz Mehmet Pasa KervansarayI - We will pass by the Caravanserai, located very close to the port, just a 5-minute walk away. You will have free time to explore after the tour.
- Kusadasi - The town where your ship is docked.
- Kuşadası - The town where your ship is docked.
What's Included
- Fully air-conditioned brand new vehicle with separate driver
- Professional licensed local tour guide
- Private tour
- All taxes
- All parking fees
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Fully air-conditioned brand new vehicle with separate driver
- Professional licensed local tour guide
- Private tour
- All taxes
- All parking fees
- Port pickup and drop-off
What's Not Included
- Entrance fees ( We will arrange tickets of Ephesus in advance, so you will skip long ticket lines )
- Entrance fees ( We will arrange tickets of Ephesus in advance, so you will skip long ticket lines )
Additional Information
This is an exclusive tour tailored for your group, not a shared group tour. Explore the highlights of Ephesus with a knowledgeable and professional local tour guide. Visit the Ancient City of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stroll along its ancient streets, and admire the Grand Theatre of Ephesus where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians. Capture…
This is an exclusive tour tailored for your group, not a shared group tour. Explore the highlights of Ephesus with a knowledgeable and professional local tour guide. Visit the Ancient City of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stroll along its ancient streets, and admire the Grand Theatre of Ephesus where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians. Capture stunning photos in front of the Celsus Library, and discover the Roman Baths, Temple of Hadrian, Public Toilets, Marble Street, and Agora. Experience the serene atmosphere of the House of the Virgin Mary, the most significant Biblical site in Turkey. Visit the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the ancient world’s wonders. Your expert local guide will offer recommendations for capturing amazing photos of these captivating sites. Upon request, enjoy a local lunch and have the option to visit the Terrace Houses (additional entry fee applies). This tour is exclusively for cruise guests.
- FOR CRUISE GUESTS / WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TO MEET AT PORT AFTER 30 / 45 MINUTES YOUR SHIP DOCKED TO PORT IN ORDER TO BEAT CROWDS / SCHOOL BUSES AND HOT WEATHER IN THE AFTERNOON. IT IS BETTER TO MEET EARLY TO HAVE A BETTER TOUR IN EPHESUS BEFORE THE CROWDS.
- WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TO MEET AT 8.00AM IF YOUR SHIP’S SCHEDULED ARRIVAL TIME IS 7.00AM. IF YOUR SHIP’S SCHEDULED ARRIVAL TIME IS LATER THAN 7.00AM, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TO MEET AFTER 30 MINUTES YOUR SHIP DOCKED TO PORT IN ORDER TO BEAT CROWDS FROM CRUISE SHIPS, SCHOOL BUSES AND HOT WEATHER IN THE AFTERNOON.
- THIS TOUR IS ONLY FOR CRUISE GUESTS. IF YOU ARE NOT FROM A CRUISE SHIP, PLEASE DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR AND CHECK OTHER OPTINAL TOURS
- OUR TOURS ARE ONLY IN ENGLISH, WE DO NOT GIVE TOURS IN SPANISH OR OTHER LANGUAGES
- WE GUARENTEE TO GET YOU BACK TO SHIP ON TIME
Location
Ephesus Port Tours
Camikebir Mah. Kemal Arikan Caddesi
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(8604 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Kmcclu
Jan 26, 2026
Excellent Day in Ephesus - Ahmet with Ephesus Port Tours was our private guide. He did an excellent job of showing us Ephesus as well as Mary’s house and St John’s Basilica..and found us a delicious lunch spot. He was very knowledgeable of the entire area and gave us as much time as we wanted at each place without having to rush. He then dropped us in the city of Kusadasi at our request on our way back to the cruise ship. It was the first time we had ever booked a private tour…and it was so worth it here! We had a wonderful day. Additionally, the advance communication with Ephesus Port Tours prior to our arrival was excellent. They answered every question promptly. I would definitely use them again in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wendy_s
Jan 23, 2026
Amazing Time! - We had an amazing experience! This is our second time with Dicle and she gave us a really thorough tour and took great care of us!
Review provided by Viator
Susan_b
Jan 20, 2026
Awesome tour, Incredible tour guide, Fatih. - Fatih was one of the best tour guides we ever had. He was brilliant, spoke perfect English, made us feel safe about where we were and that we would get back to our ship on time. He was thoughtful and responsive. I would love to see more of Turkey, especially if he was our guide.
Review provided by Viator
Ltinbris
Jan 19, 2026
Very happy with this private tour - We had a private tour from Cruise Port with Irem. Irem was an excellent guide and knowledgeable and made our trip to the Ephesus ruins even more enjoyable.
Irem and our driver were very flexible to tailor our day with them to our to what interested us the most.
Being with our own guide made for easier access through the very crowded ruins. After our visit to ruins we went to the archaeological museum which was an amazing experience and having our own guide even more made it even better.
After a wonderful tour they dropped us back at the port in plenty of time before we sailed.
You will not regret booking this private tour on your stop in Kusadasi.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scott_t
Jan 19, 2026
Tuna was a fabulous... - Tuna was a fabulous private guide on our tour to Ephesus and Virgin Mary’s home! He was very knowledgeable, patient on a hot day and treated us with wonderful hospitality!
Review provided by Viator
E1647ytmaryf
Jan 17, 2026
Very memorable tour with Goksu! - The communication leading up to the tour was great! Meet-up was very easy. Our guide, Goksu, was punctual, knowledgeable, and very personable. He took us to the Virgin Mary’s house, Ancient Ephesus, and the Terrace Houses. We are a group of 5 and I was the only one who had been there before. This time around, it was a much richer experience. Goksu had many interesting stories to tell that made the history come alive for all of us. He’s a wonderful story teller and his English was great! We enjoyed very engaging conversations on the drive from the port to all the sites.
We specifically asked not to be taken to the see the rug, pottery, and leather demonstrations, both when booking and a few days before our tour. I was happy that it never became an issue.
The best thing about the tour was Goksu! He made it a very memorable day for us!
Read more about - FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return - https://www.viator.com/tours/Kusadasi/Best-Of-Ephesus-Tour-from-Kusadasi-Port/d582-62334P2?mcid=56757
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marjorieotaylor
Jan 17, 2026
Best Excursion of Our Entire Cruise! 🎉 - Best Excursion of Our Entire Cruise! 🎉
We had the absolute pleasure of touring with Fatih from Ephesus Port Tours, and it was hands down the highlight of our entire 3+ week cruise!
Fatih met us right at the port and walked us to a beautiful, luxury van—super comfortable and perfect for the day ahead. We visited the House of the Virgin Mary and the incredible ruins of Ephesus, with Fatih providing thoughtful, knowledgeable insight at every stop.
But the most unforgettable moment? Fatih took us to a charming local ceramic studio—and surprised me with a birthday cake for my 68th birthday! 🥹🎂 Everyone sang Happy Birthday, and it was such a kind and touching gesture. I still can’t believe how special they made me feel.
If you're visiting the area, do not miss the chance to book with Fatih and Ephesus Port Tours. Professional, personal, and truly memorable. This was by far the best excursion of our trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hilaryt610
Jan 17, 2026
Wonderful day in Ephasus - Excellent value for the charge. Fatih, our guide, is knowledgeable, passionate about sharing his country, history and culture, and generally a delightful person to share a day with. The pick-up went well, Fatih was flexible about taking us wherever we wanted to go, and had further suggestions to widen our experiences. Altogether a great day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
494roxanel
Jan 16, 2026
Turkey - Zeynep was very knowledgeable. She took us not only to the usual places (ancient Ephesus) but also to see the local culture-carpet school, pottery shop, and lunch with traditional Turkish dishes. We had a fabulous day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Uffdaatlanta
Jan 17, 2026
Great Tour with Boz but be Aware of the Rug Factory - We toured with Boz through Ephesus, the House of Mary and the temple of Artemis. He also took us on a side trip to a local rug factory at his suggestion. The tours through Ephesus and The House of Mary were wonderful. Boz was very detailed about the history, important historical figures and even great places for photos. He also gave us private time to enjoy the House of Mary on our own.
As for the tour of the rug factory, my suggestion is to stay away as there was clearly a business arrangement between Boz and the owners and staff. We received the full on sales pitch and had to assertively excuse ourselves and had to stay many times that we were not interested in purchasing a rug. You will hear about the free shipping, factory direct pricing, and lack of taxes paid on the purchase. Unfortunately, the tone of the tour seemed to sour after we refused to make purchase.
Finally, and what bothered me the most was the fact that Boz insisted that he write his own TripAdvisor review while we were still in the vehicle on the way back to the port. He actually took my wife’s phone and dictated the review himself. Lucky my wife was able to grab her phone and edit the review before he submitted it.
We did truly enjoy the first part of our tour, and Boz was great with the information he shared and the time he took with us. It is unfortunate that it ended on what to me was a very unpleasant experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
