Ephesus And St. Mary's House Day Trip From Izmir With Lunch

It was a fantastic experience. Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Gave us enough time to explore. Guide was flexible and lunch was great.

We had a fantastic tour guide Elef, an excellent driver, and the sites were phenomenal! The entire day was so very worth it.

I was initially unsure of how the experience would go, especially from booking online but it was a totally worthwhile experience! The company was very helpful when asking what time pick-up would be. They even called our hotel room when they arrived. We were picked up in Izmir and brought to an office with plenty of time before our tour started. We joined the others from our tour and were on our way promptly at 9:30. The tour guide gave us just the right amount of information and spent a good amount of time at each location. It was a hot day 38 C or 100 F, but the bus was nicely airconditioned. On our way back we dropped our other tour members off at the airport and then were quickly on the way back to Izmir. Overall, really well-done tour, worth the price because of the ease of transportation!

Overal disappointed with the tour. It was extremely rushed. The sightseeing itself was maybe at most 4 hours. They took us to a mediocre at best restaurant where the buffet had no taste. The tour itinerary doesn’t tell you they take you to a leather store but it does. We wasted two hours there waiting for people to shop. I could have used those two hours to sightsee and not sit there waiting for other people to do their shopping. They were also insisting on taking us to a carpet workshop and we declined. Saint John’s basically was part of the tour and tour guide kept asking if we really wanted to go see it. After I insisted she spent a meager 10 mins inside. The whole experience was disappointing. I would not pick this tour again

The best part of our tour was the visit to Mother Mary’s house. It was made special by our tour guide who was very knowledgeable of the events that led to the discovery of her house. He also went with us in the Ephesus tour and gave us a detailed stories of each building, wall, icons. It was an enjoyable tour because of the tour guide

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable of everything Efes. He answered all our questions and was very patient. Highly recommend this tour!

Ephesus is wonderful history sites In Turkey Our tour guide is very knowledgeable and professional. I’m highly recommended this tour

Amazing tour guide, super knowledgable! We ended up being the only ones on our tour and really appreciated the history and guide!

It was a long day, but one of the best trips my partner and I'd made in recent times. The day began with us being picked up from our stay in Izmir--we then picked up our guide for the day and traveled to the see the sites. Our guide was informative and quite knowledgeable and he gave us relevant details on the way. Our first stop was St. Mary's House (where it's believed St. Mary spent some time of her life after Jesus' death). The surroundings of the location was tranquil and magnificent, and the house had a nice atmosphere. We then traveled to Ephesus---which was truly a grand experience. The Greeks and later the Romans knew a thing or two about building cities, baths and water and sanitation way ahead of their times---and examples of that was all around. We spent about 2-3 hours there, and didn't visit the terrace houses (needed separate fees)---but we could easily have spent another hour or two in the ruins. We then moved to the Artemis temple and finally saw the ruins of St. John's Church and his purported burial site. There was a lunch in between---which was surprisingly good (in our experience) for a 'lunch inclusive' day trip. We were lucky that we went in April, although, the day was a Saturday after a Turkish holiday and so there were some crowds. But not, as the guide told us, overwhelming masses of visitors as is wont during the peak summer tourist season. Important: to carry water, sun-shades/sunglasses, hat/cap and sunscreen (for those who need it). Sturdy shoes with good grip are essential--the marble path through Ephesus are worn quite smooth and one tends to slip easily. A weather check---to ensure no rain, would be good to do as well. And of course, all the sites are visited on foot--so a bit of walking (and resting) will happen. A few snacks too would help, if you are a family with hungry kids---and do bring your cameras/GoPros/selfie-sticks and smart phones... Also, for those who are interested in ruins/history, please check if your entrance fees cover the terrace-houses entrance, if not, may be good to get those tickets before you go. We didn't, so will have to go back! Overall, it was a grand day among ruins and wonders of the ancient world.

Nazım Bey is intelligent, informative, interesting, and knowledgeable. One of the best tour guides around. The lunch of local cuisine was delicious!

We had a wonderful tour of Ephesus with a friendly and knowledgeable guide! We had fun while learning about this amazing site. Our guide was confident, thoughtful, and professional. Would highly recommend this tour!

Tour started from my hotel at 7:30 And dropped me off at the airport (as requested) around 5 pm Some schedules were changed but overall was ok

Well communicated & organised. The guide (Josh) was very informative & polite. The site was way bigger than I thought, took approx 2 hrs

Terrible service- the only reason I am giving one star is because tow things, on-time pickup and knowledgeable guide(Josh). Tour bus put us in 50 min hold at a train station soon after pickup from the hotel, and 60 min hold at their stinky office before dropping off at the hotel. We were late by two hours than estimated. The driver didn’t speak English at all and English speaking guide came on later on.

Terrible experience. I booked a tour on Viator and called the company to confirm the tour. I was told to be picked up at 7:30am at my hotel. However, I waited until 8:30 and they never came. All calls were unanswered. I wasted my time and money on this scam and ended up taking a train to Ephesus myself. Please stay away from this unreliable company.

The tour was excellent and the sites visited amazing, the tour company on the summer need to keep the buses A/C working all time even when the people step down to do the tour

The tour was good but the ride back home, the driver just couldn’t be bothered to take us back to the hotel. Kept making up any excuse to drop us off at a place that was convenient for him

Knowledgeable guide, beautiful site. Ephesus is amazing. The other sites were only ok, I think it would be better to have more time at Ephesus.

My tour was with ephesus shuttle - getyourguide -and i would like to say that i have travelled a lot and booked many tours but his is by far the best. this guide was the most prepared and committed guide ever. he was organized with his paper work, punctual, polite, attentive and fun. very respectul of ones space - over all he was like a college professor.

Nizam was a fantastic tour guide. He really made our group's experience great through his level of knowledge and sense of humor. We were also able to fit in another activity, ziplining, (the whole group wanted to) with the extra time that we had. Highly recommend this tour group again.

The tour was fantastic! Josh was my tour guide and he really took his time to discuss all the important aspects of the tour and let me go at my pace (ended up being a private tour because tourism is so down from covid). I’d highly recommend this tour although evidently the operators of the tour were not Neon tours. Neon yours seems to sub-contract it out so I can only speak on the particular company that assisted me. Also, just as an FYI... they will take you to a carpet shop and ceramic shop. There is really good info presented on the artwork of these crafts but you might feel a little pressured to buy something. Definitely not as much pressure as other tourist traps but wanted to share so you can be aware. I did end up buying something from the ceramic shop and don’t regret the purchase at all. There really is a beauty to Turkish carpet making and pottery making. Enjoy!

I rather liked the tour guide and enjoyed his presentation. But we picked him up in Slecuk, so it was a silent drive down from Izmir, and we skipped The Basilica of St John. Also I find it an insult to my intelligence when in response to other reviews, it has been mentioned that customers like those long shopping stops. There were only 4 of us and after the carpet shop stop, all four had indicated we want to go home , but after all sightseeing was done, we were basically kidnapped to a leather shop for a mandatory " fashion show", followed by aggressive salesmen. I prefer if tour companies just be upfront about these stops and how they are subsidized. Maybe some people rather pay extra, but dont be subjected to pushy salesmen with their amusing "just for you" offers.

Marcy was excellent.... She was so enthusiastic! We enjoyed our day so much because of her. Her knowledge of the history of Ephesus was very helpful! This was a great tour! Also Speedy was a great driver from.Izmir.... very safe We would definitely suggest this tour!

The tour guide was fantastic and knew everything about the place. She was very helpful and kept us involved. The dinner included was great and traditional turkish cuisine. The only problem was at the end there was another booking and it felt rushed. I would if liked it to be more of a full day rather than getting back to hotel at 1430

100% recommend if you’re looking for a tour with the most knowledgable (and fun!) guide! I really can’t spell my guide’s name (so sorry!) from Neon Tours but she was the most professional guide I have ever had. Her personality really made this tour enjoyable, as she set a great tone and atmosphere for the group. Her English was fantastic and she knew so much about Ephesus. I feel like I learnt a semester’s worth of history thanks to her! The pace of the tour was perfect, and our lunch stop was very tasty. The guide and driver took the necessary precautions very seriously to ensure everyone remained safe and healthy.

The tour itself was good, learned a lot of history. But the tour guide made 2 long stops to the rug /carpet making company and the ceramics. The rug company have very aggressive sales people. It was really a waste of our time and very tiresome.

Had a great trip to Ephesus... Our pick up was at our hotel and the drive took 1 hour. Started Christmas morning with a visit to house of Virgin Mary the we went to oil factory to look at various oils ( olive , lavender ) then went to see the ruins of Ephesus... had lunch and went to pottory place and rug making factory... all in all was a good trip , learn a lot and money well spent.

This should be on the top list of things to do in the area. Pay for a full day tour to get to the three main places: ST Mary’s, Ephesus and St John Basilica. Be aware though, on the tours, after lunch they will try and sell you carpets or jewellery. Unfortunately it’s all part of the day. There’s no pressure to buy but it’s just awkward as hell!

What an amazing place! The ruins are very well preserved in places. The guide was extremely knowledgable. The excursion was very well planned and several stops were made through the day to local shops and vendors. We learned a lot about the ancient civilizations but also about the local economy and skills of local rug makers and pottery artists. Lunch was included and delicious. I’d recommend Neon Tours to anyone who wanted a first class tour. N-

Takes about three hours to see all the parts.not remained well but as good as you want as a professional tourist

This trip is a must-do in Turkey. Our guide Mesut and driver Fatih were fantastic. They picked us up in a mini-bus ( 12-seat) from our Hotel in the morning and dropped us back at 5:30 PM. The trip started with a visit to St. John's basilica - the site is nearly 2000 yrs old and is surrounded by late Byzantine/early Turkish architecture examples. The Sea/Ocean was once just a KM or so away, now it is over 12 Km away. We then visited Virgin Mary's house. There are olive trees, fig trees, peach trees, etc. all around and the landscape is stunning. This is a very well preserved site. From here, we drove to Ephesus. Ephesus is very well maintained and our guide Mesut explained everything very well and showed us the spots for good pictures. I have to say that Ephesus, bar none, is the star of the show throughout Turkey. It is well curated, marked out and very well preserved. The Library of Celsius is clearly the star of the show. The Amphitheater is absolutely huge. We then went to lunch - absolutely fantastic. The lunch was followed by 2 sales events - carpets and ceramics respectively. We absolutely loved the carpet store. There is no push to sell - the presentations are similar. Our trip had a total of 7 passengers, plus the guide and driver. We requested the guide to take us to the Temple of Artemis - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. They duly obliged us. Thank you Mesut for sharing your knowledge and making our trip so memorable.

1. what happened: all picked up by 8:45, St John around 9:50, guided tour till 10:30, to St. Mary by10:45, guide's explanation till 11:00, then you visit the church as directed by the guide till around 11:30, move to Ephesus by 11:45, guided tour till 1:20, move to restaurant, lunch till 2:15, then you spend about 45 minute, in a carpet shop next the restaurant, Then we were about to move to another shop, so I mentioned whether we are stopping by at Artemis temple, the guide said no, I said it is so close, ready to insist that we must stop as I remember the itinerary was indicating Artemis, by then the guide says reluctantly say yes, so we stop by the temple for about 15 minutes. Then move to another shop, spent another 45 minutes, then it is 4:30 pm, time to head back to Izmir. 2. Was it good to see them: Absolutely all of them except the shops, you fly thousand of KM to see them!! 3. Were the guide and driver good: Very friendly, professional and knowledgeable. 4. Lunch: salads, deep fried cheese roll, eggplant, then fried chicken with rice, you pay for the drink where the restaurant would make money, and I guess that the tour company might not pay for the food at all just for brining tourist to the carpet shop. Anyhow, it was ok food nothing special. 5. Problem:The programme was very disappointing. Ok, I saw carpet shop and china shop spending 2 hours, but did I go to Izmir to see the shops? Were they specifically Turkish? The tour should have been, St.John, St, Mary and Artemis in the morning, then Ephesus for all afternoon, or all morning at Ephesus then the rest after lunch. Before we started Ephesus around 11:45, I was thinking if we are going to have lunch, how are we going to see it all? Not surprisingly, the guide was rushing us through it and not so much time to appreciate, it was like explanation, take photo, let's move. I was not quite sure why, but later realised because there were two shops to stop by. With all respect to the guide and tour company, shame on you. You surely know tourists come to Izmir for Ephesus, not for shops, and though there might be some financial arrangement, you are not doing favour to yourself in a long run, you company is out forever from my list. 6. Recommendation: Good to have guided tour, but check the programme for the day in the morning, unless you like shops, insist to spend more time at Ephesus and no shops. Sit and appreciate it, not photo and move. Or select a tour with no shops.

Great visit. Good guide. Knew history of the places we visited and showed us around in detail. Do not miss.

I must admit that I didn't read the description of the trip before booking, my wife made the preselectioun, so maybe my expectations were a bit off. Still overall it was a nice trip with good explanations by our guide about Efese and the basilica of St John. The chapel of Mary she could have told a litte bit more about, though maybe there is not much to tell. Efese itself is beautifull and it was very usefull that our guide delayed that part so that the larger groups of cruise ship tourists were mostly gone. There are also two sales events included, one for turkish delights and one for carpets. Both were not obnoxious, just unexpected by me. They don't pressure you to buy stuff. Lunch was good.

I must congratulate Neon Tours Izmir. Eventhough there were only 2 of us this tour, we still proceeded. We got the whole van just for the 2 us ! The tour was very special and entertaining. We visited Mother Marys house and the ruins of Ephesus. Both places are evocative. Ephesus is supposed to be the most well preserved Roman City. Its like you were sent back in time. I appreciated our tour guide who was very knowledgeable and our driver too.

Our tour guide Cigdem Dikentas Vidinel was very knowledgeable of the Greco-Roman history of Ephesus and was able to answer all our questions. She was patient, attentive and pleasant. It was a joy touring Ephesus, lunch and carpet co-operative with her.

In general, it was a great tour and I recommend it if you're interested in history and civilizations. The trip was well organized, the driver was on time for the pick up, and the vehicle was very good. Ephesus is fascinating indeed and the tour guide (Erman) was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Lunch was ok and the tour included 2 stops at a carpet weaving and pottery making places where it felt a bit uncomfortable because you're expected to buy some of the items they're selling. All in all, it was a very good experience and worth the money.

It is considered one of the great discovery of the Roman glory time coupled with the Virgin Mary hidding location after Jesus crucification. It is a must visit back in critical time in history

The driver was late more than 30 minutes for pick up without notice. The tour guide took us to the Turkish rugs and ceramic shops which is not included in the program. I did not expect we have to spend more that 2 hours in there. I will not recommend anyone to join this tour.

The trip was well planned, our guide and driver were excellent, attentive and professional. The included lunch was good, the vehicle was in good condition (air conditioning etc.) and pick-up/drop-off at our hotel in Izmir made for a very convenient trip for us. We highly recommend this tour. Ephesus is a breathtaking site, it's quite remarkable that so much of the ancient city was preserved in such great condition. Make sure to see the Terrace Houses as well (separate entry fee).

A must-see day trip. Not only were the ruins of Ephesus among the best in the world, the fact that it is presented both historically and culturally makes this trip truly memorable. Reliving the days of ancient Rome in Turkey, understanding the birthplace of Christianity and visiting St. Mary's home (!) makes history come alive. No need to be Christian to enjoy this tour.....

Have been there a few times with visitors. Both sites well worth visiting but not in hot season. Good tourist site.

Highly recommended, will definitely recommend Ceyla as a tour guide, she is passionate, knowledgable and a great photographer as well.

What a pleasant surprise. I had expected to join a tour bus but instead it was just a small van. It was not like a tour at all but a group of friends. Ephesus! Wow what a place We all had a terrific time. Very personal service. Many thanks!

This is by far most preserved and biggest place to visit of the seven churches of the Revelation. Even if your are not looking for Christian places, it is also part of the Roman Empire historical ruins. That is why there are so many tourist at Ephesus. There are two entrances. There are some constructions and just careful not to go there.

Ephesus and St. Mary's House Day Trip was a great experience. The tour guide was a cool guy and very knowledgable of the sites. He also had a way of using humor in his descriptions of what we were seeing which was an added bonus and really enhanced the experience. Our tour was on March 23, 2019, but unfortunately, we do not recall our tour guide's name, so if anyone has an idea of who he is, please send me a message or post it as a response to this here if you can.

Very informative tour. Nice and knowledgeable guide. Had some good time visiting Ephesus and learning more about the ancient ruins.

Very good tour. It was intimate. Although, would have wanted to spend more time in the site taking more pictures rather than visiting shops (leather factory and carpet school). More time for pictures next time.

Ephesus is definitely the highlight of this trip and way above my expectations. The ancient ruins and history was brought to life again for us by our excellent tour guide Erman who was informative, patient, helpful and funny as well (he would love it if I add handsome haha)! Everyone in the group had an excellent time - lots of chances for taking photos and questions. The lunch provided was excellent fare - feels like home cooking - would happily eat there everyday and pay restaurant prices. I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone in Izmir or the Selcuk area. Go look for Erman!