For Cruisers Ephesus Ruins And Terrace Houses

Beware! We were disappointed in that we were only given 30mins to view the Terrace Houses, needed much more time to appreciate them. Then only given 10mins to take in the Library complex, again too short to appreciate this amazing structure. We have travelled all the way from Australia for this. Then the guide found the time to take us to a carpet factory - not on the itinerary - where we spent 40mins. Then took us to a leather jacket place called Donna Milan, meaning Milan Woman in Italian, where we spent another 40mins, again this was not on the itinerary. Why didn’t we spend that precious 1hr 20m in Ephesus??? Very disappointing and we wouldn’t recommend this tour.

It was very interesting, she gave lots of historical information and answered questions. She stopped at each different site and explained everything.

Our tour guide was great - very informative. We highly recommend this tour which includes the Terrace House component. We believe this is a ‘must see.’

Very efficient our band driver and tour guide we’re waiting for us no problem. A very nice van our tour guide was very informative we learned a lot

Lots of information, absolutely terrific guide, a hot day but the guide looked after everyone beautifully. Highly recommend this tour

Fantastic experience, right pace, knowledgeable tour guide Okan, comfortable transport and great communication pre trip.

It is worth your time! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and his history was spot on! Pick up was smooth as well. If it's hot outside a umbrella would be a wise choice!

Our guide Ozz was great! A history major who shared quite a bit and it was very informative. The downside is he was a bit negative on going in the terrace houses. Half my family went and the other half did not. Later they said had they known I bought tickets they would have gone. The steps were not bad and not steep. More like 5-10 steps at a time and then long walkways. They were disappointed they did not go after hearing about it.

Ephesus was amazing! Our tour guide, Isik, was so knowledgeable and friendly! She really made the tour enjoyable. I would highly recommend the tour and especially Isik!!

The tour of Ephesus is extraordinary, and the history and demonstration of rug-making in Turkey is fascinating.

Onder was wonderful! We were a small group of four, which made it very intimate. Onder did a wonderful job telling us the history of Ephesus and the historical and social context of each site. More importantly, he took him time, was very considerate to ensure we had a good experience. He gave us plenty of time to take our photographs, and masterfully guided us away from large groups so we wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. He made our visit to Ephesus a wonderful and memorable experience!

My son said out of 8 excursions on our 2 week cruise, this was one of his favorites. Excellent guide.

We had a wonderful experience at the Ephesus Ruins and Terrace Houses with our small group tour guide, Filiz! She was knowledgeable, engaging, kind, and so enjoyable to learn about the culture from! I recommend Filiz for a fabulous cruise port guide in Ephesus! She even recommended a lovely seafood restaurant following the tour! 5 stars!!

It was the strangest tour experience. We were batched with others who booked different experiences. First thing we were left in a parking lot because one couple had booked the house of Mary butter rest of us had not. Our guide tried to talk us out of going to the terrace houses, which ended up being the highlight. Then she INSISTED that we eat at a specific restaurant. We all said no but she was persistent enough that 6/8 gave in and paid the 20 euros. My husband and I were told a car would come for us, but that was a lie. We had to wait in the garden while they ate and rode back with them. It was ridiculous! Our guide had mediocre knowledge and a mission of her own. I do not recommend!

Our guide was knowledgeable, accommodating, and pleasant. Our party of four were in awe of the ruins. The experience was well worth the many steps.

Private tour is the only way to go on this. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and understood what we wanted to see.

We were picked up at the ship in a small group . Tylan was an excellent guide. There was plenty of time to see everything.

Excellent and very knowledgeable guide. There is alot of walking and with a cane you need to be careful, as it is mostly downhill and the stones can be slippery

The tour was an excellent introduction to the history and culture of Turkey. Our tour guide, Ogun, was an encyclopedia of knowledge ranging from history, art and customs for his home country. His passion for Turkey really brought the tour to life. Our driver, Memo, made certain that our trip was a safe one. Kudos to both of these ambassadors for Turkey!

Our tour guide Celine was wonderful. She explained everything we were seeing, answered our questions. She was very knowledgeable, also took us to a wonderful carpet market! Definitely would recommend her, it was a great experience having a private tour!

We had a wonderful tour with Celine Y. She was very knowledgeable and personable. I suggest including the Terrace Houses in your tour. We stopped at the pottery place afterwards and were amazed by the handmade pieces.

It was excellent. Easy to meet up with Mehmet. He was very knowledgeable and flexible with our tour. We loved the Terrace House so much we highly recommend it!!!

Barbosa is as a fantastic tour guide. A fluent English speaker, he communicated the history of Ephaseus in a most interesting and friendly manner A humorous fellow as well. Excellent guide!!!

Well worth it. Really enjoyed the trip. Guide was Methat who was great and funny. Transport was clean modern and fine. Got us back to Port in plenty of time

Our excursion from booking to completing was fantastic. The guide Selin was amazing in her support when I was over come with the extreme heat of the day, she went over and above the tour to meet my needs as well as attending to the 3 other members of our group. I highly recommend this tour and guide.

The guide was very good and answered all of our questions Took us through the ancient city and explained Everything very well. Also took Us everywhere we wanted to go. Tulio was the guides name

Our guide and driver were great! Xenofon and Mike took us throughout the island in a short stop here in Santorini, our ship docked late but they were very efficient with time and we got the most amazing photos! Thank you

Ogun was quite an impresive tour guide. Very friendly and he knows mqny things about Efessus. He made our trip very pleasant .

Ogun was just fantastic! Extremely professional and friendly. I recommend him 100%... The tour guide will make the difference in these type of tours... Otherwise you would be looking at marble stones only.

The pictures don’t do it justice. Ephesus was amazing. It was well worth the 4:30AM pick up from our hotel in Istanbul. The tour company arranged everything - our driver was on time, the van was nice, and our Turkish Air flight was smooth. In Izmir, our guide, Ogun, was waiting for us outside of baggage claim and then our tour began. Highlights: 1) Ogun filled us in on Turkish culture and modern history during the drive into the site. 2) our first stop was the House of Mary. It was a small attraction, but there weren’t many tourists so it wasn’t over crowded 3) after that we went straight to Ephesus (5-10 mins away). It’s as good as any picture you’ve seen - the ruins are very well preserved and its location between two hills leading into a valley is quite scenic. Our guide was knowledgeable and shared interesting / funny anecdotes about the significant ruins. 4) we finished with lunch over looking a valley. The food was typical Turkish fare - nothing amazing but it hit the spot after a long day walking around. Overall, if you go to Turkey make sure you spend a day here. It’s very convenient from Istanbul if you don’t mind the early start.

Ogun was our friendly guide. Excellent stories. Thorough knowledge of history. Pleasant personality and good sense of humour

Ogun was a terrific and enthusiastic guide was an informative and great host to Ephesus. Ephesus is a must see destination and tour if you’re in the area.

We had a great time on our tour to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. The transportation was excellent—comfortable and not crowded— 7pax in a mini bus which made the ride very enjoyable. Our tour guide, Ogun, was professional and knowledgeable, speaks english clearly compare to other tour guides here, providing interesting insights about the sites. However, the experience felt rushed. At key spots like the Agora and Library in Ephesus, we were only given 10 minutes to take pictures and walk around, which wasn’t enough to truly appreciate the site. We paid €40 for the entrance and we felt being rushed, limiting our time at important locations. Additionally, the agency didn’t clearly outline what was covered in the full-day Ephesus tour (by the way it was not even a full day - finished the tour with a lunch and we arrived at our hotel 3:45pm) and we ended up visiting places we had already seen. Overall, it was a well-organized tour with a comfortable ride and a knowledgeable guide, but the rushed pace and lack of clarity in the itinerary left us wanting more time to explore.

Unforgettable Tour of Ephesus with Our Guide Ogun Our tour to Ephesus was an incredible experience, made even more special by our outstanding guide, Ogun. The day started early with a flight from Istanbul, and upon arrival, a transport took us to meet our guide, Ogun, right on time. Our first stop was the House of Mary, a peaceful and spiritual site nestled among lush greenery and towering trees. The serene atmosphere, combined with Ogun’s insightful about the site’s significance, made for a truly moving experience. Next, we explored the ancient ruins of Ephesus, one of the most well-preserved classical cities in the world. Ogun’s deep knowledge and engaging explanations brought the ancient city to life, pointing out intricate details we might have otherwise missed. Our final historic stop was the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Though only a few columns remain, Ogun painted a vivid picture of its former grandeur, helping us appreciate its significance in ancient times. To top off the day, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a charming local restaurant, where we savored fresh, authentic Turkish cuisine. Overall, this tour was a perfect mix of history, culture, and natural beauty, and Ogun’s expertise truly made it unforgettable. If you’re visiting Ephesus, I highly recommend experiencing it with him!

Amazing and fun tour! Ogün gives us very detailed information and is willing to answer any questions we may have. The pace is great, not rushing but not too slow. Apart from the information on Ephesus, he also gave us information about Turkiye in general and history of the country. We had an amazing time!!

I had an amazing experience with Ogun as my tour guide! From start to finish, he was knowledgeable, friendly, and incredibly attentive to every detail. His deep understanding of the area and passion for sharing its history made the tour both engaging and insightful. He went above and beyond to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, always making sure everyone felt comfortable and well taken care of. If you're looking for a top-notch guide, Ogun is the one to go with. Highly recommended!

We visited the ancient city of Ephesus, our tour guide Hatie picked us up from our hotel and we had an amazing day from start to finish. Hatie was so friendly and knowledgeable and answered all our questions and took some nice photos. Really enjoyed visiting the house of Mother Mary, beautiful. Overall, great trip.

Hate was a wonderful guide and was knowledgeable with lots of information about the area, highly recommend the tour and her. Beautiful place must visit

I love the Pamukkale Termal Pools. it was very lovely weather luckily today and the tour guide ogun was very cooperative and friendly. I will always remember this experience. Two things which makes it the best: Thermal Pools & Hell Gate.

I have visited archeological sites all over the world. Ephesus is Top 5. Ogum, our guide, was patient and knowledgeable. An all-round great experience.

The tour guide Ogun was very nice, friendly, funny and sweet person. Highly recommended this guy. Whenever you come to Izmir, consider hiring him for your tour.

Yigithan was our tour guide and spoke excellent English, his knowledge of the area and Ephesus was outstanding, we were in a small group and he was very attentive , transport in minibus with A/C was comfortable, would strongly recommend

Ephesus is one of the very best preserved places of Greek and Roman heritage. Huge crowds made my visit less memorable.

The guide was knowledgeable but then he held us hostage at the carpet store. The majority of the group wanted to leave but the guide refused. Never again!

Busra was a fantastic guide. She was extremely knowledgeable and helpful and has a delightful personality . I would highly recommend this tour. She gave adequate time for recovery, as there was lots of walking on uneven surfaces. Would not recommend this tour for people with mobility issues.

Very good guide - very informative. Made sure everyone in the group was comfortable with the pace and conditions.

Really nice time seeing ancient Ephesus with our great guide Esra. Be warned - Ephesus is HOT! Sun hats, water, or an umbrella are critical!

This was a superb tour with a very knowledgeable guide. The tour bus was comfortable and air conditioned and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend.

This tour was perfect. Just the right amount of time to see the two most important sites without getting overwhelmed. And our guide, Rita was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic throughout the whole tour sharing little tidbits about the buildings that we would never have gotten from the audio tour.