For Cruisers: Best Of Ephesus Private Tour (Skip-the-line & On-time Return)

An excellent alternative to doing the tours via the Cruise Ship. Great value and picked us up and dropped us back on time. Guide was brilliant.

This crew added stops that weren't on the itinerary to a carpet sales and lunch that felt trapped. Ephasus is great, but find a different tour that won't try to make you buy things and take you places you didn't sign up for.

Ephesus is amazing. I had no idea. You definitely need a guide. Our guide Bugra was excellent. He spoke English well. He gave us a private tour and knew how to avoid the big crowds and tour groups. He knew history facts and helped us understand Turkey, the culture, and the people. We enjoyed the real Turkish lunch and all the sites we visited. This tour is worth the money. Take it!

This was one of the best travel experiences I have had on my cruise. Fatima was very very thorough professional and very fun to be with. I would recommend this tour to anyone.

Great tour and definitely great value for the money. Our guide Canan was very knowledgeable and accommodating to what we wanted to see and do. Would recommend taking this tour.

Our guide Umut ensured we had a wonderful day visiting Ephesus. His knowledge and hospitality made our day very special and we would highly recommend this tour

Bugra was amazing as a guide and a genuinely nice person. We enjoyed how knowledgeable he is and how much history he knows and shared with us. He was very good at reading our style and adjusted the tour to our personalities. We are more than happy with our experience. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Perfect food arrived promptly and delivered by friendly staff. The butger was smashing, absolutely delightfull on the taste buds and fresh as possible. My wife and myself would highly recommend 👌

The tour guide met us as we got off the ship. She was friendly but seemed more focused on rushing us through the sites (not our request) to get us back on time in 4 hours with 2 hours to space before our cruise left port. That being said, the unscheduled visit to the sales-pitched carpet factory as the first stop, was unnecessary and wasted valuable time of 45 mins. Some spots like St. Johns basilica were therefore not possible. The drive to the sites were picturesque and I wanted to take that in but the guide kept wanting us to see maps of turkey and get a history lesson. Not good at reading queues that we wanted to look outside and listen to her… not stare at maps and printed material. Overall, the tour guide and driver were friendly and kind but this tour did not meet expectations.

The cost of this excursion came with a price. The visit to Ancient Ephesus was awesome. We also went to a rug factory, where we received a private demonstration and learned the significance, intricacy and cultural importance of weaving exceptional rugs from silk, wool and bamboo. We were also given a private 'showing' and sales of the rugs, while drinking apple tea. The final stop was to a leather factory, and we were given a private runway showing of exceptional leather coats. For this we came away unexpectedly with two leather coats. Our $25 day turned into a $1,400 day. While we could have said no, we were treated so well and the quality of the rugs and coats was so exceptional we could not say no. Take this tour, and if you don't want to take the time or feel any pressure of sales, let Josh know. He is easy going, understands, and easy to work with.

We had the pleasure of taking the Biblical Ephesus tour with Peri as our guide, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip. Peri was knowledgeable, engaging, and incredibly passionate about the history and significance of the sites we visited. She brought the ancient city of Ephesus to life with insightful commentary. Her storytelling was captivating, and she was always happy to answer questions or provide extra details that made the experience even richer. Peri’s warmth and professionalism made us feel welcomed and cared for from the moment we met her. She also paced the tour perfectly—giving us time to explore and take in the sights without feeling rushed. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kusadasi, especially with Peri as your guide. You won’t be disappointed!

We had an outstanding experience on this private tour of Athens! The driver arrived on time and was incredibly knowledgeable, offering insights into the city’s history and landmarks like the Parthenon and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The air-conditioned vehicle was comfortable, and the WiFi and bottled water kept us refreshed throughout the journey. We enjoyed the flexibility of starting the tour at a time that suited us, and the whole trip felt very personalized. If you're looking for a hassle-free, comfortable way to explore Athens, this tour is the perfect choice. Highly recommend!

This was my favorite tour during our 10 day cruise in the Mediterranean. The ancient ruins of Ephesus are beautiful. Our tour guide Fatima was very knowledgeable. I would recommend taking this tour!!!

Barsh Cubak has encyclopedic knowledge of the Ephesus site, the surrounding area, and indeed the entire history of ancient Ionia and Turkeyi itself. He went overboard to tailor the trip to our interests, to make us comfortable and to be sure no metaphorical stone was unturned. We've taken many tours with Viator but this may have been the best.

Our family truly enjoyed this tour off of our Celebrity Infinity cruise. Fatima was an excellent tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and went out of her way to make sure we saw everything and she answered all of our questions. Doing the private tour is totally worth the money!!

A most interesting and detailed explanation of what happened and how the excavations have been conducted and their methods and discoveries.

This tour was enjoyable, offering interesting insights and informative commentary throughout. Great guide and good food.

Fatima gave us a wonderful day in Ephesus with so much attention to detail. The lunch was excellent and it was a first taste of delicious Turkish wine.

Our exclusive tour, though a bit on the expensive side for just the two of us, proved to be worth every penny. Fatima, our guide, made the entire experience seamless by picking us up from the cruise port, alleviating any concerns we had about organizing the tour through Viator independently. Her friendliness and extensive knowledge added immense value to our journey. Valeria expertly guided us to the best spots to witness the attractions while strategically avoiding crowds and staying in the shade. Throughout the tour, she engaged in pleasant conversation, addressing not only historical aspects but also providing insights into contemporary life in Turkey. Fatima's expertise extended to a guided tour of the museum, where she shared her knowledge about the various artifacts. Thanks to her, we had a truly memorable trip, and we highly recommend her services.

We recently has the pleasure of taking a tour of Ephesus. Our tour guide, Fillis met us at the cruise terminal and we immediately headed to the ruins. She was very friendly and warm and instantly put us at ease. She was extremely knowledgeable and skillfully told us about the historical significance of each site, providing insights into the daily lives of the people who once inhabited this ancient city. The Terrace Houses were amazing. These beautifully preserved residences were so interesting. The frescoes and mosaics were truly worth seeing. My son wanted to go see where the carpets were made, so Fillis was happy to take us there to see how these truly beautiful works of art are made. We also had a lovely lunch made by local people. I highly recommend this tour to anyone with a love of history and culture.

welll organized tour with iglesias tour. perfect service! fatima is so knowledge and professional . i higly recommend their private tours to everyone

We had a fantastic experience with Fatima. She waited for us at port and was very easy to find. The transportation she arranged was comfortable a

This tour was one of my all time favorites. Fatima had great communication with us before hand and was waiting for us at the dock. The private tour she gave was tailored to our interests and schedule. She even included a ceramic factory and carpet weaving experience which were wonderful! Highly recommend Fatima and her company!

Had a wonderful tour with Fatima! She met us right outside the exit of the port. She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and gave us fabulous tour of Ephesus. The van was clean, the driver great and we highly recommend the lunch! There’s a carpet demo at the end, but we appreciated that there wasn’t any pressure to buy. Overall, a 5-star tour!

Was amazing to see different sites. Fatima was very knowledgeable about the history of Ephesus and other surrounding historical sites. The tour was amazing and fun. Fatima made this trip beautiful and I would definitely be back to visit. Thank you ☺️

Fatima was very prompt and personal. She could answer all my questions quickly and we enjoyed the tour.

The tour and guide was fantastic! Fatima was great with her explanations and conversation - tailoring how much time we wanted to spend at each site and adjusting her information commentary to both me (a history buff there for the ruins) and my wife (a foodie most interested in lunch) as we went through different stops. Additionally she seemed to know everyone in town, and had amazing recommendations for dinner, pools, bars… even pharmacies in Ephesus. A true local. Lunch (pics attached) was at a shade-filled Turkish taverna style restaurant out in the vineyards, with little old ladies hand-baking stuffed flatbreads over wood ovens. Plenty of room for the kids to run around. We had some crazy flight/cruise delays, but Ismail and Fatima (husband and wife tour operators) were extremely accommodating and helpful. Our driver was also super sweet - stopping to pick us up cold water when he saw us tired and hot from travel, ready with the van’s AC blasting!

It was a lovely tour . We didn’t have any inconvenience. The flight was on time . Everything was perfect. The tour to Pamukkale was amazing. Ismail the tour guy is very knowledgeable in the area . I can recommend this tour to anyone . I can give him from 1 to 10 a 10 .

Had a great tour guide Fatima ...she was very friendly and gave us lots of information about history and the place...had a great day... thank you Fatma

What an amazing experience this was. Our tour guide, Fatima, is an outstanding professional and is extremely knowledgeable on the history of the area. She tailored our tour to our desires and kept us on track. She took us to a leather factory, ceramic shop, ancient ephesus, tower of Artemis and most mportantly, the Virgin Mary's House. Without a doubt I would highly recommend her and her company. Adrian MSgt, Retired, USAF,

My family toured the archaeological treasures of Ephesus and the home of the blessed Virgin Mary, led by tour guide Fatima. She was a wealth of knowledge and hospitality, and we cannot imagine visiting Ephesus any other way. One of the highlights of the day was an authentic Turkish meal at a local restaurant called Yavuzun Yeri where we reclined on couches and enjoyed Kebabs and other exotic entrees, as well as local beverages. Fatima shared other insights beyond the historical, including the current economic and political nuances. We learned so much and feel this unforgettable memory was a bargain! Highest recommendation from the Lee family!

This was a great day tour with Fatima and very well paced. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to the details about the sites we visited during the day (esp the ancient ruins of Ephesus). The lunch was at an amazing place and the food was delicious. The transport was also very comfortable with a great driver.

The tour in Ephesus was great. Tour guide was very informative. Lunch was delicious. I have no complaints since it was a fantastic overall experience. Book this tour for a hassle free and fun experience.

We had a wonderful experience in Ephesus & Mary's House. The company was fantastic and we could not have asked for better local service. İsmail planned a private tour and offerred only local guidence,lunch! Our tour guide Fatima was extremely knowledgeable and gave excellent tour tailored to our interest.We will certainly recommend your services to our friends and colleagues. Best in class...

This operator will deliver on a wonderful experience. The company answered the phone calls on time and as expected. Tour was perfectly organized . Highly recomended !

We had a amazing day in Ephesus.Tour guide was very informative. Ismail gave excellent background information about area and Turkey. We had local lunch and drinks.Totally worth the price. Thank you for local experience

We had a great time from the start to the end of the tour. Everything went smoothly and well organised. Ismail our tour guide was very friendly and kind. Even went the extra mile to bring us to the carpet manufacturer in Kusadesi. He is also very responsive to our queries prior to the tour and ensured everything is good throughout the whole trip. Made our honeymoon a very memorable one!

It's was a an awesome trip, everything was great and on time. our tour guide Ismail is really kind and genuine, would bring you the best places. Honestly it is one of the unforgettable trips a person can have!

Fatima is very knowledgeable and helpful. She also provided very punctual pick up, good transport and good food. I am highly recommending her 😊

Most perfect day in Ephesus! An absolute pleasure from the start: on time, kind, friendly, knowledgeable. Lunch in a traditional, local Turkish village waa great. Our guide Fatima waa just delightful! Don’t look any further-get this tour!

Our tour was amazing. Fatima is the best, she was very knowledgeable, friendly, and provided a fun environment that allowed us to truly enjoy Turkey. She brought us to all our locations on time and even managed to bring us to extra locations! It was a wonderful day.

We had a great trip and we felt very comfortable and happy. They are the nicest person ever and make you feel like friends. They help you in everything you need and everything is perfectly organized. We will go back and take another tour definitely!

Ephesus was a beautiful place to visit with incredible history behind it, but our guide Gigi really made it come to life by painting the larger picture of the city and its people. I would highly recommend this tour!

Communication while booking the tour with Ismail was excellent. He answered all my questions, and He coordinated private Ephesus Tour for us. The tour was breathtaking and in one day we got almost to travel through time and get information about Turkish culture. Fatima definitely contributed the most for that. She explained not only Ephesus Ancient site or The House of Mary but also mentioned about billion of things. We stopped at a local restaurant for a wonderful traditional lunch. We were so glad we came across this great team and company. It was the best experience of our Turkey Tour

We've had a wonderful day with our guide, Ismail, who knew everything about the surroundings and answered all our questions. Highly recommend using his servives, as he knows everything about the place and is a kind and humorous man as well. Thank you for everything!

We found Ismail through the internet searching. We took the decision casually but they turned out to be the best tour guide for us in our entire trip in Turkey. Ismail & Fatma is an exceptional tour guides with thorough and deep knowledge about the history of that region. They are very warm and friendly and encourages great participation in groups. Their crew was on time to pick us up from the hotel and made sure we are comfortable throughout. My wife and I are both great history lovers so we enjoyed going from ruin to another. The tour packages are very competitive and are an excellent value for money. We recommended this tour company to our family friends and they were so pleased to have them on board. They had nothing but good to say about them. Keep up the good work, IGLESIAS TOUR TURKEY highly recommended by us!