Private Ephesus Tour & Turkish Bath Hamam Experience In Kusadasi

Our guide, Ismail Keser, provided exceptional service from our port pickup onward. Following his recommendations, we arrived at Ephesus ahead of the crowds and maintained a strategic advantage throughout the day. As an archaeologist and seasoned guide, Ismail offered profound historical context and insight into the city’s past, present, and future. The itinerary included a demonstration of traditional Turkish rug weaving, a customary Turkish lunch, and tastings of Turkish delights and other regional specialties. We also enjoyed shopping opportunities before concluding with a Turkish bath and a relaxing massage. This outstanding experience was made possible by Ismail and our driver, whose punctuality and professionalism ensured a seamless journey through the city. An exceptional experience that far exceeded our expectations!

The ancient city of Ephesus is worthy of your time. Experiencing it on a private or very small group is the way to go. Efe was our tour guide and had a wealth of knowledge for our group of 3. Our transportation was a Mercedes small limo, very nice! Lunch was delicious and demonstrations on making Turkish rugs was very interesting. Also not too strong a push to buy a rug from them. The time at the hamam was the place I thought the experience could be better. After changing, everyone has to go down stairs through the main lobby wearing only a short wrap. We didn’t know where to go - very awkward. Then we were pointed to a room we thought was a sauna but apparently just a salt room. The ceiling was constructed with thick black garbage bags. Odd. It was again very awkward. Next off to the sauna with both men and women, then to the room with the warm marble slab where you are scrubbed, bubbled and a mini massage with the bubbles. I personally had issues with the wrap slipping… oh well…. Then all were draped in towels and sent back through the main lobby and by front door to get dressed again. An adventure for sure and will make for great stories if nothing else.

The four of us were fortunate to have been guided by Ercument O., a former linguistics teacher. He was able to converse in all of our languages (English, Chinese, French, and Spanish), though we used English as our primary language. He made us feel welcome and wanted to engage with us. The driver and private van were cherry on top. Ah, Ephesus -- UNESCO World Heritage site – one of the greatest cities of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Eastern Roman (Byzantine) eras to have survived over 3,000 years as a major port and primarily a Greek settlement city. It contains the Temple of Artemis (Greek goddess of fertility, wilderness, and life), Library of Celsus, Great Theatre (large Amphitheatre), residential neighborhoods, baths/terrines, marketplaces, and streets made of marble blocks. Ercument was a great guide. He showed us highlights of the city that was excavated, nearly 0.8-1.2 square miles (2-3 square kilometers). It’s amazing to hear that this only represents 20% of this truly amazing city revealed. The city has had many transitions dating back to the early Greek (1,000 BC), Persian and Hellenistic (546 BC to 133 BC), Roman (133 BC-330 AD), and Eastern Roman or Byzantine (330 AD-1300 AD) periods. Most of the surviving remnants belong to the Roman periods, when the busy Aegean port was filled with an amalgam of residents, visitors, and traders from all over the Eastern Mediterranean. It was a delight to walk down the same marble street from the Ephesus heyday and stopped in front of the Library of Celsus, with Ercument narrating with excitement the various events and posts along the street, the meaning of various symbols on the columns, and the names of the sculptures in front of the Library. Unfortunately, we didn’t tour the House of the Virgin Mary or the Basilica of St. John, which were separate but nearby. (Admittedly, our cruise ship had to leave an hour earlier than planned.) Instead, however, Ercument took us to a Turkish carpet cooperative where we saw a demonstration of carpet weaving, the pulling of silk threads from the chrysalis, and the changing colors of a finished carpet as it turns against/towards the light. It was hard to resist the sales pressure after the educational portion, but we were rewarded with an excellent and generous lunch: 5 small plates and an entrée of chicken kabobs, beef meatballs, and bulgur. We then went to a Turkish retail store to sample (and buy) some Turkish Delights, pure menthol crystals, and Turkish olive oil. We bought some goodies for home. Finally, we ended the tour with 20-25 minutes Turkish Bath. The price for the short service was most likely covered by the Bath facility for an opportunity to up-sell, because as soon as we entered, the owner tried to sell us a massage (45 Euros for 30 minutes). We opted out. In retrospect, I would have liked to skip the Turkish Bath if it could have allowed us more touring time. The facility is old (needs refurbishing), in need of cleaning, and not very private (have to walk through the front lobby). Basically, it’s a rinse, body rub with a sponge on a hot marble stone, and bubble rinse finish. Too short an experience to be completely relaxing. Nevertheless, this tour was great value and made for a memorable experience because of our excellent tour guide, driver, and private van.

Our tour was amazing! We were locked up in a wonderful vehicle, our guide Al was knowledgeable and helpful. Our experience at the Hamam was amazing. We did add on the massage option. We did not know that you were supposed to bring a swimsuit but the personnel were great all draping the towels so all was good! Highly recommend this tour!

We had an amazing day! We had the absolute BEST guide, Deniz. It seriously couldn’t have been any better. Then the Turkish bath to finish the day… just incredible.

excellent communications; great private ephesus experience with lots of history; and a great turkish bath experience. we were met outside the cruise terminal. there was a slight mixup in details, but it all worked out after 15 or so minutes. it was just hubby and me so a huge a/c van all to ourselves was so nice! great driver as well. our wonderful guide, turgut, was extremely versed in history, which made our tour rich and diverse. we were never rushed. the turkish hamam was a relaxing finish to a very warm, humid day. the hamam process was very straightforward. we opted for a no-clothes bath followed by a nice balinese massage. the massage was overpriced for 1/2 hour, but very relaxing nonetheless. included in our tour were two stops: the first at a lovely ceramic shop; the second at a carpet place, where we also had a yummy lunch. both stops were not terribly high pressure. all-in-all a very fulfilling day…we were in bed by 19:30 😴

This was a great tour. In the morning we went to the old city and saw ruins of Ephesus. Then a nice lunch & Turkish Bath. We upgraded and also did a half hour massage. Our guide was great. The rug part was OK. The rugs are beautiful but $8,000 so we were not buying one. Definitely bring extra cash to tip & bring water or $$ to buy some.

Our guide was the Best Ever!!!! He gave so much to our day!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Toro was our guide. We were picked up at the port & had a driver also. Toro was a wonderful guide and had so much knowledge about City & Ephesus. It was quite an experience walking through the ruins and learning about how life was back them. The Hamam experience was wonderful after taking the tour. Definitely would recommend.

What an amazing experience!! Our tour guide Safak and our driver Smile were the absolute BEST!! Traveling with our mom with slight physical limitations they both made It so much easier and enjoyable!! From the start of the tour to our ending Turkish bath it was an absolute 10++++!!! I would highly highly recommend!!

Wonderful experience. Very knowledgeable guide who made the trip worth it. Food was excellent too. Can't complain about anything!

This was a wonderful experience! Selçuk and driver took care of us all day. Our experience in Kusadasi would not have been the same without their comforts. Firstly, Selçuk was a very knowledgeable tour guide giving you detailed information about not just Ephesus and Kusadasi but about Turkiye in general. He ensured we were comfortable, went at our pace, and made sure we got to see all sites safely. (Emphasis here, because the Ephesus ruins are quite slippery because of thee marble.) He was also engaging and patient with us, and took pictures of us when we wanted a memory, I cannot recommend him enough! The driver made sure we had tissues, wet wipes, and waters to stay hydrated. He was also very polite and patient (I'm sorry I forgot your name!) As for the experience itself, it was well worth the money, a culturally enriching time, and lots of fun with your family, 10/10 recommend , just book it and have a great day in Kusadasi !

Absolutely loved this experience. Safak is a spectacular tour guide who shares his knowledge of history and the areas. The rug factory was also a wonderful learning experience. The Turkish bath (hammam) was wonderful. Very different experience but it was so relaxing taking time for ourselves, spectacular massage we added on. Would recommend a What To Wear list, we didn't know what we should wear/Bring. Mu husband wore a bathing suit, I should have also, but was OK taking my clothes off and wearing underwear

Our guide ERCÜMENT was very kind informative pleasure to deal and be with his English was amazing. We really enjoyed and had a good time. I would pass the Hammam for me. It wasn’t so professional but overall the trip was amazing.

It was a very interesting and informative tour of Ephesus. Tour guide knew all the tricks to avoid too larger crowds and get the best views of everything. The guide was passionate and extremely knowledgeable. Stoped at family run pottery shop with no pressure to purchase. However nice to support a very old tradition and craft. We went to an amazing organic farm to table family run restaurant with chickens and peacocks roaming freely. Here is also a government supported traditional Turkish carpet company with demonstrations. There is a shop with carpets $1000 - $1.5 million. Just astonishing how the carpets painstakingly come together. Sales manager was very nice and informative. Obviously would love to make a sale but was very pleasant even if you didn’t. Last stop was the Turkish Baths. Incredible experience and paid extra for additional massage. Whole day was fantastic and would highly recommend this tour. Our guide was Hakan.

It was both educational and fun … highly recommended. Ercument was a fabulous guide, he helped us appreciate the culture and was a delight to be with.

Ercüment and his driving partner were excellent. Lots of great information and little facts about Ephesus. The restaurant we went to for lunch was so much food and very delicious. The icing on the cake was the hamam visit where you come out feeling like a new person. 12/10 definitely recommend.

It was an all-day adventure starting with the city of Ephesus, an ancient city with lots of history, many ruins that have been discovered, quite a few cats, and a handful of resident dogs. A fascinating place. Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. Also patient and kind. Then we went for lunch -- not a great one for a vegetarian, but okay for meat eaters. A quick course in how to make handmade rugs followed (fascinating), with a pitch to buy one. Don't ever take the first price offered. Or the second. Then came the delight of the day -- the Turkish bath with an optional massage. I never thought I would be in Turkey for my birthday, much less having a Turkish bath. The women helping us were very nice and very good at what they do. We really appreciated the patience and knowledge of our guide and the driver. I would recommend this tour.

We had a great time in Kusadasi. Our guide, Begum, was amazing! If you’re looking for an stress-free day of a guided tour of Ephesus and a Turkish bath, this is for you. You’ll get picked up right at the dock of the cruise ship and dropped back off. The operators are very aware of cruise schedules and will make sure you won’t miss your all aboard.

This was a surprisingly excellent experience. Surprising, because we did not know what to expect from Ephesus or from a Turkish bath and massage in a hammam. But our guide Deniz was excellent: kind, funny and knowledgeable. On the tour. Prepare to be surprised at the quality and complexity of the ruins. Everyone rushes to the library because it’s iconic. But Deniz helped us understand the nuances of a multicultural society. On the bath: if you’re American, set your Massage Envy expectations aside and go with it. You will be (mostly) nude, you will get wet, you will be exfoliated with salt and bathed in olive oil. And you will like it! One of our best tours after 25+ years of global travel.

We had an excellent tour of Ephesus. Our guide, Isa, told us the information in an interesting way. He was very conscientious about our safety and finding shade everyplace it was available. The Turkish bath was an experience not to be missed. Lunch outside was delightful. It was a GREAT day!!

Let me tell you after this experience, I definitely want to come back to Turkey. My guide Ahmet (Alex) and our driver was wonderful. My daughter and I felt very safe with them and our tour was private. Alex gave us the best tour in Ephesus and then took us a wonderful Turkish bath and I am hooked, they had us back to the boat on time.

Such a fun day learning the history of Ephesus. Our guide was very informative and maneuvered us around the crowds. Stopped at the rug co-op for lunch, followed by a Turkish bath, what a unique experience!

It was a wonderful & personalized experience and Ercument was a wonderful guide. We enjoyed it all...everything from the ice cream, the food, Ancient Ephesus to the Turkish bath. We all had a great and memorable exoerience, including both our 9 & 18 year olds. I highly recommend it.

We did this tour for our port stop in Kusadasi and it was the perfect day. We had Selcuk as our guide and he was AMAZING. He guided us through Ephesus around the giant groups. We got so much interesting information, took our pictures together, and ensured the entire day went perfectly. Highly recommend Selcuk and that you request him!!

Selcuk was a fantastic guide and very knowledgeable of Ephesus. We were picked up from the port and it was very easy to know where to go. We then went to the ruins and Selcuk told us all about the various sites. We had a nice lunch and went and saw the carpet weaving. Lastly we stopped by and did the Turkish bath. Great experience and great value!

A fabulous day spent with Deniz exploring Ephesus. He was engaging, considerate and highly knowledgeable and made the tour interesting and pleasurable. A couple of stops to view carpets and try a traditional Turkish lunch - both enjoyable, and then an amazing time experiencing an authentic Hamam.

Ephesus was a wonderful experience! Our guide was very efficient in navigating us through the crowds. We had a wonderful Turkish lunch and visited a Turkish rug store where we learned the process of rug making. We then had a great experience at the Turkish baths. Let them know how intense you like your massage. Great experience!

Our tour guide, Ercument Ozden, provided us with an excellent and unforgettable experience for the full day we spent with him and our driver. Everything was well-planned and executed to perfection. His knowledge and professionalism far-exceeded anything we experienced as compared to the rest of the Greek Isle stops we made on our Celebrity cruise. We recommend this guide highly to everyone without reservation.

This was my first time in Turkey and the tour guide made the tour really good. He was knowledgeable and very accommodating.

Fabulous day from start to finish. Our Guide Gotham was simply wonderful. He provided wonderful insight into the fabulous ancient city, hosted a delicious and bountiful lunch, and arranged a wonderful Turkish bath experience. The country, city and people were simply delightful. Way beyond expectations!

it was truly the most incredible experience. Ercument, our guide, was so kind and knowledgeable and there was zero hassle. we had a hard time finding a tour thay included the ticket into Ephesus and the Turkish bath in the fee and this one did both and blew us away. we had the most relaxing experience. everyone must do the Turkish bath at some point in their lives. we paid extra for massage. best experience we could have had in kusadasi, got a taste of everything!!!

We had a great day learning about Kusadasi, Turkey. The ruins of Ephesus were impressive and our guide, Oguz, was very knowledgeable. Oz made our tour day delightful. I enjoyed learning about the beautiful carpets and they provided a wonderful lunch with local flair. Then the Turkish Bath. Wow is all I can say, it was a great experience. Great tour company.

Oz was the best. So informative and helpful. He took us to a local restaurant with non touristy food. Ephesus was great with few crowds. I would highly recommend the digital museum. And the Turkish baths were amazing

We had the most amazing experience in Kusadasi Turkey!! Gonca Yucel was our private tour guide and I highly recommend her! You can contract her through Patty Zesut at Exemplary Travel Advisors. Gonca is incredibly knowledgable and such fun!! We had a wonderful tour of the main cites at Ephesus. Afterwards we had the best experience at the Hamman. It was a traditional Turkish bath and we had enough time for a relaxing massage. We highly recommend this fantastic guide!!

We couldn’t ask for a better tour guide to spend the day with us as we explored Ephesus. Sal Chuuk (unsure of spelling) was the bomb ! He knew everything about the area we were visiting. He gave us plenty of time to visit places at our own pace. He was thoughtful in explaining things while we stopped in shaded areas (as it was very hot). He obtained admission tickets for our group in advance so we didn’t need to wait in line upon our arrival. His knowledge was incredible and he stayed with us every step of our day. If you’re visiting Ephesus ask for him and you won’t be disappointed !

Selcuk was fantastic! Incredibly knowledgeable and a fantastic tour guide. He made us feel comfortable and told us the history of Kusadasi in a highly engaging way. Would definitely recommend!

Gökhan Günaydın was such an amazing guide! He helped us thru the streets of Kusadarsi! Gokhan was very patient and gave us all the fine points af this historic city! He was very knowledgeable and sat with us as we did the Turkish bath! Very dependable and kindhearted! Ask for this guide, Gökhan Günaydın, for the intimate tour guide in busy Kusadarsi! 5/5 stars!

It was a private tour for me and my partner. Gonca was an excellent guide and made us feel so relaxed. She was super informative and made our day fun.

Ok…. Seriously this tour was EPIC and worth every penny!! Gokhon was our tour guide and he did a fabulous job showing us around and sharing all the historical information with us!!! Somehow (miraculously) my little family was the only people signed up on our tour that day. It was a completely private experience!! I was in heaven!!! And so grateful they didn’t cancel sure to the lack of numbers!! We started exploring Selcuk… We visited St. John’s Bascilica and the Temple of Artemis, toured the remains of the ancient city of Ephesus, ate a delicious homemade lunch, learned all about the art of Turkish rug making and silk processing, and had a complete Hamam (Turkish Bath House) experience. Before returning to the ship, we adventured through the Kusadasi bazaar for a couple of hours. Our day in Asia Minor was nothing short of perfect!! Thank you Gokhon!!! My first impression… Turkish people are so incredibly kind, hospitable and genuine!!! I can’t wait to come back again!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

We had an amazing experience having this tour from Smart Turkey Tours, Turkish bath was great, I can highly recommend this agency. Don’t forget your swimsuits that’s all you need.

Our guide Mr Gokhan met us promptly at the port and we were escorted into an extremely clean vehicle. The day ran perfectly. Our guide was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable and very considerate. His English was fabulous. Would highly recommend the tour and guide if cruising to Kusadasi.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip to Ephesus with our tour guide Gokham. His knowledge of the history of the ruins was very helpful. We were also treated to a beautiful lunch as well as watching artisans work their craft

We booked Private Ephesus Tour and a Turkish bath experience with Smart Turkey Tours. There is no visit to the Virgin Mary house in the original plan, but right after we request it, they customized the tour accordingly. The office staff is so kind and helpful. The guide and driver both are very professional. We highly recommend this local travel agency.