The Tour Specialist will greet you at the cruise port holding a sign with your name on it!
Ephesus, renowned as one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman ancient cities in the world, is famous for its numerous historical landmarks. These include the Odeon, a venue for music concerts; the Temple of Domitian, one of the first temples dedicated to a human; the Celsus Library, the third largest library of its time; and the Great Theatre, one of the world's largest amphitheaters with a capacity of 24,000 people, where St. Paul once preached. Other notable sites include Roman baths, fountains, temples, the agora, the Love House, and public toilets.
The Terrace Houses in Ephesus were the residences of the upper class, renowned for their stunning mosaics and exquisite wall paintings.
The House of the Virgin Mary is a significant pilgrimage site for Christians, believed to be where Virgin Mary spent her final days and passed away. Pope Paul VI visited in 1967 and 'unofficially' confirmed 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 for visitors to see.
Visit a traditional carpet weaving village to discover the art of handmade Turkish carpets, watch local artisans at work, and learn about centuries-old weaving techniques and natural dyes. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious traditional Turkish lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients in a peaceful village setting, offering an authentic taste of Turkish hospitality and cuisine.
Kusadasi Castle, also known as Pigeon Island, stands adjacent to the port. You can catch a glimpse from your boat or explore it at your leisure after the tour.
The spot where your cruise has anchored.
A marvel of the ancient world, listed among the Seven Wonders.
Be careful of the drivers. When we returned to the port area, he told us we owed him 435 euros to pay for the entrance fees to Ephesus. There were 12 of us and after our long and very hot afternoon he was hounding us for money. We all had to pool what we had to pay him so we could get out of his van. Very disappointed with the whole day after that. We had all ages from 80 to 12.
Aybike was a wonderful guide. Highly recommended. A lovely day out exploring Ephasus. Thanks so much. Kneale Harris
We had an amazing experience touring Ephesus with our private tour guide ! Gunnur was amazing. From the moment we were picked up at the cruise port, everything was smooth, professional, and stress-free. She was punctual, friendly, knowledgeable, and made us feel very comfortable throughout the day. We visited the House of the Virgin Mary, the ancient city of Ephesus, and had time to explore and enjoy the beautiful surroundings without ever feeling rushed. The vehicle was clean and comfortable, and she made sure we returned to the port with plenty of time before departure. Thank you for making our visit to Ephesus such a memorable experience. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Kusadasi by cruise ship!
Great excursion and tour guide, Cem! Highly recommend.
Cem was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and we were able to really experience the beauty of the Turkish culture! It was a wonderful experience!
We had a great tour from Volha! She was very friendly and welcoming. She made sure we were prepared for each stop and was very knowledgeable about what we saw. Volha made sure we were comfortable and made sure the pace was slower when my parents lagged behind or needed a rest, but also made sure we has just enough time to get through everything in our program.
Volha was a great tour guide! Very friendly and knowledgeable, and she taught us a lot of history. Great with all ages, from kids to seniors. Our private car(van) was very comfortable.
Very impressive but uneven surfaces so not good for those with compromised mobility. Some of the most impressive archeological structures here.
Be prepared for a hot weather, but you can tell your tour guide how much or how less you want to do. Our tour guide Mesut Caliskan was very professional and knowledgeable.
We're a small group but we're provided with a 12 seater van. Spacious & comfortable. The guide was excellent & described & explained historical background to us thoroughly. Though we were brought to visit a clay factory & a carpet factory where free lunch was provided, they didn't hard sell the products & could leave the 2 places without any problem. Good value for money.
We have been just the two of us with full attention of the tour guide Arzu who took care of us. You pay the entrance fee of 40€ plus 15€ directly to the tour guide. It is the same fee you would pay at entrance so there is no extra profit added. Best to have cash with you. We have been able to shorten the tour to our need. The leather shop and carpet manufacturing was offered voluntary to add which we declined which was also no problem. Wonderful day for very good price. We couldn’t have asked for more. Thanks a lot!
We got contacted the evening before with WhatsApp contact details of our tour guide Arzu. She was great with very good English and knowledge about the place. Pick-up in front of cruise port worked easy finding our name on the sign. We had a modern mini van pickups up and then went 30 minutes to the first stop receiving lots of interesting background during the drive. We had the luck of being just the two of us so we could customise as per our wish. Entrance fees we paid to the guide. It is the same fee as the official price and in euro just safes the efforts of queuing. We travel a lot but this was one of the most pleasant experiences for very good money - We can highly recommend it. Thank you Arzu for a perfect experience
Amazing experience with ceyda zengin! Very polite and friendly. Insightful private tour of Ephesus and other local landmarks. Included multiple locations and lunch of local quisine.
Melis was our tour guide and she was awesome! We highly recommend her and is more than qualified to represent Turkey as she explained in detail all we wanted to know in terms of history and culture. She made sure our desired itinerary was met and never did we feel rushed. She also took us to a Turkish pottery and carpet demonstration which was very informative. Lunch was also delicious. We would give 7 stars if we could!
Stop reading through other reviews because for the price, you simply can't do better. Even for 10x the price, I can't imagine finding any tour out there that is even close. If possible, book with/request Meral to ensure replicating the fantastic time we had! Learned so much both in ancient Ephesus and in the surrounding area. Wonderful Meral was an absolute pleasure to be with. If I could rate 6 stars, I would without hesitation. Do keep in mind, you'll have to pay to enter the ancient city, the $40 per person isn't included but it was so incredible the cost was negligible. We got to visit many local places we never would have found ourselves, such as sampling truly local food, culture and products. We even saw a really incredible government program Turkey runs to teach women how to make the most beautiful carpets.
Eran was a fantastic host and provided the most detailed and knowledgeable recount of history, culture and the area. The trip was definitely a highlight and well worth every penny.
Met by a very punctual Vedat immediately on leaving our cruise ship. His English was quite good and we also had a very comfortable transfer to Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and St John's Basilica. He was more than willing to adjust plans according to our preference. Highly recommended. Not expensive but note entry tickets to Ephesus and Mary's House need to be purchased on-site.
Saw all the major sites and because we were only 3 incl guide were able to get through things without delays despite the huge crowds
Our visit to Ephesus with this private tour was simply amazing! From the moment we were picked up at the cruise port, everything was seamless and perfectly organized. The skip-the-line feature was a huge bonus, allowing us to make the most of our limited time without any hassle or waiting in queues. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging. They brought the ancient city to life with fascinating stories and historical insights, making it much more than just a sightseeing trip. Walking through the ruins of Ephesus, including the spectacular Library of Celsus and the Grand Theater, was truly awe-inspiring. The small group setting made the experience feel personal and immersive, with plenty of time to ask questions and explore at our own pace. The convenience of being picked up and dropped off right at the port took all the stress out of the day. We also appreciated the flexibility of the tour, which allowed us to tailor our itinerary to our interests.
Ephasus was amazing, however we felt rushed through it and we missed an entire half of it, not knowing we were being hurried through to be sold rugs at the next location. Our tour guide only took us through the lower half, skipping Mary’s house, the temple of Artemis, and St. John’s Bascilica. And the rug portion was a complete surprise to us, as it was not listed as part of the excursion through Viator. Then we got charged for entrance tickets without any receipt, invoice, or indication of what the price was, just the word of the tour guide. We were really disappointed when we realized how much of Ephasus we missed. And we did not appreciate the surprise sales pitch we ended with. It was a bit jarring to be driven to an unexpected location in a foreign country.
From the moment we were picked up at the port, everything was organized flawlessly. Our guide was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about the history of Ephesus. Her stories and insights brought the ancient ruins to life, making the experience truly unforgettable. Skipping the long lines was a huge bonus, allowing us to maximize our time and enjoy each site without the usual crowds. The personalized attention and flexibility in the itinerary meant we could linger at our favorite spots and ask as many questions as we wanted. Driver was excellent, providing a smooth and comfortable ride.
We had an amazing tour with Meral. It was such a personalised and tailored experience and we enjoyed hearing the history and story of Turkey. We will be back and would definitely recommend booking again with Meral, she knows how to captivate you with knowledge and knows so much about Turkey. 10/10.
Great tour! We were picked up right at the port, with our name prominently displayed on a sign as soon as we walked off of the pier. Private air conditioned van, private and knowledgeable tour guide. We saw Ephesus and the Terrace houses, stopped at the temple, and then went to have a nice lunch and a demonstration of rug making. There are many beautiful handmade rugs to purchase, but we opted to leave without one. Very nice option for cruise passengers.
We waited for the van and they didn’t show. Later the guide responded to a text I sent saying the van broke down and they would be there in half hour. We already left to go see Ephesus.
The tour guide, Yesra, is very knowledgeable and accommodating, highly recommended. Transfer service is very good and on time.
Amazing!! Local, informative. Yesra is so attentive and so enthusiastic. The food she set up for us was unforgettable. My family loved our experience and I’ll definitely be back with my partner one day!
Yesra was very caring for all of my family and very knowledgeable of history. Very accommodating for all of our needs and good advice on where to shop.
I recently took the SKIP-THE-LINE: Best Seller Ephesus Private Tour from Kusadasi port, and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience! From start to finish, everything was impeccably organized, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable day. Our guide was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the history and significance of Ephesus but also passionate and engaging. Their storytelling brought the ancient city to life, making the ruins feel vibrant and full of history. We appreciated the skip-the-line feature, which allowed us to maximize our time exploring without the hassle of waiting in long queues. The tour was perfectly paced, giving us ample time to admire the highlights such as the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, and the Terrace Houses. Our guide also ensured we had moments to capture stunning photos and soak in the beauty of the surroundings. The transportation provided was comfortable and punctual, and the small group size made the experience feel intimate and personalized. We were also given some time to explore the local markets and enjoy a delicious lunch, which added a lovely touch to the day.
A guide who truly knows their subject and is entirely at your pace, practically allowing you to manage your visit.
Samet, it was a very interesting experience with a proper description of the places visited. We were repeating it. Thank you very much
Beautiful day filled with beautiful visit with a French guide named Volga
Very nice visit I highly recommend ☺️
Very very cultured!!! 100% recommended. He was a very good guide, with a very clear explanation. Really super expectations
Excelente excursion a uni de lis lugares mas iconicos de la història. Gracias a nuestra guia Volga por au amabilitat, atencion y conocimientos.
Good tour and better guide. It has been adapted to our needs. Good explanations. Highly recommended private tour
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