Top Izmir Day Trips

Our tour guide, Alpi, was so helpful and informative! He picked us up and gave us some history on our drive to Ephesus. We had enough time to take photos and take in the sights, while still eating and getting back at a good time. Very accommodating. Thank you, Alpi!

If you are lucky, Alperen will be your guide. He speaks perfect English and is a history / archeology geek! He’s super knowledgeable friendly and enthusiastic about what he does. Great experience. Went to Ephesus, house of virgin Mary and Artemis temple all three of them. Alperen是整个土耳其旅行遇到的最好的导游。 非常牛逼，懂得很多历史。强推！

We had a wonderful time on this tour! Our tour guide, Tas, was very knowledgeable and provided a wealth of information about Turkey and all the sites we visited. We were picked up in a van where Tas accompanied and guided us to and through all the sites. We visited the basilica of St. John, the house of Virgin Mary and Ephesus. We even visited a rug company where they went into great detail showing us how the rugs were meticulously made. The rugs were unbelievably gorgeous! Tas was our personal tour guide throughout and we were in great hands. He designed a tour for us that made efficient use of our time. Overall, we had an incredible time and would not hesitate to book Tas for other tours that he may provide in the future.

If I could give Faruk more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. From the moment he picked us up until the end of the tour, he was the definition of professionalism, kindness, and genuine hospitality. He made us feel completely comfortable and safe throughout the entire day while sharing interesting information about the places we visited. What made the experience truly unforgettable was how much he cared about making our day special. He took the most beautiful photos of us with his own camera, knew all the best viewpoints, and made sure we left with incredible memories not just of Çeşme and Alaçatı, but of Türkiye itself. If you’re lucky enough to have Faruk as your guide, you’re in the best hands. He turned a wonderful destination into an unforgettable experience. Thank you, Faruk, for your kindness, your dedication, and for making our trip so special. We will always remember this day.

I really enjoyed it. It was a group tour but I was the only one signed up for this day and they still went ahead with the tour. I had my own driver and guide on a 15 passenger van! I was able to converse with the guide about random questions I had about Turkey. Pergamum is beautiful and way less crowded than other ancient cities. The included lunch was a fabulous home cooked meal at a hidden away complex in the country side. Of course there is a carpet presentation. I went on quite a few 1 and 2 day tours in Turkey and I felt this carpet thing was the most educational and personable out of all I listened to.

It's fabulous but there just isn’t enough time to do everything considering the long drive from Izmir. The guide was knowledgeable and personable. I did enjoy seeing the countryside on the drive. The travertine pools are treacherously slippery. Cleopatra's pool was the highlight for me. It was a busy day so had to wait in line before and after swimming to use one of the limited changing rooms. I chose to pay for a golf cart ride to the theatre instead of walking. It was well worth paying for in order to have more swimming time. I got a round trip ticket and when we got to the top the driver said I had 15 minutes to take pictures. I hadn't noticed any signage informing me of this detail. Unless you are really into museums I would say skip it. The Buffet lunch was good. Be aware that there is always a "shopping experience " included with a tour.

We had a truly flawless day exploring Ephesus and its surroundings, thanks to the impeccable coordination by Selin at OTTI Travel. The day began perfectly with a prompt pickup right at our ship in Izmir. Our driver, Ahmed, was fantastic—he navigated the roads with total professionalism in a large, impressively comfortable van that made the commute a breeze. Selin is a world-class guide whose deep knowledge of Ephesus brought the history to life, from the iconic Library of Celsus to the fascinating Terrace Houses. The ancient site was undoubtedly the highlight of our day; seeing the towering ruins against the backdrop of glorious weather and piercing blue skies was an unforgettable experience. Selin’s storytelling and insights ensured we saw the best of the city while truly appreciating its monumental scale. Beyond the ruins, the itinerary Selin curated was exceptional and well-paced. We enjoyed a delicious, authentic lunch in the serene garden of the Turkmen Carpet Weaving Center, which provided a wonderful opportunity to relax and appreciate local hospitality in a beautiful setting. It was the perfect midday break between our historical explorations and our afternoon visits to local artisans. Before departing for Izmir, we explored several local highlights that rounded out the day perfectly. We stopped at a local leather shop and a ceramics studio to see incredible artistry, as well as a shop specializing in Turkish delights and other delicious food items. If you are looking for a seamless, high-end, and deeply informative tour while in port, I cannot recommend Selin, Ahmed, and the OTTI Travel team highly enough.

Our tour was great - Ephesus is amazing. Our pickup was on time and the ride was very comfortable. Our tour guide gave us great information. But we wished he would have given us enough time to take pictures. It felt a little rushed, starting at the very first spot which is a beautiful Amphitheater and that carried throughout the tour - If you are planning to take the tour, please talk to the guide as soon as you can to ensure you get time to take pictures with your family. We made a stop at the carpet place which was not really needed. We would have preferred to use that time at Ephesus instead. We were also taken to a glass blowing/mosaic place. But instead of visiting It, half of our tour folks (and including us) decided to visit the ruins that are close by - they were so worth it. If you are taking this tour, carry bug spray. There were a lot of mosquitoes at the House of Mother Mary and at Ephesus. Despite challenges with respect to feeling rushed, I am giving it a 5-star review since Ephesus is absolutely amazing.