PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Kusadasi, Turkey
+14
- 4 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Avoid the hassle of waiting for other travelers and book this private and customizable tour of Ephesus designed for cruise passengers. Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in the world, but it can be difficult to plan on your own. With this private shore excursion, let someone else handle the logistics when you book this hassle-free shore excursion. Take guided tours of the Ephesus Ruins, House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis, plus learn about Turkey's rich handicraft culture.
- A private tour means you get your guide's undivided attention
- Enjoy plenty of time to explore the UNESCO-listed site with a guide
- Worry-free shore excursion: guaranteed on time return to your cruise ship
- Upgrade to add the Terraced Houses and/or a Turkish lunch
What's Included
- Professional LICENSED LOCAL TOUR GUIDE
- PRIVATE TOUR that ensures more personalized service
- Cruise Port/Hotel Pick-up & Drop-Off (mentioned on the details)
- GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
- Private transportation with modern, A/C minivans, each operated by a dedicated professional driver
- Museum Entrance Tickets (you can include or exclude the ticket according to the option)
- Museum Entrance Tickets (you can include or exclude the ticket according to the option)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup point
- Kusadasi Cruise Port
Pickup details
IMPORTANT NOTICE: ⚠️ Entrance Tickets of Ephesus Ruins and Mary's House are included if the included option is chosen. On the day of the tour, if you would like to visit any other place, you are responsible with the entrance ticket of that place. ⚠️ ⛔️ GROUP TOURS force you to follow fixed schedules and visit places based on their timing, regardless of your interests! You’re stuck with fast and slow travelers alike, having to keep up with the group. Plus, you have to pay all ENTRY FEES IN ADVANCE, whether you're interested in the sites or not. Why pay for places you don't want to visit and feel obligated to go just because you paid? ⛔️ ⚠️ Our PRIVATE TOURS give you the flexibility you need. Entry fees are not included, so you only pay for the places that genuinely interest you. In the morning, we discuss your interests and tailor the itinerary accordingly. ⚠️ ✳️ With our PRIVATE TOURS, you have complete control, visiting only the places you want to see. Would you rather spend your day WAITING FOR OTHER TRAVELERS and FOLLOWING A FIXED ITINERARY, or ENJOY A PRIVATE TOUR CUSTOMIZED JUST FOR YOUR FAMILY? The choice is yours! ✳️ *****CRUISE PASSENGERS WHO WILL JOIN FROM THE CRUISE PORT***** • Upon your ship's arrival at the port, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to meet with our team WITHIN 30 to 45 MINUTES. By doing so, you can bypass the crowds, school busses, and hot weather, ensuring an enhanced and MORE ENJOYABLE TOUR EXPERIENCE OF EPHESUS. • WHY CHOOSE OUR PRIVATE TOURS OVER THE GROUP TOURS? Your time is valuable, don't waste it in the Group Tours by waiting for other fellow travelers! NOTE: ADDITIONAL FEES APPLY FOR PICK-UPS FROM IZMIR, BODRUM, OR OTHER PORTS THEN KUSADASI.
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
View tour option
Itinerary
1
Kusadasi
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Ephesus Ancient City
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
The House of the Virgin Mary
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
The Temple of Artemis
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
Ephesus Terrace Houses
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Kusadasi Shopping Center (Pass By)
Kusadasi Castle (Pass By)
Okuz Mehmet Pasa KervansarayI (Pass By)
6
Kusadasi
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- UPON YOUR SHIP'S ARRIVAL AT THE PORT, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET WITH OUR TEAM WITHIN 30 TO 45 MINUTES. BY DOING SO, YOU CAN BYPASS THE CROWDS, SCHOOL BUSES, AND HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS, ENSURING AN ENHANCED AND MORE ENJOYABLE TOUR EXPERIENCE OF EPHESUS.
- OUR PRIVATE TOURS ENSURE GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN TO THE CRUISE SHIP.
- BOOK YOUR PRIVATE TOUR WITH US, VERIFIED PROVIDER OF KUSADASI/EPHESUS CRUISE PORT!
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 8,508 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Kim_K, Aug 2026
Very knowledgeable about the history. Our guide Nil grew up in Turkay. Enjoyed every moment. She had great suggestions for food. And after tour activities.
Yijia_L, Aug 2026
We had a great experience with this private Ephesus tour! We were guests on the Oceania cruise and booked through Viator. Our guide, Fatima, was very friendly, helpful, and professional. She was happy to adjust the itinerary according to our interests and gave us plenty of time to explore, take photos, and enjoy the sites without feeling rushed. She also patiently answered all of our questions, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
The meeting point at the cruise port was clear and easy to find, and the car was comfortable. Everything was well organized and went smoothly. We had a wonderful day in Ephesus and would definitely recommend Fatima and this tour to other cruise passengers!
Alexander_M, Aug 2026
We had a great tour to Ephesus. Tahsin was our guide, and was very knowledgeable and friendly. We times entry to Ephesus to avoid crowds and heat, and saw amazing ruins. Mary's house was peaceful and interesting to see as well. Please note, that if you have no interest in shopping to tell the guide. Be clear, as our guide suggested these opportunities as cultural, when they were really semi-aggressive sales pitches. If they mention carpet weaving factories or leather shops, this will mean giving you a shirt presentation then a sales pitch to buy, similar to time shares. Still, the quality of the ruins was very high and well worth it, so I recommend the tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Angela_I, Aug 2026
Comprehensive tour visiting Mary's House, Ephesus ruins and Temple of Artemis with stops along the way for carpet-making demo (there's a sales pitch that follows, interesting experience but nonetheless cool to see). Nehir offered us to stop for an option lunch for 20 dollars per person, we decided to power through. He also asked if we wanted to stop for lokum (Turkish delight) or leather shopping. Overall comfortable and pleasant tour with knowledgeable, courteous and helpful tour guide Nehir.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Jon_B, Aug 2026
While on our Viking Tour in Ephesus, we arranged a private tour, Fatima was our guide and she was amazing. Pick up was very smooth at the port, she planned the day perfectly, the day was well above our expectations! We highly recommend her.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Christine_F, Aug 2026
Exceeded expectations! Way better than the excursions booked through the cruise line. Our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Thank you for a very memorable experience.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Cory, Aug 2026
Best tour I’ve booked so far! Ozzy was well spoken, highly informative and so educated! I really appreciated how fine tuned his tour was, all the way down to making sure the stops to learn were in the shade! From the ancient city to the Turkish culture, this tour was a 10 out of 10!!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Suzanne_S, Aug 2026
We had an amazing experience . Our guide Canan was wonderful… her knowledge of Ephesus was outstanding. I truly felt so welcome and safe with her and our driver. I am so pleased to have met her and spend time in this beautiful country
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Cyndie_H, Aug 2026
The rug learning was fabulous. Very High pressure sales at the end. The fashion show leather was ok. Would be ok skipping that part
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
glenn_b, Aug 2026
Fatima was great. She was full of knowledge and flexible in how we approached the tour to beat the “traffic”. The lunch spot was very good and the rug making demo was excellent. They were not pushy to sell as some have experienced. We were with a cruise line and she got us back within plenty of time.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Anonymous, Aug 2026
The tour was a fun experience. Ozzy was great and very knowledgeable, and patient with our group. Highly recommend Ozzy.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Megan_W, Aug 2026
Ozzy was an incredible guide for our visit to Turkey! He was extremely knowledgeable and did a wonderful job making the experience enjoyable for both the kids and adults in our group. We especially enjoyed visiting a Turkish rug cooperation and learning about the traditional craftsmanship, followed by a fantastic lunch.
Ozzy was welcoming, friendly, patient, and made us feel comfortable throughout the entire tour. He brought the history of Ephesus to life and made sure everyone had a great time. We highly recommend Ozzy for anyone visiting Turkey!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
William_H, Aug 2026
Josh was amazing. His knowledge of the history was key to a great day with the family. I would highly recommend the tour and ask for Josh.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Kelli_S, Aug 2026
We really enjoyed this tour. It would have been 5 stars except our guide kept taking us to places that were not part of the tour. We went to the rug factory and show room. It was cool to see how the rugs were made and learn the history, but then also felt pressured to buy. She also pressured us to eat lunch here at the rug place. The food was good, but expensive and took time out of our day. She pressured us to leave reviews during lunch while Len we had not even been to 2 of the 3 places the tour included. Then she said she had a “surprise” for us and took us to a fashion show and leather store where they pressured to try on jackets. It was 95 degrees out. We enjoyed Ephesus, house of the Virgin Mary and the temple of Artemis. She was very knowledgeable, we just didn’t expect the side tours and pressure to purchase. We were a party of 6 and all felt like we were being held hostage at some point during this tour.
David_K, Aug 2026
My family and I had a great time with Josh. He was very knowledgeable and patient answering all the questions and giving us time to wander and take pictures. He explain the country, the history, and the culture in great detail to make the tour all the better. Would recommend Josh to everyone who wants to take a tour of Ephesus.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Sharon_H, Aug 2026
We've had a fabulous tour and trip. Ozzy our guide was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.
His English is excellent and he looked after us from our meeting at Kusadasi port throughout our tour. A variety of things in our tour which suited our family group. Definitely recommended 👌
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Barry_P, Aug 2026
Canan is knowledgeable. Highly recommended it was really good and nice guide and company. We would highly recommend this tour
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Thayne_P, Aug 2026
Mehmet was our guide for the day. He was knowledgeable and thoughtful as we toured the incredible sights of Ephesus. This tour exceeded our expectations.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
David_R, Aug 2026
Best tour I have ever done. Fatima was great guide .we have been Ephesus and Mary’s house with her. We had best farm to table lunch in Ephesus too. We were back to ship on time. We had local shopping too. Better than Istanbul!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Ryan_C, Jul 2026
Incredible day packed with memorable experiences. Our guide and driver, Nilgun and Melih, picked us up at the port promptly and took us to see ruins at Ephesus. Having a private guide was game changing. We beat the crowds from the cruise ship and were able to go at our own pace. At the end of every stop, Melih was waiting with air conditioning running. Additionally, we visited a carpet weaving workshop, where we purchased a beautiful silk rug, Mary’s House, and the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. Cannot overstate how incredible our day was.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Anthony_E, Jul 2026
Nilay was our tour guide and she was absolutely amazing! She was very informative and knowledgeable about every stop. She taught us so much regarding the culture and the Turkish language. I would highly recommend booking with Nilay if you have the opportunity!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Chad_R, Jul 2026
Very knowledgeable and friendly guide. Josh was very helpful and we could tell he knows about the stops and all of what there is to see. The van was comfortable and clean. The tour was easy to book and we had a good time.
From the USA
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Kelly_A, Jul 2026
Our guide Nil was outstanding! Best touring the cruise! Ephesus and the House of Mary were amazing! We bought a rug for home too!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Dawn_H, Jul 2026
Fatima was amazing! She was very knowledge about history and current topics. Made our day in turkey comfortable and fun
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Dina_L, Jul 2026
It's very rich in history and our tour guide provided a lot of details. He knew so much about the area and in fact, grew up in Kusadasi. He had a lot of wonderful information to impart and even told us where to shop in the markets!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
MariaLeila_D, Jul 2026
Fatima our tour guide was excellent. Speak good English and gave us all the informations we needed to know about the places we visited . She’s fantastic! We had great local lunch in farm to table restaurant. Excellent local shopping options too. Do not miss it
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Jonathan_M, Jul 2026
Our guide Canan was fantastic and had great knowledge of the sites seen. We found that it was more modern than we expected and the site is huge.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Chris_C, Jul 2026
Josh was great. Lots to see and kept us on schedule.The ruins were very interesting. The shopping stop at the Turkish rug was fun. Several bought rugs!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Kiara_J, Jul 2026
Nilay did a wonderful job with the tour and showing us Ephesus, and Kudasi. She is very informative and very pleasant. We definitely enjoyed our tour with her. She is very knowledgeable about her culture.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Carey_M, Jul 2026
Fatima was excellent! She met us at the port and we found her with ease. Our personal driver and car were great! We had plenty of room and it was A/C. Fatima was so knowledgeable, local, and flexible to our desires for the tour. I highly recommend her!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your kind words.
Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours.
Best Turkey Tour Team
From $29.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line
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Attractions in Kusadasi, Turkey
- Kusadasi Cruise Port Tours & Tickets
- Baths of Varius Tours & Tickets
- Temple of Artemis (Artemision) Tours & Tickets
- Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus Tours & Tickets
- Sirince Tours & Tickets
- Priene Tours & Tickets
- Ephesus (Efes) Tours & Tickets
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- Adaland Aquapark Tours & Tickets
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