Ephesus Full-Day Tour with Lunch from Bodrum
Bodrum, Turkey
- 13 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Avoid the hassle of renting a car and discover the ancient city of Ephesus on this fully planned trip from Bodrum. A comfortable air-conditioned coach takes you from your modern Bodrum hotel back in time 2,000 years, after a stop for breakfast (own expense). Your expert guide leads you through historic ancient Roman sights like the Temple of Hadrian, Library of Celsus, and the Great Theatre.
- Explore the best-preserved ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean
- Walk marble-paved streets once trodden by toga-clad Romans
- Ogle the magnificent Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and site of the Temple of Artemis
- Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at a local restaurant
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Driver/guide
- Open Buffet Lunch
- Bus with Full A/C
- Ephesus entrance fee - If option selected !!
- Breakfast
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Admission Fee - Ephesus€40.00 per person
- Admission Fee - House of Virgin Mary€25.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Begin your journey back in time to ancient Ephesus with a convenient pickup from your central Bodrum hotel. Hop aboard your comfortable air-conditioned coach and make a pitstop for breakfast (own expense), then admire Turkey’s stunning scenery on your 2.5-hour travels to Ephesus. As one of Turkey’s finely preserved ancient cities, and one of the most pristine regions in Turkey, this is a must-see for anyone visiting the area.
When you arrive, follow your guide into the heart of Ephesus. Here, gawk at the grand Greco-Roman site that was once a bustling city and one of the greatest trading posts in ancient times. As many as 50,000 people lived in Ephesus during its prime.
Learn intriguing facts from your knowledgeable guide as you stroll the marble streets and stop at the Library of Celsus, one of the largest libraries in the ancient world, as well as the Great Theatre at Agora, the Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian and Odeon. See the bones of old shops, bathhouses and temples, such as the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
You’ll enjoy three hours of touring Ephesus, then break at a restaurant for a tasty buffet lunch (included) with a selection of salads, fruits, main dishes and desserts (drinks are available at your own expense).
On the ride back to Bodrum, stop at a jewelry store to peruse the selection and see how Turkey’s fine gems and stones are crafted into works of art. Enjoy a brief respite for refreshments (own expense). Relax on the remainder of your ride and then de-board the bus at your hotel, where you tour ends.
When you arrive, follow your guide into the heart of Ephesus. Here, gawk at the grand Greco-Roman site that was once a bustling city and one of the greatest trading posts in ancient times. As many as 50,000 people lived in Ephesus during its prime.
Learn intriguing facts from your knowledgeable guide as you stroll the marble streets and stop at the Library of Celsus, one of the largest libraries in the ancient world, as well as the Great Theatre at Agora, the Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian and Odeon. See the bones of old shops, bathhouses and temples, such as the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
You’ll enjoy three hours of touring Ephesus, then break at a restaurant for a tasty buffet lunch (included) with a selection of salads, fruits, main dishes and desserts (drinks are available at your own expense).
On the ride back to Bodrum, stop at a jewelry store to peruse the selection and see how Turkey’s fine gems and stones are crafted into works of art. Enjoy a brief respite for refreshments (own expense). Relax on the remainder of your ride and then de-board the bus at your hotel, where you tour ends.
1
Bodrum City
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Selcuk
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Ephesus Ancient City
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
The House of the Virgin Mary
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
Selcuk
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Selcuk
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
7
Bodrum City
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Photo’s and CD’s are being sold by independent photographers. Please take their contact number as we are not in contact with them. Please also check the CD’s if they are the right one while you recieve.
- We serve breakfast and lunch at the road restaurants in accordance with our itinerary. All drinks, including water, are chargeable at lunch. Breakfast is not included in our tour price, but there is a break for breakfast. If you want, you can request a sandwich for the morning from your hotel (usually some hotels give this for free)
- A certain majority must be present in the group for the Virgin Mary's visit.
- In this tour, there are two 35-minute shopping breaks.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
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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
3.5
based on 29 reviews
Elliot_N, Oct 2025
Worth it, the guide was good keeping us connected to the tour throught the travel. It was 2 and half trip from Bodrum city to Ephesus.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello, thank you for your kind comment. We are glad if we could make you happy.
Anna_D, Oct 2025
The guide meant well and put a lot of effort into the day, however, one of the guides interpreting was quite rude. If we’re honest it felt like you were picked up in the morning and held onto until the 12 hours were up with strategically planned stops that were very clearly designed for sales. Ephesus was amazing couldn’t recommend more and our guide was very knowledgeable. However being made to go somewhere for breakfast we had to pay for, an olive farm, a jewelry sales factory, lunch, a Turkish delight factory and forced to go to the nearest town while the rest of the group went to a new addition to the tour (Mary’s house) wasn’t what we imagined. We were advised we would only go to Mary’s house if the majority were in favour. Even though just four people out of around 20 wanted to, we went while the rest had to wait in a nearby town. It was very much pushed on us and obvious that we were going regardless (as it’s an extra 25 euro per person to go). The lunch was pretty poor. Every stop as listed previously included a detailed sales pitch to the group and the jewelry store sold jewelry for thousands of euros. It was quite uncomfortable to be pushed into and wait around in such an expensive store. While €50 per person for the bus to Ephesus and back with lunch was good value, we would have much preferred to just go to Ephesus and straight back. It’s a long enough day (2.5 hours one way) without all the additional stops we didn’t sign up for. Hotel pick up was handy but again without the excessive stop offs, we wouldn’t have to be picked up at 6am!! Would recommend if you’re looking for a good value return trip and knowledgeable guide of Ephesus but be warned that it’s a very long day, Mary’s house will be included (otherwise you’re waiting in a nearby town which wouldn’t have much on unless a Saturday with the Bazaar) and lots of sales pitch stops.
Yvonne_C, Oct 2025
Our tour guide was great when she joined the tour. The first tour guide on the bus didn’t speak English and therefore there was not a lot of information provided. We made numerous stops after pick up to collect additional passengers but this was it apparent as we sat on the bus for long periods without knowing what was going on.
However when the English speaking tour guide boarded she was very informative.
Our first stop was for breakfast and this was terrific- the place also made olive oil which was exceptional and we bought some bottles to take home with us.
The second stop was Gallata a jewellery factory, was interesting but not somewhere we would visit again. Getting out of the shop entailed walking through several vendor stores who were keen to sell their wares and very pushy.
The time spent at Ephesus was wonderful and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and informative. The digital museum at the end is a must visit. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
Last stop was Turkish delight factory again not something that I would bother with in future.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello, thank you for your kind comment. We are glad if we could make you happy.
Daniel_M, Sep 2025
Tour was very insightful and historically detailed, the lady spoke good English and had a nice sense of humour. Ephusis itself is a place of special heritage and blows your mind!!!
Food was great. The Gold shop stop was pointless and very few seemed interested!!
House of Mary is treated like a theme park rather than a sacred shrine and pilgrimage site, you are given little time to meditate on its significance. Its also pushed by Native Turks who are Muslim "as virgin Marys house" despite the Catholic Church never dogmatising this, it not being in Biblical scripture and earliest records from church Fathers alluding this are post 4th century. This isn't mentioned in the infancy gospel proevangelium of James and her dormition was supposedly in Israel. Explain how its 100% authentic please?
Anyway, the views on mountain are worth the 25 Euros.
Turkish people are milking this cow dry and if I'm honest 90% of Protestants wouldn't even bother!!!!
If its sacred!! Treat it like its sacred!!! Not a Theme park!!!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello, thank you for your kind comment. We are glad if we could make you happy.
Katherine_H, Aug 2025
I have been before and wanted to show my family. We thoroughly enjoyed it. However, there were a couple of points we didn’t enjoy.
1) my husband is very knowledgable about Ephesus and some of the information given by the tour guide was incorrect. Also, it says on the booking information that you would go to the Virgin Mary site if the majority want to go. Around 10 people on the bus wanted to go. I counted 22 of us that didn’t and we ended up getting dumped in a town where there was nothing to do other than sit in a cafe and wait for them to come back over an hour later. We did not enjoy that at all and we was not happy considering the majority didn’t want to do that part.
Then on the way home the English guide left early and said about how we were going to get a transfer to our hotel and not to worry. We ended up getting off the bus into taxis/taxi bus’s to our hotel. However, this was confusing and when people were getting off we was panicking about whether we should be getting off or not. The French couple next to us were the same.
The other spots along the way was a stop at the gold factory and Turkish delight factory, which was fine. They wasn’t long stops.
We enjoyed the lunch that was included.
Other than that the tour guide was lovely, friendly and ooked after us during the visit. Ephesus is amazing and well worth the visit. I had never been to the museum there and that was amazing, we thoroughly enjoyed that.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello, thank you for your kind comment. We are glad if we could make you happy.
Susan_H, Aug 2025
It’s been a total knowledgeable experience our tour guide Miriam was brilliant I enjoyed everything the breakfast the lunch the Gold factory and the Turkish delight factory the house of the virgin Mary it was a great day from start to finish don’t let the length of the day put you off because the time flies highly recommend it
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hello, thank you for your kind comment. We are glad if we could make you happy.
jill_b, Jun 2025
The basis of it was good with a very good driver and an excellent guide but stopping at a gold warehouse was a waste of time and the lunch was a disgrace and a health hazard. The food had been sitting around for hours, maybe even days, unfriendly service and a disgrace. The breakfast stop was good too with very good service provided there. The best part was our wonderful English speaking guide and she should be looked after well.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Hello, your comment is valuable to us. We will make an effort to be more careful about lunch. We will take your warning seriously. Thank you.
Lisa_D, Nov 2024
Excellent tour with a very knowledgeable guide. It was a long day filled with history! I was picked up at my hotel and had a nice breakfast on the way to Ephesus and enjoyed some shopping along the way.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you very much for your kind comment :). We are very happy that you were satisfied.
Thais_R, Sep 2024
Terrible experience! They keep us waiting for 45 minutes next to a high way for pickup at 6:30 AM! The food was awful.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hello, first of all, we apologize for the delay, but your comment is not fair at all. Your hotel is completely outside our pick-up route for this tour and you cannot join the tour from the area where your hotel is located under normal conditions.
We have arranged the most suitable meeting point for you and took you on our bus as the last guest. However, as you will appreciate, there may be delays while collecting guests from all around Bodrum. We have to wait for all guests even if they are late.
One star rating is not believable for what may be acceptable delay.
Alyce_V, Aug 2024
Ephesus was amazing obviously!
It was great to stop at the lake Bafa Golu.
Guide was great!
Would be better with more time at Ephesus and less/ no time tourist shops
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you very much for your kind comment :). We are very happy that you were satisfied.
Jonathan_G, Jul 2024
Overall we really enjoyed this trip. We would definitely recommend it. For us, the highlights were the 2.5 hour guided tour at Ephesus, and the tour guide's knowledgeable and informative commentary during the journey. Be prepared for a long but worthwhile day - we were picked up at 6am and got back to our hotel at 8pm.
We stopped en route for a lakeside breakfast which was nice. You pay extra for this (we paid 550 Lira each for the Turkish buffet but you can get an omelette or pancakes instead. The other stop before arriving at Ephesus was at a jewellery factory. It wasn't really our thing so we just looked at the displays then dodged the men in the gift-shop on the way out. We were advised to use the toilets at the factory because there aren't any at Ephesus until right at the end.
We thought Ephesus itself was great, and our tour guide really brought things to life. We were glad we took plenty of water and had sunhats as there's hardly any shade and the temperature was mid-30s. It took about 2.5 hours to walk through Ephesus, then there's a gift shop/cafe/toilets at the end. It does get busy, with the various tour guides taking their groups around. Also, watch out for the marble pavement which is quite slippy.
After Ephesus, we went on to a buffet lunch nearby. We thought the food was fine and there was plenty. Food is included in the tour price but you have to pay for drinks. We also stopped at a Turkish Delight factory, which was also selling some cosmetic products.
There is an optional trip to the house of the Virgin Mary, which cost an extra 25 Euros. There's not much to see there, so I would only recommend it if you're curious, or if it's meaningful because of your faith etc. People who didn't want to do that were dropped off in Selcuk to do shopping or visit a café.
After that is the drive back to Bodrum. We stopped at the breakfast place briefly for a loo break and to buy a drink/ice cream.
Overall, We liked the trip and our tour guide was very good. The various stops perhaps aren't for everybody, but that didn't detract from the day. A definite thumbs up from us.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you very much for your kind comment :). We are very happy that you were
satisfied.
Richard_F, May 2024
Overall a good tour, it was a very long day with a lot of time taken up with extra activities like visiting a jewellery shop and Turkish delight store. We were at Ephesus for 2 and a half hours which was great, the tour guide Fatma was very good and knowledgeable
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you very much for your kind comment :). We are very happy that you were satisfied.
Mandy_D, Oct 2023
Ephesus is a great place to visit, but the tour incorporated several stop offs that weren't mentioned in the package. It made the day too long and we were not interested in these visits, we just wanted to visit Ephesus. Our pick up was rescheduled to 6.15am from 7am, but they were half an hour late.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello, Thank you for your comment. We are pleased that you liked our tour overall.
In our product text, we only give an average pick-up time for the tour. For this reason, we request that you call us to determine the exact pick-up time and point according to your hotel.
We try to give the exact time according to the location of your hotel. However, sometimes our passengers leave late at other hotels or the route of our vehicle changes depending on the road conditions and there are delays.
First of all, we apologize for being picked up later than the stated time.
The shopping break we take on the road is written in our program.
However, we will carefully review all your comments and endeavor to make the necessary corrections.
regards
Atilla Arman
SusanMarie_L, May 2023
First off - my 3 star is based on the logistics not our tour guide Emel who simply made the trip worthwhile. She was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, patient and a joy. I really enjoyed her presentation and style.
Where I think the trip could improve is the choice of restaurants- the breakfast place was a beautiful spot on the lake but terrible food service. There were no menus and it seemed like the staff was unprepared. The lunch place was awful. The food was stale - worse than cafeteria style. No drinks were included, not even water! Really please find another place for lunch. Notwithstanding the food, the hotel pick up and the luxurious van was nice. Thank you.
Response from Host, May 2023
Thank you for your comment, we will consider your warning about our restaurants. We will work on the necessary corrections. Thank you again for choosing us.
Regards
Atilla Arman
Janet_M, Sep 2022
It was okay because we are both deaf and miss lot of information of whats going during the day.
The guide called Emel did not aware that we are both deaf despite I informed her about us and she said "I know I know .." She did some talk to the people but not us except only tell us some brief of ~ Ephusas ruins, go to shop and toilet that is it. We realised we missed the information whats going on. I dont think she is actually aware we are both deaf and need to get history explanatory on the Ephusas ruins.
We received the information from Viator through WhatsApp but its not the same as Emel explained the history to the people.
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Hello, you knew that the tour you booked was a mixed tour.
You knew it wouldn't be a private guide for you, so we didn't promise you a sign language guide.
Also, I don't understand how you are sure about what the guide Emel told about Ephesus.
Our guide only made an effort so that you could stay in the group and let you finish the tour. Other than that, he can't do anything else.
I couldn't understand your comment and evaluation.
We did our best, but your comment gave us an idea, we will not accept reservations in extreme cases.
Kind regards
Atilla Arman
Vincent_T, Aug 2022
Very hot day but the tour was great. Our guide was good, could improve somewhat in her pronunciation of certain words but was understandable.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Hi, Thank you very much for your review. Hope see you again. Regards Atilla Arman
Christian B, Aug 2015
excellent guide! but poorly overall tour organisation.
Ruth-Ellen M, May 2015
Without detracting from the magnificence of Ephesus at all, unfortunately this tour was very disappointing. Marketed as a full day tour of Ephesus, we spent more time at various money-spinning locations a jewellery factory, specialty food store, lunch, and a mosque, than actually at Ephesus. The tour guide was belligerent, disinterested, smoking and talking on his phone during presentations and going into roped off areas at Ephesus. He treated us like children. I will definitely be back to Ephesus in the future, but will research my tour much more carefully.
MARIA_M, Oct 2019
El guía muy buena pk habla varios idiomas....y el pobre le tocó ....todo los rusos franceses españoles..... inglés....pero la organización de viator un desastre.....
Response from Host, Nov 2020
Dear Marie,
Your feedback is very important and valuable for our service quality, we will do everything to raise our quality standards.
We apologize to you, your satisfaction is very important to us.
We want to give a better service to you on your next trip and to correct this situation.
We would be very happy if you give us this opportunity.
Regards
Atilla Arman
From $62.32
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