Best of Ephesus Private Tour For Cruise Travelers

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Kusadasi, Turkey

4 to 7 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Skip the tiring pre-planned itineraries and customize your own sightseeing schedule on this tailor-made private excursion to Ephesus. Choose between diverse activities, from traditional historical tours to Turkish cooking classes or a horseback ride along the beach. You can also mix and match multiple options, including diving, shopping, or village and waterpark visits. A private guide and driver are on-hand to take you anywhere you’d like to go.

A fully customizable private tour to Ephesus, with a tailor-made itinerary just for you
Settle back in a chauffeured car and travel to as many destinations as you’d like
Mix and match between multiple exciting activities, from outdoor adventures to cooking classes
No tiring group tour: enjoy a bespoke visit made by you—and just for you and your party

What's Included

Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
Transport by private vehicle
Professional guide
Guaranteed to skip the long lines

Drinks
Entrance fees
Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee: guaranteed on-time return to your ship, without ever feeling rushed.

Itinerary

Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Basilica of St. John

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Ephesus Terrace Houses

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Ephesus Museum

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Ancient City of Ephesus

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available

Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 24 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great day, perfect pace

Karen_S, Oct 2025

We did our tour with Melis, and had an amazing day. She was kind and thoughtful and really helped my dad who had some mobility and medical challenges. It was perfect for us to move at his pace. Meeting and chatting with her was like speaking with a friend. I learned so much about the people and country that I wouldn't otherwise had learned. The meal was amazing, and included a bunch of items I might not have tried without the choices being made for us. Thank you Melis!!!!

Perfect Tour of Ephesus

Phyllis_C, Oct 2025

Our private tour was curtailed to our interests. My husband and I were given the time we needed to explore the various places we visited. Our guide, Kye, was most informative and friendly. Bottled watered as provided. Lunch was fantastic! Water was provided, any other drinks were extra. Of course we visited a carpet shop, though did not feel pressured to buy.

Great Tour guide

Jon_C, Sep 2025

Tour guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating to my preferences. Enjoyed the day and would highly recommend.

Filiz was a famtastic...

James_T, Sep 2025

Filiz was a famtastic guide with a deep knowledge of the sites and related history at Ephesus. She was excellent at navigating the crowds so we could see all the important sites, and she also shared her culture with us. For lunch, she took us out in the country for a traditional Turkish lunch prepared and served by local villagers, which included a demonstration of rug weaving (and of course an opportunity to buy said rugs, for lower prices than we encountered in Istanbul). While I was a bit disappointed to learn that only about 20-25% of the proceeds for wool rug sales went yo the weaver, the percentage was higher for silk rugs, and the organization running the center was trying to help keep a dying art alive. Overall, the day was a huge success, and well worth the money!

Efeze private Tour. A+ from Belgium

Dominique_J, Aug 2025

We booked a private tour to visit Ephesus. Pickup at the hotel. To our surprise, our guide, Olcaj "OJ," spoke perfect Dutch. Even though we'd booked an English tour, our children, aged 10 and 12, thoroughly enjoyed the tour because they could understand everything. We had a wonderful day with a delicious lunch at a handmade carpet-making workshop. We were able to experience this as well as a pottery workshop. Our guide listened carefully to our wishes and tailored the day accordingly. We received a truly customized package. She was also very knowledgeable and shared interesting facts. Let's be honest, you can never get so much out of a day and gain so much knowledge on your own. Ephesus itself is definitely recommended. The terraced houses were fantastic. The museum is also a cutting-edge technology. A wonderful addition. We also visited the House of Mary and the Church of the Apostle John. Both of these take about half an hour at each stop. Because the guide was so helpful and adapted the itinerary to accommodate traffic and the crowds at the sites themselves, we were able to fit a jam-packed program into the day. Not to forget the excellent driving of our driver 'captain'. As the icing on the cake, she dropped us off not at the hotel but in Kusadasi itself, offering a few tips. This allowed us to finish the day with a stroll along the promenade and a visit to the bazaar. Definitely do it! A+ from Belgium

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Dear Dominique, Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you and your family had such a memorable experience exploring Ephesus with our guide Olcay “OJ.” It’s wonderful to know that her ability to speak Dutch made the tour even more enjoyable for your children — making history come alive in their own language truly makes a difference! We’re also glad you appreciated the personalized approach, the cultural stops at the carpet and pottery workshops, and of course, the flexibility and insight that helped you make the most of your day. Ephesus, with its terraced houses and innovative museum, is indeed a highlight, and we’re happy we could enhance your visit with thoughtful planning and excellent guidance. We'll make sure to pass your kind words to OJ and our wonderful driver — "the captain" — who completed the experience with care and professionalism. Thank you again for choosing us. We hope to welcome you back in Turkey for another unforgettable journey. Warm regards, Melisa Ada Vegas Travel

Our tour guide OJ was...

Brant_F, Jul 2025

Our tour guide OJ was extremely informative and accommodated our older travelers. We were able to see all the sites that we wanted to see. The reasons I would not recommend this tour are 1) The air conditioning on the private bus was not working properly, and it was extremely hot during our entire tour. 2) part of the tour after lunch brought us to a carpet sales pitch. While it was informative, this took more time and should’ve been discussed in advance.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you very much for sharing your detailed feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the guiding service provided by OJ and that you were able to visit all the sites you had planned. However, we’re truly sorry to learn about the issues you experienced during the tour. The vehicle used was a 2024 model Mercedes, and we will follow up with the transportation company immediately to investigate and ensure that the air conditioning is functioning properly for all future guests. Regarding the stop at the carpet shop, we understand your concern and agree that such visits should always be communicated in advance. While some guests enjoy this cultural experience, we recognize that preferences vary, and we will take your feedback seriously to better tailor the experience and respect each guest’s expectations. We truly appreciate your comments, as they help us improve our services and ensure more enjoyable experiences for all our future guests. Warm regards, Melisa Ephesus Tour Company

Excellent!

Michael_A, Jun 2025

Tijen was knowledgeable, friendly and flexible. She catered to our specific needs with a a smile. We feel like we got a great introduction to Turkey. Thank you Tijen!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Dear Michael, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great time with Mrs Tijen and truly made the most of your day—including Ephesus experience! She will be very happy to hear your kind words. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Turkey soon! Warm regards,

An amazing day

Ildi_E, Sep 2024

We had an amazing day with Ender our guide. He was a lovely man and more like a friend than a guide. He was very knowledgeable, and as it was a private tour we were able to cater the day to our needs and likes. He knew all the good photo spots and took all the photos I coukd have asked for. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Ephesus.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Guest It was a great honor to host you, and we are truly grateful for your kind words. We are thrilled that you had such a positive experience with Mr. Ender, and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future! Warmest Regards

Was lovely tour guide but not fully customised itinerary

Poonam_A, Aug 2024

Our tour guide Ikay was lovely. He took great care of us and his knowledge was good. I think everything was fine except one point - this is not a fully customised tour. You get to visit the areas which are mentioned in what to expect section which is confusing to description written in overview section. So for example if you want to visit Sirince , the tour manager on the day of tour asked her for additional 50 usd!! We obviously said no and had to skip. Apart from this, rest everything was good. We recommend Ikay as tour guide.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Dear Guest , Thank you very much for your detailed feedback and kind recommendation. We’re delighted to hear that you had a positive experience with ilkay as your guide and that he took great care of you during your tour. We truly value your input regarding the customization aspect of the tour. We appreciate your understanding on this matter. Your insights are incredibly valuable to us as we strive to improve our services continuously. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another tour in the future, and we’ll do our best to ensure it’s an even better experience. Warmest Regards

Magnificent Ephesus

Peter_F, Jun 2024

Ender was a great guide. We wanted to start early and avoid the heat and crowds and he was very accommodating. We also only wanted to spend 3-4 hours as we were heading back to Bodrum that afternoon. No problem. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the site, including some very nuanced details. Highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear Peter, We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful time during the tour. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and I'll be sure to share your appreciation with the team. We're thrilled that you found the experience memorable Thank you once again for choosing our services. We eagerly await the opportunity to explore more with you in the future. Hugs

The Best Guide

Anonymous, Oct 2023

Omer made Ephesus come to life. We enjoyed learning more about Turkiye and experiencing a bit of its culture. We have gone on many tours and Omer was the best. Thank you, Omer, for taking us under your wing.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Antony, We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our tour guide Mr Omer and services. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful City. Warmest regards.

Great Group of 4 Tour

Timothy_W, Oct 2023

We had a wonderful time with Nafia, our tour guide. She was knowledgeable, spoke excellent English and a joy to talk with.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Timothy, It was a pleasure to us welcome you! We hope we can be at your service on your next visits in Turkey. Wamest regards.

A day in Ephesus

John_W, Sep 2023

Volken was an excellent guide and our day with him was perfect! His in depth knowledge of history brought Ephesus to life. He was fun and professional…..easy to talk to and clearly loves his profession. Highly recommend him and this tour!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear John, Thank you for your kind review. We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our Guide Mr Volkan. Your reviews are valued for us! We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful City. Warm Regards

Great experience

Jeff_W, Sep 2023

Our guide was personable and knowledgeable, she did a great job! She listened to what we wanted to do and she made it happen.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Jeff, Thank you for your kind review. We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our Guide and services. Your reviews are valued for us! We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful City. Warm Regards

What a wonderful day!

Carol_R, Jun 2023

Fabulous day with fabulous guides who truly took care with my mom who was suffering from a foot injury and couldn't walk much. Our guide was so knowledgeable and took time to explain everything to us. I was utterly amazed by Ephesus and all that it had to offer. Our lunch was amazing, we enjoyed learning about how Turkish rugs are made, the House of Mary and the Basilica were equally stunning. I would highly recommend this tour!!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Dear Carol, Thank you for your Great review. We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our Guide and services. Your reviews are valued for us! We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Warmest regards

Had a wonderful private tour with a knowledgeable guide!

Anne_B, Oct 2022

We had a lovely day with "OJ". She was very knowledgeable and took us to all the sites we wanted to see including the Virgin Mary's house, Ephesus (including the Terrace Houses which are amazing, you must do this part!), then to a lunch and last St. John's Basilica. Our driver was also wonderful, always waiting for us at entrances and exits on time. Ask for OJ for sure- with Ephesus Tour Group!

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Dear Anne, Thank you for your wonderful review, We are glad to know we did our job to meet your expectations, and you had a great time. We hope to see you again sometime in the future. It Was a pleasure for us.

Excellent tour

Jennifer_W, Jul 2022

Our guide was called Jaylo (sorry about the spelling) she was excellent. We were met at the dockside and taken to sites in a small, well maintained mini van, our driver was very good and careful. Jaylo was very personable and made our day very enjoyable. We stopped for a typically Turkish lunch in a lovely setting that was not full of other tourist. A most enjoyable tour and would thoroughly recommend.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Dear Jennifer, Thank you for your wonderful review we are glad to know we did our job to meet your expectations, and you had a great time. We hope to see you again sometime in the future. It Was a pleasure for us

Well Worth the Relatively Small Cost

lab1002019, Oct 2019

Six of us took this tour with guide Nafia. It was well worth the small amount we paid -- about facory $160 for all of us. We saw the ruins at Ephesus ($12.50 cost per person in addition to guided tour), toured a rug cooperative and saw how rugs are made from the beginning of the process, and finally had time to tour a leather to shop for belts and purses. Our guide gave us numerous options and basically left it up to us to plan our tour. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly and spoke good English. This tour is a deal.

Response from Host, Jan 2020

Thank you for your review we want all our customers to get good value for money and enjoy every aspect of the tour. Happy travels and we hope to see you again soon.

Excellent!

Divina_D, Aug 2025

Perfect! Better than expected! Polyglot guide, with a lot of geographic and historical knowledge, attentive and friendly!

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La visite du lieu archéologique est très intéressante et notre guide francophone ajoutait beaucoup de valeurs en nous pr

Philippe_S, Nov 2024

Le site était très bien , faut absolument avoir un guide sinon on a peine à comprendre les lieux les lieux recouvert sont aussi très intéressant à visiter,

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Bonjour Philippe, Merci beaucoup pour votre superbe avis sur notre guide et le chauffeur. Nous espérons vous revoir bientôt dans notre beau pays. à bientôt

Notre guide est une...

Nicole_L, Sep 2024

Notre guide est une personne pleine d’informations qui nous les transmet avec grand plaisir. Elle a répondu à nos attentes et toutes nos questions. Elle a su modifier les visites afin de diminuer les délais. Ephese a été notre coup de cœur. La basilique de St- Jean nous a un peu déçue surtout après avoir vu Ephses. La visite dans la maison de Marie a été beaucoup trop courte. Le chauffeur était flexible et prudent.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Bonjour Nicole, Merci beaucoup pour votre superbe avis sur notre guide et le chauffeur. Nous espérons vous revoir bientôt dans notre beau pays. à bientôt