Private Guided Ephesus Tour, Best of Ephesus

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Kusadasi, Turkey

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

4 to 6 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Make the most of your time and uncover the rich history and biblical importance of Ephesus on this private guided driving tour. Enjoy seamless pickup at the Kusadasi cruise port or local hotel and travel to Ephesus, where you’ll see highlights including the Odeon and the Library of Celsus. You’ll also take in the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis, and the Basilica of St. John.

Explore UNESCO-listed Ephesus with a private guide
Pack in three additional historic sights with time-saving transportation
Enjoy seamless hotel and cruise port pickup for convenience
Huge choice of departure times lets you work around your schedule

What's Included

Professional Licensed guide
Cruise Port pickup and drop-off
Transport by private A/C mercedes vehicle and driver
Hotel Transfers
Parking fees
Skip the long lines

Drinks
Entrance Fees
Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

You are guaranteed to arrive back at your ship on time, without ever feeling rushed. Enjoy Your Private Tour

Itinerary

The House of the Virgin Mary

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Bibliotheque de Celsus

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Trajan's Fountain

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ephesus Ancient City

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Ephesus Terrace Houses

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

The Temple of Artemis

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica of St. John

30 minutes • 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
At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
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 43 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Excellent Tour Guide

Wendy_H, Oct 2025

Huray was an excellent tour guide. She met us at port and had a driver take us all around Ephesus. She was friendly and knowledgeable and had a positive attitude. We learned a lot about Ephesus history. The ancient ruins were amazing.

I had an incredible...

Jean_N, Aug 2025

I had an incredible experience on this tour of Ephesus. Our guide, Samet, was outstanding — always attentive and making sure we had the best experience possible. He took us to the most iconic places in Kusadasi, adapted the schedule perfectly to our needs, and ensured we made it back to the cruise right on time. The private tour felt like a true VIP experience with just the two of us. The lunch was absolutely delicious, and throughout the day Samet shared so much valuable and interesting history about Kusadasi that made every stop even more meaningful. Everything was perfectly organized, comfortable, and memorable. I highly recommend this tour 100%!

Filiz is a great guide

Sandra_M, Jul 2025

Our guide Filiz was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and helpful. We learned so much! Especially helpful that she knew the time to avoid lines. Food was especially great. Wear non skid shoes for the marble walkways

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear Sandra, Thank you so much for your kind feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tour and had a great experience with our guide Filiz. She’ll be very happy to hear your lovely words. We’re also glad you found the timing and recommendations helpful — and yes, non-skid shoes are definitely a great tip for future travelers! We hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon. Warm regards, Melisa Ada Vegas Travel

The tour provided insight...

William_P, Jun 2025

The tour provided insight to the history and religious history of the area. The guide was very knowledgeable in both areas. The day included a bonus luncheon and carpet making exhibition

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear William, Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it informative, especially regarding the rich history and religious background of the area. It's also great to know you appreciated the bonus luncheon and the carpet-making experience. Your satisfaction means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again on another memorable journey! Warm regards, Melisa Ada Vegas Travel

Amazing time

Steven_V, Jun 2025

Amazing time and an Amazing experience! Elon was a great guide and very friendly! By far Turkey was the best place on my cruise ...would love to visit again!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Dear Steven, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time in Ephesus and that your experience with our guide Elon made it even more special. It’s an honor to know that Turkey was the highlight of your cruise! We would love to welcome you back anytime for more unforgettable adventures. Warm regards, Melisa

Great half day private tour

Sandra_L, Jul 2024

Necat was our tour guy. He was thorough and knowledgeable. He was proud to share his Turkish culture and history. We learnt quite a bit from him. The lunch was simple and tasty. We were brought to a carpet making school and ended up buying a silk carpet. We recognized the boss who tried hard to sell us a carpet a year ago in Montenegro. What’s the odd to see him again in Turkey??? Overall, it’s a well organized private tour.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Dear Sandra, Thank you very much for your kind comments. We are delighted that you enjoyed Necjat’s knowledge and experience. We take great pride in sharing Turkish culture and history, and it was a pleasure to host you on this journey. We would be honored to welcome you again. Warm regards,

Efe did a wonderful job showing us the beauty and history of Ephesus.

john_W, Jul 2024

Efe was very professional and very knowledgeable about the Attractions that he took us to, including the ancient city of Ephesus, Andy Virgin Mary’s house. He showed us an explained what we were looking at when we went to the temple of Artemis as well as the basilica of St. John.. It was a very hot day, making it a little uncomfortable. It was definitely a joy to get into that beautiful clean private van that took us from place to place. The lunch was good. We had kebabs and salad. I would recommend this tour and this tour guide. He did everything to make our day comfortable and enjoyable.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Dear John, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your comprehensive and glowing feedback regarding your recent tour with Efe. We are delighted to hear that Efe’s professionalism and extensive knowledge about the attractions you visited, including the ancient city of Ephesus, Virgin Mary’s House, the Temple of Artemis, and the Basilica of St. John, greatly enhanced your experience. His ability to provide insightful explanations and context about each site is something we highly value, and it’s wonderful to know that it made your tour both informative and enjoyable. Touring on a hot day can certainly be challenging, and we are pleased that Efe went above and beyond to ensure your comfort throughout the tour. The clean and private van for transportation appears to have been a much-appreciated respite from the heat, contributing to a more pleasant experience overall. We are also thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the lunch provided during the tour. The kebabs and salad are indeed a delightful part of our offerings, and we aim to provide meals that complement the cultural richness of the sites visited. Your high recommendation of our tour and Efe as a guide is truly appreciated. We will make sure to convey your kind words to him, as feedback like yours is incredibly motivating and affirming for our team. Thank you once again for choosing our services and for taking the time to share such detailed and positive feedback. It was a pleasure to have you on our tour, and we look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back for another memorable experience in the future. Warmest regards,

Great Tour

Deborah_B, Jun 2024

Great overall tour! Communication was good before the tour and pick up went smoothly as set up. Ender was a knowledgeable, professional guide and the driver did a great job of picking us up at designated places on time. Vehicle was well maintained and clean. Cold water provided. The pace of the tour was adjusted for the heat and our age yet we saw everything. Information shared was engaging and the guide’s command of English made it easy to understand and ask questions. Lunch was wonderful. Great tour!! Start to end!! Highly recommend!!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Dear Deborah, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the communication, professionalism, and attention to detail. It's great to know that Ender and our driver made your experience enjoyable and comfortable. We're glad the pace was adjusted to suit your needs, and that you found the information engaging and easy to understand. We're also delighted that you enjoyed the lunch. Your recommendation means a lot to us! Best regards,

Excellent experience!!!!

Jason_S, May 2024

This was the best tour we have ever experienced. The guide (Ikhut, I think I spelled in correctly) was phenomenal! He is so knowledgeable on everything we did!! The lunch was delicious and the carpet making was extraordinary!!! Yes, there ii is a sajes pitch but we never felt pressured at all. It was simply a lesson on their carpets and offer for us to purchase. If I were in the market for a rug, I would have considered it!!! Thank you for a great time!!! I highly recommend this tour!!!

Response from Host, May 2024

Dear Jason, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful review of our Ephesus Private Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfers. We are truly delighted to hear that it was the best tour you have ever experienced. We are especially pleased to know that Aykut , your guide, made a significant impact on your experience with his extensive knowledge. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to him. It’s also gratifying to hear that you enjoyed the lunch and found the carpet-making demonstration to be both fascinating and respectful in approach. Your recommendation means the world to us. We strive to provide exceptional experiences for our guests, and your feedback confirms that we are on the right track. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another journey with us in the future. Warmest regards,

Great Trip

William_S, May 2024

We had no idea what Turkey was like, as none of us had ever been here before. Nora, our tour guide, brought it all alive for us. Fascinating country. Did not know the bonds with early Christendom were so strong.

Response from Host, May 2024

Hi William, Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your time with us in kusadasi. I will be sure to share your comments with Nora. We always do our very best to give amazing experiences to our guests. We were so happy that we exceeded your expectations. Thank you again.

Best shore excursion with Cihat

PattiSue_L, Mar 2024

Awesome tour with Cihat We didn’t really know what to expect with this shore excursion but was hands down our favorite tour! Ciihat was professional, knowledgable, gave us a great tour. The information he provided on Mother Mary’s house and Ephesus and everything else he did was amazing. We managed to get to Mary’s house before a bus tour so we walked right in and no waiting in line. At end of day he walked with us into kusadasi to show us where to shop in the market . Great day highly recommend Thai tour with Cihat

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Dear Patti, We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with tour guide mr Cihat and our services. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Warmest Regards

Customized Ephesus tour with a great guide

Ethel_A, Oct 2023

We had visited Ephesus before and wanted to fill in the gaps, also have some physical limitations, so keeping up with a large group would be hard. Our knowledgeable, personable guide Oz started by finding out about what we wanted. Not only did we have a marvelous tour of the terrace houses, but he pointed out some fascinating aspects we missed on our earlier tour and took us to what’s left of the Artemis temple. He was sensitive to our needs and interests, which certainly made it worthwhile to have a private tour!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Ethel, We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our tour guide (Oz) and services. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Warmest Regard.

Memorable Kușadasi

Ecaterina_C, Oct 2023

Remarkable guide. We learned so much about this place so rich in history. Very flexible he brought us back on time to catch the cruze and customized the experience to our interests. Extremly friendly and very knowledgeable

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hello Ecaterina, We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our services. Your reviews are very encouraging for us! We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country! Warmest regards.

AMAZING

hughescasa, Sep 2023

This was absolutely the best tour. Having a personal guide was amazing. Our person was very knowledgeable in all the areas we went. Were we went and how long we stayed was completely up to us. After going to Ephesus and Marys house we had extra time to see other places. Our guide recommended a local school were they teach locals how to hand make rugs. It was fascinating to see the beautiful designs and how skillful they were. After that he took us to a family run business that made pottery and painted them. It was great to see a few culture businesses from Turkey.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Hughes, We are so happy to hear that you had enjoy your Ephesus Tour with Us. Your feedbacks are very valuable for us. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Warmest Regards.

Great time seeing Ephesus!

Brian_S, Sep 2023

Great time with a very experienced guide. He knew we weren’t interested in sales and shopping, so focused on the interesting history!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Brian, We are so happy to hear that you had enjoy your Ephesus Tour with our tour guide. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Warm Regards.

Highly recommended.

Rich_M, Sep 2023

Everything was great. Tour guide Caglar was timely, informative and very courteous. Excellent tour. Easy to arrange.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Richard, We are so happy to hear that you had enjoy your Ephesus Tour with our tour guide Caglar. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Best regards.

Private tour of Ephesus.

David_C, Aug 2023

We really enjoyed our private tour with Ceyla in Ephesus. She was not only our Guide, but was also an archaeologist, so she was very knowledgeable and informative. We highly recommend this to her.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Dear David, We are so happy to hear that you had enyoj with our tour with Ceyla! We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Best regards.

Excellent

Theresa_D, Aug 2023

Our tour guide Kai was amazing and was so knowledgeable about the sites. The van was comfortable and they were thorough in showing us through all the lines. We had an amazing day!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello Theresa, We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our services. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Best regards.

Not to be missed

Martin_S, Aug 2023

This was a fantastic private tour and our guide Sharat was fantastic. We’d been to Pompeii on a previous tour but Ephesus blew us away and we would definitely recommend the Terrace houses which are extra but worth it. We were transported in a large super comfortable air conditioned van and had our guides undivided attention. It was a really great experience not to be missed. We even visited a rug factory and were given dinner. This was very interesting as we were shown how the rugs are hand made. Clearly they were after a sale but there was no no pressure. Our teenage children had a ball. Thank you to our guide and driver a fantastic day out.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello Martin, We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our services. Your reviews are valued for us! We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Best regards.

Wonderful day

Beth_E, Aug 2023

Our guide Filiz gave us a perfect day! Took us wherever we wanted to go even if not on the agenda. She truly loves her work and it showed. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Dear Beth , We are so happy to hear that you had a good time with our services. We hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country. Warmest regards.

Disappointment

Wei_S, Jul 2023

Our recent private guided tour, group of five adults from a single family, was filled with high expectations of immersing ourself in the rich culture and history of the Ephesus. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of what we had envisioned. From unnecessary shopping stops to a disengaged guide constantly glued to her phone, this tour failed to deliver the quality and personalized experience we had hoped for. While we understand that every tour experience may vary, it is crucial for tour operators to prioritize customer satisfaction and ensure that their guides are well-equipped to deliver engaging and memorable experiences. It is our hope that future travelers receive a more fulfilling experience than the one we encountered.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Dear Wei , We are sorry to hear that you had this experiences in our services. We talked to our guide about the stiation and she informed us that she used her phone for the entrance of the museums. Your tickets were digital and Museum lost the connection on that day. That's why she struggled with the phone. Besides that our guide is very knowledgable and she is with us several years but we think there was a misunderstood about between you and our guide. This is the first time we hear this comment about our guide. We have tried our best to resolve your dissatisfaction. We made you happy at the end of our phone call, but we did not receive your return because our main focus is sadisfaction of our customers. Best regards.

Great Excursion!

Alnoor_M, Jun 2023

We had a great time in Ephesus/Kusadasi! Our guide made all the difference. He was friendly, knowledgeable and took the time to answer any questions we had. He made sure we covered every point of interest. We highly recommend this excursion!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Dear Alnoor, Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review and to share your recent experience with our company. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with Ada Vegas Travel. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to welcoming you on your next trip in the very near future. Warm Regards

Great experience

joseph_z, Jun 2023

We had a wonderful day with Murat. As a student of archaeology and history, he was very informative and pleasant to be with. Ada Travel was easy to work with and customized our tour to our needs.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Dear Joseph, Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review and to share your recent experience with our company. It's a great pleasure for us to hear that you enjoyed your trip with Ada Vegas Travel. Your feedback always motivates us to serve you better. We are looking forward to welcoming you on your next trip in the very near future. Warm Regards

It was a good tour. that...

Elizabeth_K, Apr 2023

It was a good tour. that should be enough for me to be able to submit my review but your prompt won't let me submit it until (apparently) I write a novel.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for your kind review. Your commets are very important for us. We are so happy to hear that you have a good time in Ephesus! I hope we can welcome you again in our beautiful country!

Private Ephesus tour

Michael_J, Nov 2022

The guide was very well organized and very informative about the sites we visited. He was funny and yet well versed in the locations and made the trip very interesting. I would highly recommend this private tour.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Dear Michael, Thank you for your kind sharing of your valuable thoughts and comments. Your comments will absolutely assist someone who would like to travel to Ephesus with Us. We are really happy to hear and pleased that you had wonderful memories during the tour with our services. Hugs

Miami Group’s fantastic day at Epehesus

Rosanne_N, Oct 2022

Our tour guide, Neslihan, made this a fabulous experience. She was so knowledgeable and friendly. She made it a great day.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Dear Rosa, Thank you for your kind sharing of your valuable thoughts and comments. Your comments will absolutely assist someone who would like to travel to Ephesus with Ada Vegas Travel. We are really happy to hear and pleased that you had wonderful memories during the tour with our services. Thank you

We highly recommend this your & tour guide.

Steven_H, Oct 2022

Our tour guide, Ceylon, was extremely knowledgeable, organized & created a very pleasant day. The tour was well worth it.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Dear Steven, Thank you for your kind sharing of your valuable thoughts and comments. Your comments will absolutely assist someone who would like to travel to Ephesus with Ada Vegas Travel. We are very happy to hear and pleased that you had wonderful memories and times during the tour with our services. Thank you

Fabulous tour and fabulous guide

Nina_G, Oct 2022

Kusadasi is a fabulous city to visit. Our tour guide,Murat, was absolutely amazing. We can’t say enough good things about him.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Dear Nina, Thank you for your kind sharing of your valuable thoughts and comments. Your comments will absolutely assist someone who would like to travel to Ephesus with Ada Vegas Travel. We are very happy to hear and pleased that you had wonderful memories and times during the tour with our services. Thank you Warm Regards

Amazing Ephesus Private tour

dywxvd5zj2, Sep 2022

Selyn was great guide, she met us at the exit of the cruise terminal and took us out for a day full of fun, filled with knowledge and information about ancient Ephesus as well as Turkey in general. Their luxurious Mercedes van was too big for our family of 5 (can fit up 14-15 people) but we can’t complain. We were in awe while visiting the Ephesus archeological site, so much history in there and Selyn went through every details of site, her relax personality made us feel like we were going out with a friend. We also visited House of Virgin Mary and Temple of Artemis. The lunch at local Turkish was amazing and reasonably priced, even our younger kids loved it. We also visited the rug factory, it’s optional but the kids wanted to see the silk collection and rug making process, we also looked at some of the rugs but didn’t end up buying anything, the rug salesman wasn’t very pushy to make us feel uncomfortable. I highly recommend Selyn and this agency.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Dear Dywx, Thank you for your kind sharing of your valuable thoughts and comments. Your comments will absolutely assist someone who would like to travel to Ephesus with Ada Vegas Travel. We are very happy to hear and pleased that you had wonderful memories and times during the tour with our services. Warm Regards

Ephesus without the crowds

Brian_J, Sep 2022

The guide, Jayda, was great and avoided the crowds brilliantly and was very knowledgeable. Our tour included more than expected. We would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Dear Brain, Thank you for your kind sharing of your valuable thoughts and comments. Your comments will absolutely assist someone who would like to travel to Ephesus with Ada Vegas Travel. We are very happy to hear and pleased that you had wonderful memories and times during the tour with our services. Thank you