ALL INCLUDED: Ephesus Ruins, Mary's House Tour incl ENTRY TICKETS
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kusadasi, Turkey
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Make the most of a day on land with this Private Tour to Ephesus, one of the greatest ancient cities in the region. The well-preserved site is huge and there’s so much to see, so visiting with a guide helps you hone in on the highlights. Visit the ancient city of Ephesus, the terraced houses, the Basilica of St. John, and the Temple of Artemis, plus learn about the rich handicraft culture of Turkey.
- Receive personalized attention on a private tour
- Transfers from Kusadasi Port are included
- Learn about ancient Aegean history and culture from your guide
- Also visit the Virgin Mary's House (upon request) and the Temple of Artemis
What's Included
- GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
- Professional LICENSED LOCAL TOUR GUIDE
- GROUP OR PRIVATE TOUR that ensures more personalized service
- Cruise Port Pick-up & Drop-Off
- Transportation with A/C Minivans with separate Driver
- Admission Fee - Museum Entrance fees of Ephesus and Mary's House included
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Kusadasi Cruise PierIstanbul Denizcilik, Yeni Yolcu Terminali - Ege Port, Camikebir, 09400 Kuşadası/Aydın, Türkiye
✳️ This Tour is for CRUISE PASSENGERS arriving at Kusadasi Port. ✳️ Pick-up & drop-off from/to the port is available. ✳️ We guarantee ON-TIME RETURN before your cruise departure.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
Itinerary
Kusadasi (Pass By)
1
Kusadasi
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Ancient City of Ephesus
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Kusadasi Shopping Center
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Selcuk
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
The Temple of Artemis
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Okuz Mehmet Pasa KervansarayI (Pass By)
Kusadasi Castle (Pass By)
7
Kusadasi
5 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 TOURS ENSURE GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN TO THE CRUISE SHIP.
- BOOK YOUR TOUR WITH US, VERIFIED PROVIDER OF KUSADASI/EPHESUS CRUISE PORT!
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 99 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
5.0
based on 1,699 reviews
Renee_G, Mar 2026
Awesome tour guide. Was very prompt as was the driver. Great suggestions. Guide was Fatima . She was very informative and knowledgeable. Very organized and yet flexible. Made great suggestions for learning rug weaving and also the wonderful suggestion for lunch at a co-op. Was respectful and thoughtful. Thoroughly enjoyed this tour and specifically this guide. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Astred_M, Mar 2026
It was wonderful love to learn more about this form of art the hospitality was just wonderful and the food was sublime!!! Learning how they weave and trying it out for my self was just so memorable and how all the woman we so kind and warm hope you get to experience this ambiance of this place cuz it truly something I will never forget 🤗
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Celia_C, Mar 2026
Ozzie is a very knowledgeable tour guide. Informative of all the places we went toAlso very helpful. He gave us tips to enjoy our tour
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Dana_R, Mar 2026
We totally enjoyed Cana and her expertise of the areas we visited. I totally recommend this tour, and this guide.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Joe_R, Mar 2026
Very informative and fascinating visit to Ephesus and the House of Mary .Guide explained the history of the sites which was very interesting
Response from Host, Mar 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
Lesley_L, Mar 2026
I booked this online, expecting a tour of Ephesus ruins and Mary's House, all entrance tickets included. The tour guide advised us when we were in the minivan that we had not booked the Mary's House tour. I disagreed and showed him my paperwork. He phoned his office and I spoke to a rather rude man who asked me if I was telling him his job! I said I would check when I got home and have since done so, and my booking confirms that I HAD booked Mary's House and Ephesus ruins, tickets included. Your company needs to check this please. We decided not to argue at the time about the description of the tour, and our very pleasant guide, Bugra added in the Temple of Artemis on our return to Kusadasi.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Lesley,
First of all, thank you for your feedback.
As we explained to you both on the day of the tour and in the email we sent after your return — together with screenshots as clear evidence — this tour offers four different booking options. You selected the cheapest option, the ONLY EPHESUS – GROUP TOUR. We showed this to you and you saw it with your own eyes.
Despite the fact that it was clearly written on your ticket and that you were not entitled to it, you insisted on requesting services beyond what you had booked. By doing so, you disrupted the organization of the tour and attempted to take advantage of services that other guests had paid for.
Naturally, our team did not allow this.
Of course we do not mean to generalize, but unfortunately many British travelers like you try to create situations like this in order to demand refunds. Those same even written books about such tactics, such as “How to Travel Cheap.” However, please remember that the people you are dealing with are not naïve or easily misled.
This is the reality regarding to your booking and concern. We wish you good health.
Regards,
Operation Team
Anthony_V, Mar 2026
Fatima was a wonderful host! Very thorough with great knowledge of all the important historical facts. We really enjoyed the Turkish food as well. Would highly recommend another tour with Fatima!
Response from Host, Mar 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
Edward_B, Mar 2026
Our tour guide was awesome very knowledgeable and knows exactly what she is doing. She gets a 10 out of 10.
Response from Host, Mar 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
Yolanda_G, Feb 2026
I had an amazing time with Fatima. It was easy to meet with her and we got back to the Viking cruise boat on time. She was very informative on Ephesus and Mary's house. We enjoyed learning how the woman make rugs and the talent it takes is pretty amazing. The lunch was nice. We discovered apple tea and it was definitely one of my favorite things. The car is relaxing and the driver did an amazing job.
Response from Host, Mar 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
johnandnykki, Jan 2026
What a fabulous trip with an awesome guide Yigithan. He took fabulous care of us, his knowledge was incredible. The tour went smoothly. We were immediately welcomed, the taxi was cool and easy, he thought of everything. Highly recommend taking a tour with this guide.
Response from Host, Mar 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
Susanne_Z, Nov 2025
The clear communication prior to the tour with the smooth coordination was fantastic.
However I would like to point out some things that did not make this tour as good as expected.
After comparing all possible tours from all the tour operators, I carefully choose this tour through Viator from Kusadasi Shore Excursions as the description on the Viator side about this tour is very inspiring.
We visited the Virgin Mary's house first and thereafter Ephesus. The tour description states that we would have 2 hours in Ephesus, however after 67 minutes we were out of there. By the (to us) most important monument in Ephesus we were told to hurry as we had to leave. It was a few minutes after 17 o'clock and Ephesus would close at 18:00 o'clock. We did not had time to look at everything we wanted there. Once out of Ephesus we asked the guide why we were rushed out of Ephesus and he told us we were going to a carpet shop. This is not in the tour description. He told us he and the driver were hungry and had to eat dinner. We were less than 3 hours into the tour by that time. The drive to and back from the carpet shop and the stay there took almost an hour.
He noticed I was upset about this unwanted change in the program and repeated 6 times in front of the whole group things like ''oh look, she is upset about going to a carpet shop'' and he said that I could have more time in Ephesus the next time I come back. It's not like I travel every year to Turkey or Kusadasi to visit Ephesus! Besides that the entry fee is very high, so not getting the time there we were looking forward to and to be treated by the tourguide like this, we experienced as denigrating and disrespectfull.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Lynne,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly appreciate you starting your review by highlighting the clear communication and smooth coordination prior to the tour — this is something we take great pride in.
That said, we would like to respectfully clarify several points mentioned in your review, for the sake of accuracy and transparency for future travelers.
Time Spent in Ephesus
The total time allocated for Ephesus on this small-group shore excursion is approximately 2 hours, as stated on Viator. This timing is always dependent on real-time conditions such as crowd density, walking pace of the group, weather, and museum flow regulations.
On the day of your visit, Ephesus was scheduled to close at 18:00, and the group exited the site well before closing time to ensure a comfortable and stress-free return to the port for all cruise passengers. At no point was the visit shortened due to dinner plans, nor would such a reason ever be acceptable within our company standards.
The carpet presentation you mentioned is a short, cultural stop, commonly included in many Turkey tours. Participation is never mandatory, no purchase is expected, and guests are always free to wait outside or relax if they prefer not to attend. This stop is also clearly noted in the Viator tour details under “What to Expect.”
It is important to clarify that this visit did not replace time at Ephesus, nor was it added at the expense of archaeological sightseeing.
Commitment to Quality
We operate thousands of shore excursions every year for cruise passengers, with schedules carefully planned to balance cultural depth, comfort, and timely return to the ship. The vast majority of our guests leave extremely satisfied, which is reflected in our long-standing ratings and reviews.
We regret that this particular experience did not fully meet your expectations, but we stand by the integrity of our tour description and the professionalism of our team. We also believe it is important for future guests to understand that this excursion is designed to offer a comprehensive, well-paced experience, not a rushed or sales-driven one.
Thank you again for your feedback, and we wish you all the best in your future travels.
Kind regards,
Kusadasi Shore Excursions Team
Randall_O, Nov 2025
Josh our tour guide was knowledgeable and excellent. He knew how to avoid the crowds and planned our day to maximize our time in port. We highly recommend booking an excursion with him.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Monina_F, Nov 2025
We arrived in Kusadasi in the afternoon but still managed to see many important sights in just 4–5 hours. We were lucky to have Burga as our tour guide—he was fun and engaging from the moment we met him. Our group included a 13-year-old boy, and Burga made sure he stayed interested and entertained throughout the tour.
There wasn’t much to see at the House of Mary, but the Ephesus ruins were absolutely amazing—so vast and full of history. Be prepared for a lot of walking! We ended the day with a visit to a rug factory, which was interesting to see, though I personally would have preferred to spend that time exploring the Kusadasi bazaar instead.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience for a short stop in Kusadasi!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Kiirsten_R, Nov 2025
Josh was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable. Having the small group van and guided tour, which ended up being private to our small group, was ideal.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Stewart_P, Oct 2025
Our group of 11 loved the private tour. We loved our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable of everything we saw. The tour delivered everything advertised. Because we were on a cruise ship and had very limited time in port, we did feel rushed some of the time, but that was more a function of the length of the cruise stop. It definitely would have been a better tour with an additional 1-2 hours. We were told to get off the ship as quickly as possible and that was great advise. We were one of the first groups at the Virgin Mary's house and by the time we left, the lines were getting long. We spent most of our time in Ephesus and we were impress. Our guide knew how to navigate thru the town to see the import spots and get close enough for good pictures. She did a great job of explaining what each section was and how it all tied together. The ride by the Temple of Artemis is rather un eventful as it is a single column still standing in a private field that you cannot get out and see. but they did say it was a drive by.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Romona_C, Oct 2025
We came in on the Carnival Miracle. Fatima provided a personalized, informative and unique perspective tour of Ephesus, Mary's House and local culture. The communication from start to finish was great. We got back to the port in time as well. I highly recommend!!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
KwaiFun_Y, Oct 2025
Deniz, our tour guide, couldn't be better. Not only does he speak very good English, he is also very passionate, extremely knowledgeable. Throughout the tour, he gave us very informative narration to all the sites we visited. We highly recommend hiring Deniz as your personized tour guide.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Susie_H, Oct 2025
We had a great time, Bagra was very informative and the driver was great! Thank you for a great day!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Sunny_P, Oct 2025
Our guide Ezji was fantastic! In just a few hours, she gave us a thorough and engaging introduction to the Ephesus ruins and the House of the Virgin Mary, sharing fascinating stories and historical context along the way. We also appreciated how she helped us understand the local culture and daily life in Turkey, making the tour both educational and enjoyable.
Ezji was knowledgeable, kind, and very organized — a true professional who made the experience memorable. The only small improvement we’d suggest is to skip the weaving (carpet) center stop. We understand it’s a common part of many tours, but we would have preferred to spend that extra 30 minutes exploring more of the city instead.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and we highly recommend Ezji to anyone visiting Kusadasi!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Cidalia_R, Oct 2025
An excellent way to see Kusadasi!
The tour guide Fatima was full of knowledge. A Very enjoyable day!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Richard_B, Oct 2025
Excellent guide. She was full of very good information. She showed us many great places on the trip and great tips for traveling.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Tamara_W, Oct 2025
Our guide Fatima was enthusiastic and spoke English well. She also accommodated our group with choices for lunch and walking speed. Very informative and friendly.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Rhonda_N, Oct 2025
We had family tour with fatima. Excellent organization and tour. Highly recommend- absolutely excellent! Well worth the money and time!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Deborah_L, Oct 2025
Fabulous tour! Fatima gave us lots of great historical and also current information about the areas that we explored as well as Turkey. Seeing emphasis in person was incredible! She recommended a fantastic restaurant for lunch that was local farm to market. Delicious!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Yat_S, Oct 2025
The pickup is smooth and quick. The van is comfortable. Our guide Canan is knowledgeable, kind and helpful. The places we visit is amazing.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Guest,
We’re grateful for your feedback and delighted to know you enjoyed your experience. Thank you for being part of the Best Turkey Tour family.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Kimberly_J, Oct 2025
I had an amazing private tour in Turkey with Canan Aydin, and I can’t recommend it enough! We explored Mary’s House in Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and learned about St. Paul’s time. Canan’s knowledge really brought everything to life.
The highlight? The over-the-top fashion show at the leather store! It was such a fun surprise, with gorgeous designs that made you feel like you were in a real runway show. Overall, it was a fantastic mix of history and style. If you’re in Turkey, this tour is a must!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
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
Frances_B, Oct 2025
It was so great fantastic Tour what’s fantastic the guide was also very good. I would recommend it. I know we’ll be doing this to her again.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Guest,
Your positive review brightens our day! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your travel story, and we hope to see you again soon.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Mary_K, Oct 2025
Wonderful tour. Left early on guide’s recommendation and got to Mary’s house as it was opening. Deniz is an excellent guide. Would highly recommended
Response from Host, Oct 2025
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
Valentina_A, Oct 2025
Nice tour, well paced. The guide is knowledgeable and entertaining. Lunch is not described but a lunch stop is included and compulsory. The food was not great.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Guest,
Your happiness is our greatest reward. We’re delighted you had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you again on another journey.
Best Turkey Tour Team
Charlie_S, Oct 2025
Thank this one you for sharing . Nilay is the best tour guide. Everyone enjoyed the trip. If you plan to visit Ephesus in Turkey don’t think twice. She has warm personality and deep knowledge of the site.One of the best tours we’ve ever had.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Guest,
Your positive review brightens our day! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your travel story, and we hope to see you again soon.
Best Turkey Tour Team
From $59.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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ALL INCLUDED: Ephesus Ruins, Mary's House Tour incl ENTRY TICKETS
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