Turkey Day Trip from Samos: Kusadasi and Ephesus

Samos, Greece

10 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Extend your Greek vacation to include a day in the Turkish town of Kusadasi. The included boat ride takes you from Samos to Turkey in just one and a half hours. You’ll have time to explore the famous bazaar and more. Enjoy the personalized experience of having a private guide with you every step of the way. You can also take an optional tour to the ancient city of Ephesus.

Expand your Greek holiday to include a day in Turkey
Relax in included international water transportation

What's Included

Professional guide - meet in Turkey
Boat transportation to Turkey
Bus transportation to Ephesus

Port Tax

€10.00 per person
Admission Fee - Ancient City of Ephesus
Visa for Turkey
Hotel transfer
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Samos, Samos, Northeast Aegean Islands
Pithagoras Port

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.7:30 am

Itinerary

Kusadasi Market

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Ancient City of Ephesus

3 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Children must be accompanied by an adult

Meeting point Pithagorion port
Name of the boat : Venus Location : At the very end side of the right side of Pythagorio port (It’s a small port. Only this boat is “parked” there. Very easy to find it) Departure time : 08:00 You need to be down to the port 30 minutes in advance for the passport control
Guests can get their visa from below link: http://evisa.gov.tr
Bring your passport: The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the intended visit to Turkey
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

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)

Featured review

Lisa_H

It was easy to find boat on Samos - you have to go through customs at the very end of the pier. Most people on the boat were also on this tour. There is a small port fee paid as you disembark, so bring cash (also for toilets and lunch). In Ephesus, Euro and US dollar were accepted everywhere we went. The guide (Meander Tours) met us at the exit, straight after we went through customs at Ephesus, so that was very easy. We had our hotel print out the tour ticket to give him, which they sent a couple days before. The tour guide was excellent, and everything was well organized. The church of Mary and the museum was not visited on this tour, which we didn't realize, but the site itself was well explained. There was a bit of time for shopping at the end, but this tour seems most geared towards people who want to see the ancient site. It is a really nice day trip for those interested in ancient history.

Reviews

3.9

based on 22 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Ephesus is great, tour from Samos was not

charles_s, Sep 2025

Ephesus was great but our tour didn’t take us to areas that I saw other guides doing. It was really too short for what is there. Instead we spent some 20-30 minutes on the way back at a Turkish products store. Someone’s cousin? To get there and back you have to go through customs 4 times totaling about 2 hours total to get through the queues. The ferry over to Kusadasi and back was slow and cramped. No amenities. Total of almost 4 hours on the water. It is NOT the typical ferry you ride between Greek islands. There was extra time for walking Kusadasi but it is just a typical Turkish city, nothing special. Ephesus is a must see, but I would look at other options to get there.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Guest, thank you for your detailed feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed Ephesus. Please note, long queues at customs and port are managed by local authorities and can vary, so they’re not under our control. The ferry’s speed or route may also change if weather conditions require it, always prioritizing safety. The brief stop at a local store is part of the itinerary, but entering is completely optional. We appreciate your comments and hope you still took away some memorable moments!

Beautiful day in Ephesus

Patricia_L, May 2025

This is a wonderful trip. Our guide was amazing and very informative. She was great to keep up with group members and answer all questions. The one negative was many school groups were there so a weekend visit this time of year may be better.

Response from Host, May 2025

Dear Patricia, Thank you for your kind words! We're glad you had a wonderful time and appreciated the guide’s attention and knowledge. We hope to assist you again with your bookings soon!

Ephesus day trip from samos

Allen_L, Oct 2024

Once you are through customs then you load up on a small boat and head to Turkey. Once through customs on the Turkish side then it’s off to Ephesus on a big bus. After a short ten minute ride, the upper city awaits. A very thoughtful touch, starting in the upper city so the tour is down hill. Our tour guide, Begum, was first rate and had many interesting facts to share on the tour and in the bus. She had the pace perfect…not too much time but enough so that you could hear about the culture then take pictures or buy souvenirs with never much waiting.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Dear Allen, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your trip to Ephesus and that the itinerary was well planned. It's wonderful to know that you found the pacing just right, allowing for both learning and exploration. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Great trip for those into ancient history

Lisa_H, Sep 2024

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Lisa, Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear that finding the boat and navigating customs was easy. The excursion to Ephesus truly is a beautiful and enriching experience, especially for those interested in ancient history. While we understand the itinerary may have missed a couple of spots, we’re happy to know that the tour offered a great opportunity to explore such a fascinating site. It’s definitely worth the visit, and we hope to see you on another trip soon!

The event was stunning...

gbucknall, Sep 2024

The event was stunning and all we had been led to expect however, we were somewhat dissapointed with the directions and information Samos side on how to meet the ferry! No rep to tell us where when and how long and details to come back. Rep in Turkey excellent .

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Gbuckna, Thank you for sharing your feedback! We're glad to hear that the event met your expectations. We apologize for any confusion on the Samos side. For clarity, there is only one boat at the port for Turkey, but we'll make sure to improve our directions and communication for a smoother experience in the future. We hope to welcome you back again!

Good trip

Lisa_B, Aug 2024

We were not told when we arrived in Kusadasi that as Australian passport holders we require a visa and had to go to another office and pay 50 Euros each in cash. Also check which day you go as we went on a Sunday and the day before there were 7 cruise ships with 10,000 passengers going to Ephesus. Our guide was a professor in archaeology and very good. The boat from Pythagoras to Kusadasi does not serve any food or drinks and seats really uncomfortable and it's a slow trip of 2 hours.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Dear Lisa, Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear that your guide in Ephesus provided you with an insightful experience. We apologize for the inconvenience regarding the visa information. Your comments are valuable, and we'll work to improve communication and comfort for future travelers. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to Greece and ensure a smoother experience.

Amazing Ephesus

Mario_I, Jul 2024

Seeing the ancient city and learning about its history. The library and theatre were amazing. Our guide Hakan was very knowledgeable.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Dear Mario, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed seeing the ancient city and learning about its history. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we're committed to ensuring every guest has a memorable experience. We will pass on your comments to our partners and continue to work closely with them to enhance guest satisfaction. Thank you,

Need better Communication

Scott_S, Jun 2024

The guide did not meet us at the boat. Communication about this made it stressful at first. Once in turkey the guide was very good. The boat trip was 2:15 hours each way which made for a long day. Ephesus is stunning.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear Scott, Thank you for sharing your feedback about your recent trip with us. We apologize for the initial stress caused by the guide not meeting you at the boat. Clear communication is vital, and we will work to improve this aspect of our service. We are pleased to hear that you found the guide in Turkey to be very good and that you enjoyed the stunning sights of Ephesus. While the 2:15-hour boat trip each way made for a long day, we believe the journey is well worth it for the absolutely amazing experience Ephesus offers. Your feedback is important to us, and we will use it to enhance our future excursions. Thank you,

Do not deal with Creten Holidays

L_D, Oct 2023

Creten Holidays who were the local agent for this tour were very very unreliable. They sent us a message giving us the name of the ferry to take from Pythagoras port, which worked out well.. then they said to look for Meander travel when we get to Kusadasi port in Turkey.. there was no one from Meander travel to meet us, we did not know what to do next and all the other tour groups were collecting their people and heading off to their respective coaches to commence the drive to Ephesus. We were left standing and after I initiated two calls to Creten Holidays, I was told that Meander travel had cancelled our tour as they did not have enough people and we are to join another group.. Creten Holidays never informed us of this until I rang in desperation thinking we will just be left at the port.. then we had to ask the lady at the information booth and find the other group and run to their coach.. very very disappointed in Creten Holidays.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Lila, We appreciate your time and effort in providing us with your feedback. We deeply regret the inconvenience you experienced during your recent booking. Unfortunately, we were not promptly notified by our local partner regarding the unexpected change in your tour. As soon as you contacted us, we initiated efforts to determine the cause of the situation. We understand the challenges you faced, and we genuinely apologize for the unexpected circumstances. In acknowledgment of the inconvenience you encountered, we have processed a 50% refund as a goodwill gesture. Your choice to book with us means a lot, and we are committed to ensuring a more seamless and reliable experience for your future bookings. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you again in the near future. Thank you for your understanding, and please accept our sincerest apologies once again.

Great trip to Ephesus and Kusadasi

Christina_B, Sep 2023

Ship was easy to find, there was a long line waiting for passport control. Cretan Holidays sent me an email with all the important information, what ship to get on, that I have to give up my passport at Kusadasi port (you get it back when you return), and to meet meander travel agency. Our guide Hakan was really great, very informative, he really knows a lot about Ephesus. There is NO trip to a carpet or jewellery shop. 😊 Afterwards you get free time in Kusadasi to visit the bazar, karawansery or the castle.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Christiane, Thank you for choosing our services for your trip to Ephesus. We appreciate your feedback and are delighted to hear about your positive experience. It's great to know that you found our communication and guidance helpful in making your trip smooth. We're especially pleased that you enjoyed the expertise and informative commentary provided by Hakan. We're proud to offer an excursion without the typical detours to carpet or jewelry shops, allowing you to focus on the main attractions. We hope you had a wonderful time exploring Kusadasi's attractions during your free time. We look forward to serving you again on your future travels.

Enjoyable day trip from Samos to Ephesus

Patricia D, Oct 2019

We had a good day excursion to Ephesus. Our guide “George” was very informative and a delight. The only negative was the return ferry left two hours later than we were told and the passport control was completely disorganised on the Turkish side.

Ephesus

Judy D, Jun 2019

While Cretan Holidays was a bit of a communication shambles, their partner Meander tours on the Turkey side was exceptional! The guide Hakan, was a retired archeologist and simply a font of knowledge. He managed a large group extremely well within a very busy tourist attraction. He made the past come alive. If you are using Cretan holidays from Samos, be sure to make them clear in the communication of which boat (name helps) and where to catch it. They have no representation to help you at the docks in Samos. We took the Venus from the right hand side of the pier looking out to sea from the waterfront. (A blue and white boat) Our thanks to a previous review to alert us to Cretan Holidays lack of communication!

A visit to antiquity

NiklasUmit_K, Jul 2025

Despite all the fears that there might be organisational difficulties, everything went well. We took the ferry *Efesus Express". The journey to Kusadasi took two hours as indicated. Our tour was conducted by Okeanos travel and we loved it. Ihsan, who speaks fluent English, Turkish and Greek, did a very good job and was very nice to us. He introduced Kusadasi and Ephesus with a lot of knowledge, humor and enthusiasm. The entire tour was in English as stated. The ancient city of Ephesus was very impressive. You felt like you were diving into antiquity. Every item there has a little story to tell. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed it. My tip: Be sure to take enough water with you! And sturdy footwear must not be missing. The paths in Ephesus, which are partly made of marble, are very slippery. All in all, it was a very nice trip that was worth its time and money!

Auto-translated

Schöne Tour. Leider nur in Englisch, obwohl Deutsch gebucht

Annett_W, Jun 2024

Die Tour an sich war sehr schön. Die Fahrt mit der Fähre dauerte zwei Stunden. Passkontrolle erst auf die Fähre in Samos und dann nochmals in der Türkei. Rückzu genau so. Unser Guide war sehr nett und es hat das meiste geklappt. Was allerdings unschön war, wir hatten die Tour extra hier gebucht, da sie auf Deutsch sein sollte. Allerdings war sie dann doch nur in Englisch. Für einige unserer Begleiter hat das den ganzen Ausflug vermiest.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Dear Annette, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the guide to be pleasant. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by the tour not being conducted in German as promised. Due to a last-minute change, the German-speaking guide was unavailable, and we are truly sorry for any disruption this caused to your experience. We appreciate your understanding and hope to have the opportunity to make your next trip with us perfect.