Cruise excursion
Private Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis & Sirince Village Tour
The fullest way to spend a day in the Kusadasi and Ephesus region without ever feeling rushed: four very different experiences in about six hours, village lunch included.
- Approx. 6 hours, lunch included
- Starbucks at Kuşadası cruise plaza
Why cruise guests choose us
Why Cruise Guests Recommend Us
We are not the cheapest Ephesus tour, we are the calmest and most reliable one. Everything below is standard on every private tour, never an upsell.
- Pay after the tourNo deposit, no prepayment. You settle up at the end, in cash or by card.
- Private tour onlyJust your party, your guide, and your vehicle. Never a shared coach group.
- No compulsory shoppingNo carpet or jewellery stops. Your hours ashore stay at Ephesus.
- Licensed local guidesMinistry-licensed guides who live here, not a script read from a card.
- Easy port meeting pointMeet at the Starbucks in the port plaza, a two-minute walk from the gangway.
- Return-to-ship priorityThe day is timed to your ship, with a comfortable buffer before all aboard.
The short answer
This 6-hour private shore excursion from Kusadasi Cruise Port combines Ephesus Ancient City, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince village, with a traditional village lunch included. From USD 102 per person with USD 58 of entrance fees in the rate (2026), no pre-payment, and guaranteed on-time return to your ship.
Overview
About this tour
In about six hours you walk Ephesus with your own licensed guide, visit the House of the Virgin Mary in the pine forest above the city, stop at the Temple of Artemis, and finish somewhere the big tours rarely give you time for: Sirince, a pretty old Greek village in the hills, with its narrow lanes, family-run shops and famous fruit wines. Most visitors see Ephesus and drive straight back. This itinerary adds the two experiences guests consistently tell us they remember most: the stillness of the House of the Virgin Mary, and an hour of unplanned time in Sirince, tasting wine in a small café, buying olive oil from the woman who pressed it, walking lanes that feel a century away from the cruise port.
Who this tour is for
Cruise guests with a longer port call, and anyone who wants more from the day than ruins alone. The Sirince stop changes the rhythm: after a morning of ancient history, you slow down in a living village. Couples, families and groups of friends all find this the most complete single day we offer in the Ephesus area.
Itinerary
Step by step
Times depend on your ship's arrival or your preferred start. Tell us in the booking form and we time everything around it.
- 01
Meet at Starbucks, Kuşadası port plaza
Your guide waits with a small sign carrying your name, at the time you choose.
- 02
Ephesus Ancient City, walked downhill
The morning belongs to Ephesus: about two hours through the upper gate, walking downhill.
- 03
House of the Virgin Mary
The hillside stone house on Mount Koressos where Mary is believed to have spent her final years.
- 04
Temple of Artemis
A short stop at the Seven Wonders site.
- 05
Sirince village and lunch
A scenic drive into the hills, time to wander, taste and shop at your own pace, and a traditional village lunch included in the rate.
- 06
Return to Kuşadası port
Thirty minutes back, comfortably ahead of departure.
The handoff, illustrated
How we meet you
Skip the exit-gate scramble. Walk through the shopping plaza, find your guide by name at Starbucks, then step into the private vehicle waiting outside.
Look for the sign with your name
Your guide carries a small printed card with your booking name. No squinting at a wall of signs at the exit gate, no asking strangers. You spot it the moment you arrive.
Fulya Tamer, waiting on the Starbucks terrace at Kuşadası port.
The walk, illustrated
Upper Gate in, Lower Gate out
Your private vehicle drops you at the top of Ephesus Ancient City and collects you at the bottom. About 1.5 kilometres of downhill walking, no climbing back.
Guest photos
Shared with us by our guests.
Photographs our guests sent back after their tours, published with their permission. Un-staged and un-retouched: this is what the day actually looks like.
18 July 2026: our guide Fulya Tamer with her guests at the Yedi Bilgeler wine house, on a day built to request. 
18 July 2026: our group at the Temple of Artemis, the lone column and Ayasuluk Castle behind. 
With her guide beside a carved sarcophagus and its story. 
Lunch in a garden near the ruins, our guide Nafia Demircan at the table. 
Looking back over the agora from the upper path. 
28 July 2026: three generations off Celebrity Infinity meeting our guide Nedret Güngör at Kuşadası port, minutes before the drive to Ephesus.
What's included
- Licensed professional tour guide exclusively for your party
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with separate professional driver
- All entrance fees (USD 58 per person, pre-paid by your guide)
- Traditional village lunch in Sirince at a family-run restaurant
- Parking fees and local taxes
- Guaranteed on-time return to your ship
Not included
- Terrace Houses entrance (optional add-on)
- Tips for guide and driver (optional)
Price by group size
Smaller groups, lower per-person price
Every tour is private, you're not joining a bus group. Tiers below reflect the per-person cost as the private group grows.
| Group size | Per person | Private vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2–4 guests | $141 | 6-seat A/C van |
| 5–8 guests | $123 | 12-seat A/C minibus |
| 9–12 guests | $114 | 16-seat A/C minibus |
| 13–20 guests | $108 | 31-seat A/C midibus |
| 21–29 guests | $102 | 35-seat A/C coach |
| 30-44 guests | Special rate on request | |
Rates are per person and include USD 58 entrance fees, pre-paid by your guide. No hidden costs.
Pay only at the end · Cash or card · No deposit required · Rates reviewed July 2026
Common questions
About this specific tour.
Still unsure? WhatsApp +90 532 324 2489, we usually reply within 10 minutes during port hours.
Why book direct
You book with the local team that actually runs the tour: same-day confirmation of your guide and vehicle, no deposit, no reseller between you and the people responsible for your day. Our meeting system at the port, a named sign at Starbucks inside the plaza away from the exit-gate crowd, was designed around cruise guests, because that is who we host every day.
You might also like
Related tours
Pay after your tour
Ready to book Ephesus + Virgin Mary + Şirince?
From $102/person · Approx. 6 hours, lunch included · No deposit, pay at the end of the tour.