Cruise excursion
Private Ephesus, Virgin Mary, Artemis & Basilica of St. John Tour
Every major site of the Ephesus region in one five-hour circuit: the ancient city, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and the Basilica of St. John, with a traditional Turkish lunch included.
- Approx. 5 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 5-hour private shore excursion from Kusadasi Cruise Port covers all four major sites of the Ephesus region: Ephesus Ancient City, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and the Basilica of St. John, with a traditional Turkish lunch included. From USD 99 per person with USD 65 of entrance fees in the rate (2026), no pre-payment, on-time return guaranteed.
Overview
About this tour
Four sites that together tell fifteen centuries of history, visited in the order that makes the story flow: the ancient city itself, the stone house on Mount Koressos where the Virgin Mary is believed to have lived her final years, the field where a wonder of the world once stood, and the basilica Justinian built over the tomb of St. John. Seen separately, these are stops; seen in sequence with a good guide, they are one story. The private format is what makes the fuller day comfortable rather than tiring: Ephesus is walked downhill from the upper gate, the Virgin Mary visit is timed for quiet, a traditional Turkish lunch breaks the day, and your separate driver always has the vehicle at the right gate with the air conditioning running.
Who this tour is for
First-time visitors who want to leave nothing important behind, and guests whose port call gives them five to six hours to use well. It is the natural choice for travelers interested in both the classical and the Christian layers of Ephesus, and because the guide, vehicle and timing are private, it works equally for a couple, a multi-generation family, or a church group filling a minibus.
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 named sign, at the time you choose.
- 02
Ephesus Ancient City, walked downhill
About two hours in the ancient city, entered through the upper gate so the walking runs downhill.
- 03
House of the Virgin Mary
Up Mount Koressos to the hillside shrine, timed for quiet.
- 04
Traditional Turkish lunch
A relaxed meal at a family-run restaurant, included in the rate.
- 05
Temple of Artemis and Basilica of St. John
The Seven Wonders site, then the basilica on the hill above Selcuk where the views open up.
- 06
Return to Kuşadası port
A 20-minute drive back, arriving with a comfortable margin.
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.
Look up: the carved coffers most visitors never notice. 
Lunch in a garden near the ruins, our guide Nafia Demircan at the table. 
Looking back over the agora from the upper path. 
27 July 2026: a couple off the MSC Divina at the foot of the Celsus facade. 
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 65 per person, pre-paid by your guide)
- Traditional Turkish lunch at a family-run restaurant
- Parking fees and local taxes
- Guaranteed on-time return to your ship
Not included
- Terrace Houses entrance (can be added on the day, approx. 30 extra minutes)
- 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 | $139 | 6-seat A/C van |
| 5–8 guests | $119 | 12-seat A/C minibus |
| 9–12 guests | $109 | 16-seat A/C minibus |
| 13–20 guests | $102 | 31-seat A/C midibus |
| 21–29 guests | $99 | 35-seat A/C coach |
| 30-44 guests | Special rate on request | |
Rates are per person and include USD 65 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
We are the local operator, not a booking site: your message is answered by the team that assigns your guide, and your day is confirmed the same day with no deposit. The meeting point, a named sign at Starbucks inside the port shopping plaza, is fixed, calm and easy to find even on four-ship mornings.
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