Izmir Shore Excursion: Day Trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Your Izmir shore excursion starts as you make your way from the Izmir cruise port to Ephesus, stopping along the way at St Johns Basilica, built in honor of the saint, who wrote his gospel atop Ayasuluk Hill where the basilica is located. See the 4th-century tomb where his remains are said to be housed.

   15 min

2. Continue to the ancient city of Ephesus, an important center for early Christianity. In the Book of Revelation, Ephesus was one of the seven churches addressed by Christ in a vision. It is here that you will find the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Your guide will also show you the Great Theatre, the Library of Celsus and many other temples during your Ephesus tour.

   2 hAdmission included

3. Enjoy a lunch of authentic Turkish cuisine, and then visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last days of her life. Authenticated by Pope Paul VI in 1967, St Mary’s house is a place of pilgrimage for many believers.

   1.5 hAdmission included

4. Ancient Theatre

   30 minAdmission included

5. Temple of Artemis

   15 min

6. Ancient Grand Theatre

   30 minAdmission included

7. Selcuk

   Passes by

8. Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to the Izmir port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.

   45 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 19 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Selçuk

• Its from-price is 12% below the median of the 215 experiences we list in Selçuk.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 41 of 215.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Selçuk

Selçuk is a small Aegean town beside ancient Ephesus, with a hilltop fortress, a lone column of the Temple of Artemis and a hill village nearby.

Selçuk is a small town in İzmir Province, about three kilometres from the ruins of Ephesus, one of the great cities of the Roman east, with the Library of Celsus, a huge theatre and streets lined with columns. In Selçuk itself a single column marks the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The Basilica of St John stands on Ayasuluk Hill below a Byzantine fortress, and the İsa Bey Mosque dates from 1375.

Top-ranked sights in Selçuk: Ephesus (Efes), Temple of Artemis (Artemision), House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi).

See all 215 experiences in Selçuk