PRIVATE Ephesus Full Day Tour from Izmir

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. This enclosure for archaeological remains at Ephesus elegantly reconciles historic conservation with accessibility for visitors. The site of a succession of great ancient civilizations, Ephesus, on the south-west coast of modern Turkey, embodied a peculiarly fertile synthesis of architecture and culture. In 356BC the Greeks built the Artemesium (a colossal Ionic temple dedicated to Artemis the fertility goddess) which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. During the 2nd century BC, Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the eastern Roman Empire, famous for its Artemesium, the Library of Celsus and its medical school..

   1.5 h

2. The Temple of Artemis is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It has been built in the areas of Ephesus on a flat area which has over the centuries turned into a swamp. If you visit Ephesus today, you can only see the ruins of the foundations of this marvelous construction of the Hellenistic Age, entirely made of marble and full of sculptured columns' capitals and shafts. The most beautiful remaining of this temple are today exhibited in the London British Museum.

   30 min

3. It is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and buried in the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. Three hundred years after the death of St. John, a small chapel was constructed over the grave in the 4th century. The church of St John was changed into a marvelous basilica during the region of Emperor Justinian (527 -565 AD). The second half of the first century was full of persecution for the early Christians.Apostle James and Stephen were killed in Jerusalem.Paul was sent to Rome and executed. According to tradition John took The Mother Mary and came to Ephesus.He wrote his Gospel in Ephesus and the Revelation in Greece Island, Patmos in 96AD.

   30 min

4. House of Virgin Mary is located on the top of the "Bulbul" mountain 9 km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of Virgin Mary enjoys a marvelous atmosphere hidden in the green. It is the place where Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come in the area together with Saint John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Mary preferred this remote place rather than living in crowded place. The house of Virgin Mary is a typical Roman architectural example, entirely made of stones. In the 4th century AD, a church, combining her house and grave, has been built. The original two-stored house, which consisted of an anteroom (where today candles are proposed), bedroom and praying room (Christian church area) and a room with fireplace (chapel for Muslims).

   40 min

Cancellation

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

Reviews

Ratings come from 103 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Ephesus with Selim

  It was a great tour. Our tour guide Selim arranged all the timings for us. We recommend him! Epehsus city was beautiful. We stayed there and he explained all the history and we got the all answers. You should bring sunscreens also!

  O6763VFlunamMay 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5The Gold Standard of Private Tours in Ephesus

  We had a truly flawless day exploring Ephesus and its surroundings, thanks to the impeccable coordination by Selin at OTTI Travel. The day began perfectly with a prompt pickup right at our ship in Izmir. Our driver, Ahmed, was fantastic—he navigated the roads with total professionalism in a large, impressively comfortable van that made the commute a breeze. Selin is a world-class guide whose deep knowledge of Ephesus brought the history to life, from the iconic Library of Celsus to the fascinating Terrace Houses. The ancient site was undoubtedly the highlight of our day; seeing the towering ruins against the backdrop of glorious weather and piercing blue skies was an unforgettable experience. Selin’s storytelling and insights ensured we saw the best of the city while truly appreciating its monumental scale. Beyond the ruins, the itinerary Selin curated was exceptional and well-paced. We enjoyed a delicious, authentic lunch in the serene garden of the Turkmen Carpet Weaving Center, which provided a wonderful opportunity to relax and appreciate local hospitality in a beautiful setting. It was the perfect midday break between our historical explorations and our afternoon visits to local artisans. Before departing for Izmir, we explored several local highlights that rounded out the day perfectly. We stopped at a local leather shop and a ceramics studio to see incredible artistry, as well as a shop specializing in Turkish delights and other delicious food items. If you are looking for a seamless, high-end, and deeply informative tour while in port, I cannot recommend Selin, Ahmed, and the OTTI Travel team highly enough.

  Gregory_KMay 2026via Viator

• 5Great day at Ephesus.

  We had a great day at Ephesus with our guide, Nesli. She was knowledgeable, clear, spoke excellent English, and was very pleasant to be with. The drive was interesting, lunch was tasty, and the tour of carpet-making was informative. A great day all around.

  billy hMay 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Awesome private tour of Ephesus

  Our tour guide (Tas) was amazing. He speaks English with an American accent. He was punctual and picked us up from the cruise ship at 7:00 a.m. We got to Ephesus bright and early to beat all the other tours by half an hour. His guiding was illuminating and creative. He answered all of our questions. He took us off the beaten path to avoid crowds. He took photos for us. He was always mindful that we had two young children tagging along. Tas made Ephesus ours. Even though I had been to Ephesus twice before, I learned the most from Tas. I strongly recommend this private tour. You get what you pay for. We had the most enjoyable time.

  Q3789RAandrewwJanuary 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5BOOK THIS TOUR!!! Fabulous Experience, Brilliant Guide!

  WOWOW! What a tour!!! Asli very generously picked us up from the airport with our great driver, (who introduced himself as, "Boss"), and took us straight from Izmir to our day in Ephesus. On the way, she shared tons of details about the region, and was *so* accommodating to our needs—even flipping the schedule to let us have lunch upon arrival. Asli made sure to pack our time with as much information and history as she could, and she did so from a place of deep love and enthusiasm. Ephesus was hands down the most interesting place my husband and I have ever visited, and it was all thanks to Asli's vast knowledge and passion for the region. We are so lucky to now call Asli a friend of ours, and would recommend her tour to ANYONE!!! Please book this tour if you are visiting Izmir and Ephesus!!!

  Emily_DDecember 2025via Viator

• 5Ask for Elif and Mehmet!!!! Perfect Tour!

  Wow! This was an amazing tour led by Elif and her driver Mehmet! Despite the downpour of rain for a few hours, Elif was experienced to keep us dry with other activiites during the downpour. Then we had hours at Ephesus in the dryness. We loved every minute of our tour and Elif was like a family friend in her approach to everything. Some of my family are history buffs and there were alot of questions! This was a 10 out of 10 tour!!! Thank you Elif and Mehmet!

  KarenKiyoko_BOctober 2025via Viator

Know before you go

How it compares in Kusadasi

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 447 day trips we list in Kusadasi.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 26 of 447.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Kusadasi

Kuşadası is a busy Aegean resort on Turkey's west coast, a short drive from Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean.

The town curves around a bay with a busy cruise port, a marina and Pigeon Island, linked to the shore by a causeway and topped by a small stone fortress. The old town's streets climb behind the harbour with bazaars, cafés and restaurants, and beaches such as Ladies Beach and Long Beach stretch along the coast.

Top-ranked sights in Kusadasi: Kusadasi Castle, Kusadasi Caravanserai (Öküz Mehmed Pasha Caravanserai), Kusadasi Shopping Center (Kusadasi AVM).

See all 1371 experiences in Kusadasi