SKIP-THE-LINE: Biblical Ephesus Private Tour for Cruisers

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We meet you at the Cruise Port! Our team will be waiting next to Information Desk at the Exit Gate of Cruise Port by holding a sign which is your name written on it. After booking this tour, please contact our team to agree on your meeting time. There are several Cruise Ships with different timings. So, you might decide about the best meeting time which is fitting your schedule.

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2. The House of the Virgin Mary (or Meryem Ana Evi in Turkish) is a place where the mother of Jesus, spent the last years of her life. She was supposed to arrive at Ephesus together with St. John and lived there in the years 37-45 CE until her Assumption (according to Catholic doctrine) or Dormition (according to Orthodox belief). Currently, the restored house serves as a chapel. Typically, the chapel is crowded by huge numbers of tourists who visit Meryemana while on their way to or from Ephesus. The place is under the care of the Franciscan order. The House of the Virgin Mary also has enormous significance for the Muslims, for whom Mary was the mother of one of the great prophets of Islam, called İsa Peygamber (i.e. Jesus).

   45 min

3. UNESCO listed place; The ancient city of Ephesus (Ephesos) takes you on an unforgettable journey through history; etched on minds as the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary, stretching back to the Neolithic period and inhabited in the greatest period of the Roman Empire. This ancient city was valued for a long time as a harbour town, and due to the excavations which have uncovered new sections and artefacts every year, the city continues to surprise its visitors and to maintain its historical value. Many famous classical philosophers, who are still read today, such as Heraclitus, lived in the scientific, artistic and cultural city of Ephesus.

   2 h

4. We will have a visit to the Basilica of St. John the Apostle. It is believed that the Evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and was buried on the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. The tomb of St John was under the central dome of the basilica. In addition, while we are visiting the Basilica of St. John, we will have a panoramic view of the Temple of Artemis and Isabey Mosque and learn about the stories of these places too.

   45 min

5. Temple of Artemis, also called Artemesium was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The great temple was built by Croesus, king of Lydia, about 550 BCE and was rebuilt after being burned by a madman named Herostratus in 356 BCE. The Artemesium was famous not only for its great size, over 350 by 180 feet (about 110 by 55 metres), but also for the magnificent works of art that adorned it.

   15 min

6. We will drive through the Kusadasi Town and will have a panoramic view while listening the key informations from our Local Tour Guide.

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7. You are able to see local handicrafts and experience local shopping if preferred. You will be also able to collect informations from your Local Tour Guide about: best traditional handicrafts, best places to go, things to be carrefull, and best tips for hassle free experience...

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8. Also called Pigeon Island! One of the earliest settlements of modern Kusadasi. We will pass by and have an opportunity of seeing it in a distance. It is located very close to the Port, you might be able to have time after your tour if you are interested.

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9. At the end of our tour, we will return to the Cruise Port. PLEASE NOTE THAT: There are several Ships with different arrival and departure times. We carefully check all the timings, confirm with the passengers, and coordinate the return time. OUR TOURS ARE WITH GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN TO THE BOAT!

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Cancellation

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

Reviews

Ratings come from 2 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 Kusadasi

• Its from-price is 77% below the median of the 1371 experiences we list in Kusadasi.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 539 of 1371.
• 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