Full-Day Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi or Selcuk with Virgin Mary’s House
7 hoursEphesusGroup tourDaily departures
- Direct operator priceBooked directly with us. We run the tour, so there is no commission on top.
- Guaranteed daily departuresYour dates run even if nobody else books.
- Starts and ends in KusadasiHotel pickup from about 08:30
- Moderate walkingUp to two to three hours on foot, with steps and uneven ground at some sites.
- Local hotel departureKusadasi or Selcuk pickup and return
- Usual mid-afternoon returnUsual hotel return around 15:30
- Three sightseeing visitsEphesus, Virgin Mary’s House and Artemis
- Restaurant lunch includedLunch and listed site tickets included; drinks extra.
- Guided in English, SpanishAlso in Italian on private tours.
- Group tourShared with other travellers, with a guide
Overview
Walk from the Library of Celsus to Ephesus's Great Theatre with a guide. The day also visits the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis. Lunch, listed site tickets and pickup and return at your Kusadasi or Selcuk hotel are included. Show more overviewShow less
Walk Ephesus’s ancient streets with a guide, from the Library of Celsus to the Great Theatre and public spaces of the former port city. This day tour from Kusadasi or Selcuk also takes you to the House of the Virgin Mary and the remains of the Temple of Artemis.
Transport connects the three visits, with restaurant lunch and listed entry fees included. Pickup starts around 08:30 and hotel return is usually around 15:30, leaving the rest of the afternoon for your own plans. Wear shoes with good grip for the worn stone paths and bring sun protection.
For another day of archaeology from your hotel base, explore the Pergamon Acropolis tour or visit Priene, Miletos and Didyma on a separate excursion.
Included for your day out
- Guided visits to all three sitesFollow the ancient city and nearby pilgrimage places.
- Listed entries and lunchYour site tickets and restaurant meal are covered.
- Return hotel transportTravel from Kusadasi or Selcuk and between the stops.
Itinerary
3 places to visit
Ephesus streets, Mary’s hillside chapel and Artemis
See the Library of Celsus, Mary’s chapel and the Artemis sanctuary
Schedule
- 08:30Hotel pickup in Kusadasi or Selcuk
Meet the vehicle at your hotel for the drive to the sightseeing area.
Approximate collection; pickup order depends on your hotel location.
- 09:30Explore Ephesus and the nearby sites
Walk through the ancient city with your guide, visit the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis, and stop for restaurant lunch. Sightseeing finishes around 15:00.
Approximate start; the day includes transport between the three visits.
Places you’ll visit
- Ephesus Ancient City
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Temple of Artemis
About these 3 places
- Ephesus Ancient City
- Follow the stone streets past the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre and public latrines. Your guide explains how this former port city worked and how it developed.
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Visit the hillside chapel associated in Christian tradition with Mary’s later years. Its quieter setting offers a different view of pilgrimage around Ephesus.
- Temple of Artemis
- See the remains of the sanctuary once counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Your guide helps you picture the temple’s scale from the surviving ground.
- 15:30Return to your hotel
Take the included transfer back to your hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk after the final visit.
Approximate hotel arrival; traffic and the return route affect the time.
Take this itinerary with you.The full day-by-day plan as a PDF, by email or straight to your device.
What's included
Included8
- Pickup and return at your Kusadasi or Selcuk hotel
- Licensed guide for the itinerary
- Guided Ephesus Ancient City visit
- House of the Virgin Mary and Temple of Artemis visits
- Entrance fees for the listed sites
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Tour transport between the sightseeing stops
- Local taxes and service charges
Not included4
- Terrace Houses visit and admission
- Drinks at lunch
- Breakfast and dinner
- Personal expenses and hotel accommodation
Compare packages
Choose Ephesus and its nearby sacred sites, head inland for Pamukkale’s terraces, or explore three other ancient sites from the same hotel base.
Swipe across to compare packages.
| Comparison | This tourFull-Day Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi or Selcuk with Virgin Mary’s HouseExplore a major Roman city, a hillside chapel and the Artemis sanctuary, with a usual mid-afternoon return. | Full-Day Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour from Kusadasi or SelcukChoose white travertine terraces and Hierapolis for a contrasting day, allowing for the longer drive inland. | Full-Day Priene, Miletos and Didyma Tour from Kusadasi or SelcukContinue your interest in ancient cities with hillside Priene, Miletos and the Temple of Apollo at Didyma. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main sights | Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and Temple of Artemis | Pamukkale and Hierapolis | Priene, Miletos and Didyma |
| Landscape and walking | Ancient stone streets and public monuments, plus the chapel and sanctuary | Designated travertine walkway and spread-out ancient ruins | Hillside ruins, theatre and temple remains; steps and uneven paths |
| Typical hotel-to-hotel time | Around 08:30–15:30 from Kusadasi or Selcuk | Around 07:00–19:00; about two and a half hours driving each way | Around 09:00–17:30 from Kusadasi or Selcuk |
| Included arrangements | Guide, listed entries, lunch, tour transport and hotel transfers | Guide, Pamukkale and Hierapolis entry, lunch and hotel transport | Guide, all three site admissions, lunch and hotel transport |
| What to plan separately | Terrace Houses, other meals and drinks | Cleopatra Pool swimming costs extra and depends on access and available time; drinks separate | Other meals and drinks |
| From price | €118per person | €104per person | €186per person |
| View tour: Full-Day Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour from Kusadasi or Selcuk | View tour: Full-Day Priene, Miletos and Didyma Tour from Kusadasi or Selcuk |
Staying in central Izmir instead?
Full-Day Ephesus and Virgin Mary Tour from Central Izmir HotelsChoose the Ephesus and Virgin Mary tour with pickup from central Izmir hotels rather than Kusadasi or Selcuk.
Good to know
Prepare for the archaeological walk and chapel visit.
Please note
- Hotel pickup begins around 08:30. Guided sightseeing usually runs 09:30–15:00, with hotel return around 15:30; season, traffic and hotel locations affect timing.
- Have breakfast before pickup. Lunch is covered during the itinerary, while drinks are separate.
- The Terrace Houses are separately ticketed and outside this itinerary.
- The Ephesus walk usually descends from the upper entrance. Worn marble and stone can be uneven, with slopes and steps; wear shoes with good grip.
Show 3 more notesShow fewer notes
- Bring water, a hat and sun protection for the exposed archaeological areas.
- Cover shoulders and knees at the House of the Virgin Mary and keep quiet inside the chapel.
- The day starts and finishes at your hotel; accommodation and room use are not included.
What to bring
- Walking shoes with grip
- Drinking water
- Hat and sun protection
- Modest chapel clothing
Questions travellers ask
When will I be back at my hotel?
Usually around 15:30. Pickup starts near 08:30 and guided sightseeing runs approximately 09:30–15:00, followed by the return transfer. Traffic and hotel locations can affect those times.
What shoes should I wear at Ephesus?
Choose shoes with good grip for uneven marble and stone. The usual route heads down from the upper entrance and includes slopes and steps. Bring water and sun protection for the open areas.
What should I wear at the House of the Virgin Mary?
Cover your shoulders and knees for the chapel visit. It is a place of pilgrimage, so keep your voice low and respect visitors who are worshipping.
Are the Terrace Houses included?
The Terrace Houses visit and its separate ticket are outside this itinerary. The guided Ephesus walk covers the ancient streets and public monuments.
Should I have breakfast before pickup?
Yes. Lunch is the included meal on this tour; breakfast, dinner and drinks with lunch are separate.
Which languages and tour types is this tour available in?
| Guide language | Group tour | Private tour |
|---|---|---|
| English | Available | Available |
| Spanish | Available | Available |
| Italian | Not offered | Available |
Pick the combination that suits you when you check availability.
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