Private Tour
Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
• GUARANTEED ON TIME RETURN TO THE BOAT
• SKIP-THE-LINE ENTRANCE TICKETS (OPTIONAL)
• FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
• PRIVATE TOUR ONLY FOR YOUR PARTY, MORE PERSONALIZED SERVICE
• LEAD BY LOCAL TOUR GUIDES FOR BETTER INSIGHT
• REASONABLE THAN SHORE EXCURSIONS
• FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE ACCORDING TO YOUR PREFERENCES
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Ephesus is the largest open-air museum in Turkey and one of the largest in the world, planning a visit to the famous ruins takes serious time. Cruise passengers have a limited time in Kusadasi and in your limited time, you can settle back & relax while our team handles all arrangements for you. Explore the EPHESUS ANCIENT CITY, THE HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY, TERRACE HOUSES OF EPHESUS, LOCAL HANDICRAFTS, and many more on this private tour that is created for cruise passengers. Upon your request, you will have a chance for a local lunch.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wheelchair accessible
We highly recommend you to meet our team, after 30/45 minutes your ship docked to the Port. So, you might beat the crowds, school buses, and hot weather in order to have a better experience during your Tour in Ephesus.
Pick-up and Drop-off services available from the Hotels which is centrally located in Kusadasi or Selcuk Towns
Pick-up and Drop-off services available from the Izmir Cruise Port and Izmir Hotels with an additional fee of 100 USD for up to 15 Persons.
After you sent your reservation, please contact our reservation team via our e-mail or WhatsApp and coordinate your meeting time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Kusadasi
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. Please note that there are several Cruise Ships with different arrival and departure timings. So, you might decide with our team about the best meeting time which is fitting your schedule.
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
The House of Virgin Mary is one of the pilgrimage centres of Christians where the Mary came to Ephesus with John the Apostle and lived her last 10 years. Pope Paul VI visited the shrine in 1967, and 'unofficially' confirmed its authenticity. Pope John Paul II also visited the shrine in 1979. Pope Benedict XVI visited this shrine in 2006. Whether or not she died in Ephesus was not known until Anne Catherine Emmerich’s vision. A disabled German nun who had never been to Ephesus, had a vision of the House of the Virgin Mary and described it in detail to the German writer Clemens Brentano who later published a book about it. Catherine Emmerich died in 1884. In 1891 Paul, Superior of the Lazarists from Izmir read about her visions and found a little building which corresponded with Emmerich’s descriptions. Then, the archeological works started which allows us to visit Mary's House and see the result today!
What‘s Included
Cruise Port/Hotel Pick-up & Drop-Off (mentioned on the details)
Transportation with A/C Minivans with separate Driver
GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
Professional LICENSED LOCAL TOUR GUIDE
SKIP-THE-LINE ENTRANCE TICKET (according to the option chosen), allow you to bypass long lines
PRIVATE TOUR that ensures more personalized service
Gratuities recommended
Food and Drinks (optional)
Entrance Fees if the option is not selected
Options
PRIVATE TOUR
INCLUDING: Professional Tour Guide and Transportation throughout your Tour. Top-level service quality!
Pickup included
Reviews
12 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Don’t miss this Ephesus tour!!
Joan D,,Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was the best and most informative tour of Ephesus! Nilay was excellent guiding us to all the major important sites in the ancient city and imparting her expertise and love for Ephesus and for Türkiye. She is caring, kind, intelligent and interesting, and she speaks English very well. Be sure to ask for Nilay as your guide.
Brilliant wphesus
9karynd,,Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brilliant tour. I use a scooter and Yigithan Was excellent at helping and adapting tour Coming back in April and will definitely book with them again
Josh
Nancy,,Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Josh was a great guide we had an amazing service we loved the basilica of St. John Ephesus and the house of Virgin Mary.
A great Trip
Michael C,,Aug 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great excursion for us. Our guide was right at the port when we came out took us to the van. He shuttled us to see Ephesus , The house of Mary and. St. John’s basilica all three which were wonderful. Dennis our guide was very knowledgeable and was able to adjust to the pace we wanted. vVery reasonably priced and we had a nice lunch Highly recommend.
Awesome tour. Get Fatima as tour guide.
Miguel t,,Jul 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was an awesome experience. Our tour guide was Fatima , she was so nice , knowledgeable about the region. We stopped at all key destinations (Virgin Mary house, Ephesos, library , Artemisa temple ) , with great explanations from Fatima. We had a private tour for the 4 of us and because of that she managed to accommodate the time we wanted in every place , including skipping the lines and getting earlier that the big crowds. Lunch was very good too. We came back to the celebrity infinity ahead of time and most importantly happy.
Kusadasi Shore Excursion
MariaThelma E,,Jul 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Kusadasi shore excursion. Great tour! Learned a lot from Fatima. Easy meet up. She was very good in organising where to go first in order to beat the crowds. Very helpful and kind. Would definitely recommend to all my family and friends.
Fantastic
Bernice C,,Jun 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very good, informative. She was given the information w good personality. She was very patient and helpful showing us around
House of Mary and Ephesus
Victoria T,,May 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time with our tour guide Deniz. Very knowledgeable and got us back in the port on time.
Exceptional Ephesus tour
Krista R,,Jan 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a customized tour of the ancient city of Ephesus, mary’s house, farm to table restaurant at a rug, making school. Our tour guide Fatima was excellent and fun. We enjoyed sharing time with her and her wonderful driver.
Good value way to see Ephesus
David S,,Oct 24, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Great trip with knowledgeable and friendly guide. Excellent value and wouldn't hesitate to recommend
Related Experiences
Operated by Kusadasi Shore Excursions