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Private Ephesus & St John Tour from Kuşadası PortVirgin Mary & Artemis

Shore excursion4-6 HoursPrivate, your party onlyLunch included

Pay nothing now — pay cash on the day

No card needed · Free cancellation up to 24 hours

From$79≈ €69per person, based on 2 travellers

Total for 2: $158 · per person drops as your group grows

+ about $67 pp entrance fees (≈ €59), paid at the sites

Ask us on WhatsApp

On WhatsApp within about 1 hour, 09:00–18:00 Turkey time

  • Back-to-ship guarantee: back at the pier 60 minutes before all-aboard

Licensed local guides+90 507 357 58 94Office in Kuşadası

Entrance fees
You pay about $67 per adult (≈ €59) at Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, St John's Basilica (children under 8 free). Ticket queues can be long on cruise days — your guide plans the time around them.

Official prices per adult: Ephesus $46 · House of the Virgin Mary $14 · St John's Basilica $7

2 adults: $158 in cash on the tour day (US dollars, euros or British pounds) · entrance fees paid at the sites

Infants under 2 travel free · Children 2–7: free site entrances (seats and flights at adult rate)

  • Duration4-6 Hours

  • Tour typePrivate · your party only

  • Meeting pointYour guide meets you with a TurkeyVia sign just outside the Kuşadası Ege Port cruise terminal. Minimum port stay: 7.5 hours; your guide times the tour to your ship and you are back at the terminal at least 60 minutes before all-aboard.

  • Return to shipBack at the ship 60 min before all-aboard

  • CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours · Port-call cancellation covered

Overview

Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, St John’s Basilica and the Temple of Artemis on a private 4–6 hour tour from Kuşadası Ege Port. Lunch in Selçuk; pay cash on the day.

Highlights

  • Visit the House of the Virgin Mary
  • Walk Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus
  • See the Great Theatre at Ephesus
  • Visit the Basilica of St John
  • Stop at the Temple of Artemis

Itinerary

Your guide waits at the cruise terminal exit with a TurkeyVia sign.

A 4–6 hour private tour, timed to your ship, covering the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, the Basilica of St John and the Temple of Artemis, in that order, with lunch in Selçuk and a carpet weaving visit.

  1. Kuşadası Ege Port to Bülbül Mountain

    Time here: 30 mins

    The road climbs through pine forest to the shrine above Ephesus.

  2. House of the Virgin Mary

    Time here: 30 mins

    Visit the restored stone chapel, then the spring taps and the wall where visitors tie written prayers. Shoulders and knees covered; no photos inside.

  3. Ephesus, upper gate to Curetes Street

    Time here: 40 mins

    A short drive down to the upper gate, then the State Agora, the Odeon and the Temple of Hadrian on the way down the marble street.

  4. Library of Celsus and Great Theatre

    Time here: 45 mins

    The library façade, then the theatre where Acts 19 sets the riot of the silversmiths. Your guide points out the direction of the Church of Mary, where the Council of Ephesus met in AD 431, before you exit by the lower gate.

  5. Lunch in Selçuk

    Time here: 45 mins

    Lunch at a local restaurant in town.

  6. Basilica of St John

    Time here: 30 mins

    Walk among the columns and the baptistery of Justinian’s basilica on Ayasuluk Hill, with views over Selçuk, the İsa Bey Mosque and the plain where the Temple of Artemis stood.

  7. Temple of Artemis

    Time here: 10 mins

    A short stop at the marshy field where one re-erected column marks the temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. No ticket needed.

  8. Carpet Weaving Education Center (about 30–45 min)

    Time here: 30-45 mins

    A cultural introduction to traditional Turkish hand-knotted carpets: see weavers at work, how silk is drawn from cocoons and how natural dyes are made, with Turkish tea. No obligation to buy.

  9. Return to Kuşadası Ege Port

    Time here: 25 mins

    Drop-off at the cruise terminal at least 60 minutes before all-aboard.

Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the whole day

Departure transfer: From Selçuk back to the port, arriving at least 60 minutes before all-aboard.Meals: Lunch in Selçuk included; drinks extra.

Meeting point and return to your ship

Meeting point
Your guide meets you with a TurkeyVia sign just outside the Kuşadası Ege Port cruise terminal. Minimum port stay: 7.5 hours; your guide times the tour to your ship and you are back at the terminal at least 60 minutes before all-aboard.
Return to your ship
Back at the port at least 60 minutes before all-aboard. If your ship is late or the call is cancelled, see the cancellation terms below.

What happens after you book

  1. 1
    Reserve online, no card

    Give your ship name, port date and WhatsApp number. Nothing is charged.

  2. 2
    We confirm

    We confirm on WhatsApp or by email, usually within about 1 hour (09:00–18:00 Turkey time). Your e-voucher follows by email.

  3. 3
    We check in before your port day

    We confirm the plan 48 and 24 hours before your call.

  4. 4
    Pay your guide in cash

    Pay your guide in cash on the day — US dollars, euros or British pounds.

What's included

Included

  • Licensed English-speaking private guide
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle from and back to Kuşadası Ege Port
  • Lunch at a restaurant in Selçuk
  • Temple of Artemis visit (no ticket needed)

Not included

  • Entrance tickets (Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John) — add them at booking or buy them at the gate
  • Tips (optional)
  • Drinks with lunch
  • Entrance fees (Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and St John's Basilica): about €59 per adult, paid at the sites; children under 8 free

Good to know

Workshop stop: a carpet weaving centre. Part of the programme, no obligation to buy.

Before you go

  • Bring your cruise card and a photo ID; you need them to leave and re-board the ship.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes: most sites have uneven ground, stone paths and steps.
  • Bring a hat, sunscreen and water in the warm months; there is little shade at the ancient sites.
  • Vegetarian, vegan or other dietary needs at lunch: tell us when you book and we let the restaurant know.
  • Mobility needs or travelling with small children? Tell us before you book, and we tell you honestly which parts of the day suit you.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours · Port-call cancellation covered

  • 24 hours or more: Free cancellation, full refund. Under 24 hours or no-show: No refund, unless the cruise line cancels or skips the port call. If the cruise line cancels or skips the port call, you receive a full refund.
  • Request cancellation in writing, by email or WhatsApp; the cancellation date is the day we receive your message. Refunds go back the way you paid, within 14 days: card payments to the same card. Shore excursions are paid on the day, so nothing is collected in advance.
  • If unavoidable extraordinary circumstances at the destination make the trip impossible, you receive a full refund, less any mandatory taxes and genuinely non-refundable third-party payments, itemised for you.
  • Date changes are free when requested at least 72 hours before a day tour, 24 hours before a shore excursion, or 21 days before a package or a day trip by plane, subject to availability. For these, a date change 14–20 days before departure costs €50 per booking; under 14 days it depends on availability, and any airline or hotel change fees are charged at cost. Name changes (passing your booking to someone else at least 7 days before departure) are free except for any airline name-change fee, charged at cost.
  • If TurkeyVia cancels, including because the minimum group size is not met, you can choose a full refund or an alternative.
Full cancellation policy

Your contract is with İlke Seyahat Turizm Ticaret Gıda Orman Ürünleri Gemi Acenteliği İthalat İhracat Sanayi Limited Şirketi, Turgut Ozal Bulvari 67/1, Kusadasi, Aydin 09400, Turkey — the company behind TurkeyVia. Terms

Frequently asked questions

Which sites are included in the tour route?

The route covers the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, Basilica of St John and Temple of Artemis, with lunch in Selçuk.

Are entrance tickets included?

Tickets for Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and St John’s Basilica can be added when booking or bought at the gates. The Temple of Artemis needs no ticket.

How long must my ship stay in port?

The minimum port stay is 7.5 hours. Your guide plans the return at least 60 minutes before all-aboard.

Is there a workshop visit?

Yes. The itinerary includes a carpet weaving centre, with no obligation to buy.

What should I wear at the House of the Virgin Mary?

Cover your shoulders and knees at the House of the Virgin Mary. Photos are not allowed inside the chapel.

How do I book and pay for the Private Ephesus & St John Tour from Kuşadası Port?

Reserve now, pay your guide in cash on the day (US dollars, euros or British pounds) — no deposit and no card needed. Send your ship name, port date and WhatsApp number with the request, and we confirm the booking and your meeting point.

What is the cancellation policy for the Private Ephesus & St John Tour from Kuşadası Port?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours · Port-call cancellation covered. 24 hours or more: Free cancellation, full refund. Under 24 hours or no-show: No refund, unless the cruise line cancels or skips the port call. If the cruise line cancels or skips the port call, you receive a full refund. Full terms: cancellation policy.

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Questions before you book? Message us on WhatsApp.

Tell us your dates, your ship or the tour you like. We reply on WhatsApp within about 1 hour, 09:00–18:00 Turkey time, and in the evening whenever we can.

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