Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour
Traveler rating
4.7/5
Based on 20 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour worth booking?
Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour is a 4-hour experience in Kusadasi, Turkey, from $25 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 20 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 70 / 100
- Rating
- 4.7/5 (20)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $25 per person
• 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 . 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.
What you get
About this experience
• 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 . 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.
What's included
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
Not included
- Gratuities recommended
- Food and Drinks (optional)
- Entrance Fees if the option is not selected
What you'll see and do
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.
Pass by without stopping
The House of the Virgin Mary
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!
45 minutes here · Admission not included
Ephesus Ancient City
UNESCO listed place the Ancient City of Ephesus that is one of the best well-kept Greco- Roman ancient cities in the world, famous for the Odeon where music concerts were organized, Domitian Temple that is one of the first temples dedicated for a human, Celcus Library which was the third biggest library in the ancient time, Amphitheatre where is one of the biggest amphitheatres in the world with 24.000 people capacity and St. Paul preached to Ephesians, Marble Street, Roman Baths, Fountains, Temples, Agora, Love House, Public Toilets, Terrace Houses famed with gorgeous mosaics and wall paintings...
120 minutes here · Admission not included
Basilica of St. John
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 minutes here · Admission not included
The Temple of Artemis
Temple of Artemis, also called Artemisium was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Kusadasi
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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Kusadasi Shopping Center
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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Kusadasi Castle
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.
Pass by without stopping
Kusadasi
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!
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Kusadasi Shore Excursions
Know before you go
- 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.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 18 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
18 verified traveler reviews for Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Biblical ephesus
Canan, our tour guide, greeted us and explained our expectations of our tour and the biblical history of the area. She was most knowledgeable in the history of Ephesus. She also, took us to a Turkish rug weaving place. We learn so much and had much appreciation for the Turkish rug making and culture. So impressed! I would recommend her.
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your kind words. Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours. Best Turkey Tour Team
via Viator
Ephesus Tour
Tour guide, Dennis, was great. Friendly and VERY knowledgeable. Driver was great as well. Got us everywhere we needed to be safely and in a timely fashion. Tickets to all the places are extra (and so is lunch) so plan accordingly. One part that I really did NOT like was the whole sales pitch of Turkish rugs. This was a big waste of time and we weren’t even asked if we wanted to participate. It was just forced upon us. Not cool.
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your kind words. Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours. Best Turkey Tour Team
via Viator
Good, not very biblical
Though our tour guide was very good and knowledgeable, I wouldn’t say this is a biblical tour. The guide was able to adapt the tour for us and take us to several other places we wanted to go, like to go see carpet weaving, but when it came to the biblical sights I was unimpressed. There was little to say about Ephesus, in regards to Christianity, and the rest of the sights that were listed most of the information given was heavily catholic sourced. Not biblically founded. Overall though it was still a good tour, just a little bit of a let down
via Viator
Ephesus tour
We booked this tour with Ozzy. He was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and was a lot of fun. He made our trip to Ephesus perfect.. We highly recommend this tour
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your kind words. Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours. Best Turkey Tour Team
via Viator
Professional and fun..............,.................................,...................................................
Professional and fun, on time and personalized! ....................................................
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your kind words. Knowing you had a great experience encourages us to keep delivering unforgettable tours. Best Turkey Tour Team
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Kusadasi Shore Excursions, who run 14 experiences we rank across 4 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 65.5 and 1 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Kusadasi Shore Excursions runsWhy this scores 70
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kusadasi.
How much does Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour cost?
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Prices start at $25 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Kusadasi usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour take?
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Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Kusadasi is not rushed.
Is Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 20 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Kusadasi, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour?
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Around 7 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Kusadasi can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Kusadasi and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Kusadasi within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Kusadasi?
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On Outty we rank every Kusadasi experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include FOR CRUISERS: Ephesus & Virgin Mary Tour with Entry Fees & Lunch, Ephesus Temple of Artemis and House of Mary Private Half Day Tour, Best of Ephesus: Private & Group Skip-the-Line Tour for Cruisers. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Kusadasi?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Kusadasi?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour?
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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; and SKIP-THE-LINE ENTRANCE TICKET (according to the option chosen), allow you to bypass long l. Not included: Gratuities recommended; Food and Drinks (optional); and Entrance Fees if the option is not selected. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 2 listed pickup locations in and around Kusadasi.
What languages is Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible; and Transportation options are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Kusadasi. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Biblical Ephesus & Basilica Of St. John & The Mary's House Tour?
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Across 20 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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