Ephesus Tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 1 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Ephesus Tour worth booking?
Ephesus Tour is a 8-hour experience in Izmir, Turkey, from $265 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 1 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (1)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $265 per person
The focus of our tour is Ephesus, the most well-preserved, beautifully-restored ancient city in Turkey. Ephesus was known as the commercial, religious, and social center in ancient times and one of the highlights of any
What you get
- Private transportation
- Carbonated beverages
- On-board WiFi
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
About this experience
The focus of our tour is Ephesus, the most well-preserved, beautifully-restored ancient city in Turkey. Ephesus was known as the commercial, religious, and social center in ancient times and one of the highlights of any visit to Turkey. Ephesus is probably the best-known combination of Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. Listen to mythological stories and and roam around the spectacular ruins as you experience what life was like in ancient Ephesus. You will visit the Trajan Fountains, the Pollio Fountain, and the Temples of Hadrian and Domition. Also see the Celsus Library, the Varius and Scolasticia Baths, and the Grand Theater which had a capacity of 24 thousand spectators. After a delicious lunch with various Turkish specialties, you will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, said to be the location where her last days were spent; our last stop is the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. You may return to Kuşadası or İzmir.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Carbonated beverages
- On-board WiFi
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Surcharges on fuel
- Parking fees
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Ephesus Ancient City
A visit to Efes (Ephesus) - once the commercial centre of the ancient world - is a highlight of any visit to Turkey The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form from the third century B.C. The ruins also include a theatre, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. This tour offers a complete perspective about the Ancient City of Ephesus and the Roman way of living. In Ephesus, you will see the: • Magnesia Gate, • Curetes Street, • Odeon, • Trajan Fountain, • Temple of Hadrian, • Celsus Library, • Grand Theatre, • Arcadian Way.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Curetes Street
Curetes street takes its name from the priests, who are called as Curetes, later. Their names were written in Prytaneion. It is one of the 3 main avenues of the Ephesians between the Hercules Gate and Celsus Library. On the sides of the street there were fountains, monuments, statues and shops. There were two-story shops on the south side. Unfortunately, numerous strong earthquakes in Ephesus, damaged many important structures on Curetes Street. The damaged columns have been restored and reconstructed after the earthquake. The columns you see today have been replaced by the other ones that were brought from the different buildings in the city. While walking, you can easily spot the differences of the design of these columns.
10 minutes here · Admission included
Trajan Fountain
Trajan Fountain was built on the east side of the Hadrian Temple at the north end of Curetes Street. In the second century AD an inscription on the fountain says it was built and erected in honour of Emperor Trajan. This spring is considered one of Ephesus' three most majestic springs. The Trajan Fountain Pool, surrounded by columns and statues, was about 20x10 metres. Some of the statues of the family members of Trajan currently displayed in Ephesus Museum.
5 minutes here · Admission included
The Odeon of Antique Ephesus is a small, semi-circular theatre built in the 2nd century A.D and funded by Publius Vedius Antonius and Flavia Paiana, his wife. The building would have been a place for political meetings, social events, concerts and plays.
5 minutes here · Admission included
Wander among the beautifully preserved remains of the library built for a great lover of knowledge, the Roman Senator Celsus. The Celsus Library was one of the largest libraries in the ancient world, housing over 12,000 rolls and is the Senator's mausoleum. Come and become enthralled in this delightful place of wisdom.
15 minutes here · Admission included
This theatre has the 24.000 people capacity, consists of three horizontal sections. Today, thousands of visitors enjoy the splendour of the breath-taking Grand Theatre in Ephesus.
20 minutes here · Admission included
Temple of Hadrian
This impressive temple is dedicated to the emperor Hadrian and it is one of the most beautifully ornamented structures in Ephesus we must say. P. Quintilius built this masterpiece before 138 A.D for the Emperor who came to visit Ephesus from Athens. The temple's façade has four Corinthian columns that support a curved ark with a relief of Tyche, the goddess of victory, in the middle. Emperor Hadrian has been regarded as one of the Good Five Emperors. Nervus, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius managed to win support and cooperation from the Senate, which had not been accomplished by former emperors. Therefore, we can use this term for all those emperors. The building is not only a temple, but rather a monument, and it also was devoted to the goddess Artemis and the Ephesians.
15 minutes here · Admission included
The Temple of Artemis
Artemis Temple was one of the seven wonders of the world; it was also referred to as Artemisium, is very close to Ephesus. Croesus, the king of Lydia, built this large temple around 550 BC and was reconstructed after it was burnt by a madman named Herostratus in 356 BC. The Artemisium was not only famous for its large dimensions, more than 350 by 180 feet (approximately 110 by 55 m), but also for its magnificent works of art. In 262 CE the temple was destroyed by invading Goths in 262 CE and never rebuilt again. Little remains of the temple is in the British Museum. There are many fragments, particularly sculptured columns displayed in the museum. Traces of both Croesus' temple and of that of the 4th century and of three previously smaller ones have been revealed in the excavation.
45 minutes here · Admission included
The House of the Virgin Mary
House of Virgin Mary is the house that Mother Mary lived her days after the Resurrection of Christ. She was brought to Ephesus by Apostle John. House of Virgin Mary is one of the pilgrimage sites for Christians where she had her recently time and died. Pope Paul VI visited the shrine in 1967, Pope John Paul II also visited the shrine in 1979 and finally Pope Benedictus XVI visited the House of Virgin Mary in November 25, 2006. Here you will walk the same spiritual path as experienced by various Popes. This is considered one of the great pilgrimage sites for Catholics and Christians worldwide, where you will have the opportunity to drink the holy water, known to many for it healing energies, from the sacred spring located on the Virgin Mary grounds. Virgin Mary’s House is recognized by the Catholic Church.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Ephesus Museum
This reopened lovely museum houses several artefacts from the great Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and finds from many other important antiques, Hellenistic and Roman cities of the region. The architectural objects excavated in Ephesus are the best in the region. The museum's artefacts are rotating so, you can find various artefacts every time you visit.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Other Languages
You can purchase this tour in Spanish, Italian, Russian, Greek, Chinese (Traditional), Japanese, Arabic and other languages. Pickup included
Prime Languages
You can purchase this tour in English, German, French and Turkish. Please see other language options. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ar, de, ru, zh-TW, el, ja, en, it, fr, tr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Deren Koray Tourism
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Wheelchair accessible
Photos
Traveler reviews
1 verified traveler reviews for Ephesus Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Happy Hittite ruin tour.
Driver has diriven safety and Japanese tour guide Barris san is excellent. His Japanese skill is very high and his acknowlede level is so deep.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 1+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $265 to $1267
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Deren Koray Tourism, who run 42 experiences we rank across 9 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 42.3.
See everything Deren Koray Tourism runsWhy this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Ephesus Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Izmir.
How much does Ephesus Tour cost?
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Prices start at $265 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Izmir usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Ephesus Tour take?
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Plan for about 8 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 Izmir is not rushed.
Is Ephesus Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 1 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Izmir, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Ephesus 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 Ephesus Tour suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 1. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 8-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Ephesus Tour?
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Around 0 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 Izmir 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 Izmir and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Ephesus 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 Izmir 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 Izmir?
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On Outty we rank every Izmir experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Ephesus Tour From Izmir, Pamukkale Tour from Izmir, Ephesus Tour with Virgin Mary From Izmir All Inclusive. 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 Izmir?
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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 Izmir?
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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.
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