Excursions & day trips

Izmir Shore Excursion: day trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary

from

£127.00

Free cancellation

Language: English

Mobile voucher accepted

Duration: up to 8 hours

Instant confirmation

Lunch

Do this because

Explore the ancient ruins of Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean!
Take a guided tour and discover the Temples of Artemis
Enjoy a traditional lunch during your outing

What to expect

Drive to the birthplace of Homer and discover Ephesus, known as one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the classical Greek period. Ephesus was also one of the “Seven Churches of Anatolia (Asia)” cited in the Book of Revelation.

Visit the old Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, Marble Street, Odeon, Bouleterion, Temple of Hadrian and Serapis, Agora, Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, Double Church, Arcadian Way, Gate of Magnesia and much more!

Enjoy lunch at Selçuk and visit Isabey Mosque, one of the oldest and most impressive works of architectural art remaining from Anatolian Beyliks. Explore also the Temple of Artemis, one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.”

What's included

Cruise port pickup and drop off
Museum entrance fees
Transport by air-conditioned coach
English speaking licensed guide
Lunch

What's not included

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities

Where

Izmir cruise port

What to remember

In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited
Not recommended for children aged 4 and under
Children 18 years and under must be accompanied by an adult

Provider

Plan Tours

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Jane
From United Kingdom - June 2024

Travelled with family

25 - 34 years old

Excellent
Overall rated
4/5

Tour guide was very knowledgable, friendly and approachable. Expected drinks to be included at lunchtime and the food to be of better quality.

Excursions & day trips

Ephesus at night tour

Ephesus comes alive under the stars on this evening tour. Stroll through the ancient city with your expert guide, who'll lead you down marble streets while sharing stories of the Roman Empire's glory days. Finish up at the digital museum, where history gets a high-tech twist. As you follow your guide through the UNESCO-rated ruins, the evening light adds an extra ambiance to the ruins that you don't get during a daytime visit. You'll weave your way around before arriving at the star attraction – the Library of Celsus. In its heyday, this showstopper was the third-biggest library in the Roman Empire that once housed over 12,000 scrolls. Next, wander through ancient shops and houses, imagining what life was like thousands of years ago, before reaching the Grand Theatre. This massive amphitheatre used to seat up to 24,000 spectators, and it's believed St Paul, one of Jesus' apostles, used to preach here. Finally, you'll head to the digital museum for a chance to check out its interactive exhibits. Watch Ephesus' past come to life with 3D reconstructions, which offer a glimpse of Roman daily life and what the Temple of Artemis might've looked like in its prime.

free cancellation

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Excursions & day trips

Ancient Ephesus Tour with Pottery-making Demonstration

Ephesus is one of those places that brings history to life. Relive the glory days of the Roman Empire as you explore the monuments of this ancient city on a guided tour. The archaeological site is so well preserved that it's easy to imagine the toga-clad crowds that gathered and chattered in its streets 2,000 years ago.

free cancellation

Available in:

de, en, fr, nl

Extras

Izmir Airport VIP Lounge & Service for Ozdere hotels

Travel in style with this full VIP service at Izmir airport. Avoid all the usual hassle as you enjoy unlimited drinks, hot and cold snacks, Wi-Fi and more in the exclusive departure lounge. An altogether more relaxed way to round off your stay.Make your wait at the airport a breeze. You'll be greeted on arrival and then have time to take advantage of the comfortable VIP lounge and all its benefits. And to top it off, you'll have assistance with check-in, security clearance and passport control.Inside, you've access to complimentary coffee, tea, water, soft drinks and snacks, as well as selected alcoholic beverages too. What's more, there's unlimited free Wi-Fi access to a kids' area to keep the little ones entertained – allowing you to relax right up to take off.

free cancellation

Fast Track

Extras

Bodrum Airport VIP Lounge & Service for Ozdere hotels

Enjoy a more relaxed way to end your holiday with the Bodrum Airport VIP Lounge. You'll have up to two hours to enjoy all-inclusive hot and cold snacks, drinks and Wi-Fi. This will help ensure you'll keep the post-holiday blues at bay until the very last moment.On arrival at Bodrum Airport, you'll be greeted and assisted with check-in, security clearance and passport control. Then, once you're in departures, you'll be able to take advantage of the VIP lounge.Make use of the free Wi-Fi and let the children play in the kids' corner – it's a great way to pass the time before your flight. What's more, depending on the time of day, there's breakfast, hot and cold starters, or soup, bread and salads. And with a selection of drinks available too, you're sure to feel those holiday vibes until the moment you take off.

free cancellation

Fast Track

Activities

Izmir City Tour & Aquarium

Thanks to its sweeping harbour, seafront eateries and palm-lined pier, Izmir Town is known as ‘the beautiful waterfront'. Explore Turkey's third-largest city with a tour that has it all. You'll tour all the top sights, take a ferry ride across the bay, explore Izmir's aquarium, and even get to indulge in that favourite Turkish pastime, shopping.

free cancellation

Available in:

de, en, nl

Excursions & day trips

Izmir Shore Excursion: day trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary

Discover Ephesus and all it has to offer on a day excursion from Izmir. Book today to explore the Temple of Artemis, a wonder of the ancient world.

free cancellation

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Excursions & day trips

Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour

A natural masterpiece combines with ancient ruins for this full day tour. You'll head to Pamukkale – which means 'cotton castle' in Turkish – as well as the adjacent city of Hierapolis. Both are UNESCO-listed, so it's a two-for-one deal on Turkey's historical gems. Muzaffer, one of our local guides, says, ‘Pamukkale is like something out of a fairytale – a spectacle of terraces formed over thousands of years that look like a cascading snowy waterfall. Legend has it, the hot thermal springs here have healing properties'.On arrival, you'll stop by the Pam Hotel for a spot of lunch, before we make our way to the main event. A sight to behold, Pamukkale's natural springs solidified into chalk-white stalactites and cliffs long ago, resulting in a winter-like wonderland of petrified tiers and pools. People have bathed here for thousands of years, including Roman emperors. Follow in their footsteps and bathe in one of the thermal pools or simply make your way to the top and drink in the magnificent views.Next up is the ancient spa town of Hierapolis. You'll have free time to explore its well-preserved ruins, including ancient streets, a 13,000-seat theatre and the thermal baths – known as Cleopatra's pool due to her reputation of eternal youth. A dip is extra but well worth forking out for the experience of bathing in an oasis scattered with Roman artefacts. What's more, for every sale of this experience, there's a donation to CYDD, a charity that helps in the education of underprivileged children in Turkey.

free cancellation

Available in:

de, en, fr, nl, pl

Excursions & day trips

Virtual tour of Troy from home

Enjoy a hassle-free virtual visit to Troy from your home.

Duration 1 hour 20 minutes

Available in:

Instant Confirmation

Activities

Selçuk & Şirince Tour

There's lots of sightseeing and little travelling in this history-steeped tour to Selçuk and Şirince. You'll visit a Byzantine basilica and castle, discover one of Turkey's prettiest villages, enjoy a wine tasting and even try your hand at pottery painting.Head inland to Selçuk and immerse yourself in its layers of history. There's a guided visit to the ruins of the sixth century Basilica of St John and the partially restored Ayasuluk Fortress, which stands on a hill overlooking the town and the remains of the Temple of Artemis, a Wonder of the Ancient World. Hop back on the coach and make the short journey to Şirince, a former Greek village barely touched by the sands of time.After an authentic Turkish breakfast, there's a guided walk through windy cobblestone streets fringed by whitewashed homes and cypress trees. Enjoy a local wine tasting and then visit a ceramic workshop, where you can observe artisans at work and paint your own souvenir pottery.

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Excursions & day trips

Ancient Ephesus Tour with House of the Virgin Mary

The hills around Kuşadası are home to two of Turkey's most popular historical sites – the ancient city of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. You'll be whisked through centuries of history at Ephesus, see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and visit an important pilgrimage site on Mount Koressos – all in one afternoon. Esra, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The Library of Celsus is one of the most impressive landmarks of Ephesus. It once held over 12,000 scrolls and was the third-largest library in the ancient world.'Kick off with a drive into the sun-soaked hills to visit the House of the Virgin Mary. According to popular belief, St John the Evangelist brought Mary to Ephesus after the crucifixion of Jesus, and she lived here until her death. Next, it's time to head to the ancient city of Ephesus, where a journey through history awaits. Your guide will lead you around the sprawling archaeological site and point out its highlights while regaling you with fascinating historic tales of this once-powerful city.You'll stroll down marble-paved streets where mosaics and frescoes still decorate the walls of ancient Roman houses, gaze at the Temples of Artemis and Hadrian, and be blown away by the Library of Celsus. Esra says, ‘I love to imagine the Great Theatre filled with 25,000 spectators. They would come to watch gladiator clashes, political rallies and performances in this theatre, a hub of city life. You can almost hear the roar of the crowd.'

free cancellation

Available in:

de, en, fr, nl, pl

Izmir Shore Excursion: day trip to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary

What people say about this experience

Excellent