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Daily Trip to House of Virgin Mary, Ancient City of Ephesus, Basilica of St.John

Istanbul, Turkey 15h 4.5 · 23 reviews EN 236057P37
Instant confirmation Private tour Free cancellation (24h) Mobile ticket Hotel pickup Adults 6–99
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Daily Trip to House of Virgin Mary, Ancient City of Ephesus, Basilica of St.John - photo 12 236057P37
Tour route
7 stops ~113 km
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Route drawn automatically from the supplier's itinerary; lines are straight-line estimates, the actual road may differ.

Overview

This private Ephesus tour is available for departures from your hotel in Istanbul or Kusadasi or Selcuk or Bodrum. You can create your own Turkey travel plan with this flexible daily trip. The highlights of this private tour are UNESCO-listed ancient city of Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary, St.John church where St John lived with the Virgin Mary after being cast out of Jerusalem in 37 to 42 AD. The lunch is including in a traditional local restaurant.

Tour at a glance

Duration
15h
01
Tour type
Private tour
up to 15 travellers per booking
02
Languages
EN
live guide
03
Pickup
Hotel pickup
or meet at the start point
04
Operates
Every day
Starts 04:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 +5
05
Confirmation
Instant
e-ticket by e-mail
06
Cancellation
Free up to 24h before
07
Traveller ages
Adults 6–99
08
Rating
4.5 / 5
23 verified reviews
09
Ticket
Mobile ticket
show it on your phone
10

What's included

  • Private transportation
  • Lunch
  • Pick-up and drop-off services for ports or hotels in Istanbul, Bodrum, Kusadasi, Selcuk
  • Professional tour guide who licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
  • Istanbul - Izmir round-trip flight tickets (only valid for the 'from-to Istanbul Hotels' option)

Not included

  • Drinks
  • Entrance fees
  • Entrance fees
  • Entrance fees

Itinerary

  1. 1
    Istanbul

    DEPARTURES FROM ISTANBUL: We will pick you up from your hotel (or at your Airbnb address if parking is available) in Istanbul and transfer you to airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, your tour guide and driver will meet you at the arrival terminal exit gate. They will then drive you to Selcuk town for your full-day tour of Ephesus and its surroundings. This service is valid for bookings with the 'from-to Istanbul Hotels' option.

    3h Admission free
  2. 2
    Bodrum City

    DEPARTURES FROM BODRUM CRUISE PORT OR HOTELS IN BODRUM: Your private guide and driver will meet you at the reception of your hotel in Bodrum or at the arrival terminal exit gate of Bodrum Cruise Port. They will then drive you to Selcuk town for your full-day tour of Ephesus and its surroundings. This service is valid for bookings with the 'from-to Bodrum Port & Hotels' option.

    2h Admission free
  3. 3
    Kusadasi

    DEPARTURES FROM KUSADASI CRUISE PORT OR HOTELS IN KUSADASI: Your private guide and driver will meet you at the reception of your hotel in Kusadasi or at the arrival terminal exit gate of Kusadasi Cruise Port. They will then drive you to Selcuk town for your full-day tour of Ephesus and its surroundings. This service is valid for bookings with the 'from-to Kusadasi Port & Hotels' option.

    30 min Admission free
  4. 4
    Ephesus Ancient City

    Ephesus was one of the most important harbor cities in antique world and also it is mentioned in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches. Also Celsus Library and theater in Ephesus are the other highlights. You will see and visit the Celsus Library, Temple of Hadrian, the fountain of Trajan, Grand Theater, Hercules Gate, Odeon, Ancient Toilets and many important historical buildings in this UNESCO-listed ancient city.

    1h 45m Admission not included
  5. 5

    Ephesus Experience Museum, where you will travel back in time and immerse yourself in the mystical atmosphere of the ancient world. With innovative approach of this amazing museum, we offer an entirely mesmerizing experience where time breaks free from its static confines and dances in perpetual motion, bringing historical artifacts to life and presenting interactive visual spectacles that will leave an indelible imprint on your memory. (Admission to the Ephesus Experience Museum is free if you have a ticket for Ephesus Ancient City)

    20 min Admission free
  6. 6
    Ephesus Terrace Houses

    You will be walking from front of Terrace Houses during your tour, and your guide will provide information about the Terrace Houses of Ephesus Ancient City. (There is no visit to this place included in the guided tour. However, you may add a short visit if your schedule allows.)

    Pass by (no stop) Admission free
  7. 7
    The House of the Virgin Mary

    The next visit of your tour will be the last home of the Virgin Mary. Once you arrive there you will be thrilled by the natural beauty that surrounds the monument. The House of Virgin Mary is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles away from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council on 431 AD in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared there as a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed there.

    45 min Admission not included
  8. 8
    Selcuk

    You will stop at a traditional Turkish restaurant for your lunch. After the lunch, you will have experience in a traditional handcraft co-operative for get lecture about the special arts of Turkish villagers.

    1h Admission free
  9. 9
    Basilica of St. John

    Another visit of tour will be to this ancient Basilica dedicated to the author of Revelation St. John. According to the legend St. John died in this church after having written the Fourth Gospel and the Basilica was built by the Emperor Justinian over St. Johns burial place.

    45 min Admission not included
  10. 10

    At the end of the tour of Ephesus and its surroundings, we will drop you back at the cruise port or your hotel in Kusadasi or Bodrum, depending on your pick-up location. If you booked the 'from-to Istanbul Hotels' option, you will be transferred to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for your return flight to Istanbul.

    Pass by (no stop) Admission free
  11. 11

    Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Please note that this service is only included if you select the 'from-to Istanbul Hotels' option.

    1h Admission free

Meeting & pickup

Hotel pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point.

This tour program offers pick-up and drop-off services from hotels in Istanbul, Bodrum, Kusadasi, and Selcuk, as well as from the Kusadasi and Bodrum cruise ports, so that you can explore the ancient city of Ephesus and its surroundings. You can take advantage of this great benefit by selecting the options provided for you.

Schedule

from-to Kusadasi Port & Hotels Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30
from-to Istanbul Hotels Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 04:30
from-to Bodrum Port & Hotels Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00

Good to know

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.
  • Departures from Cruise Ports of Kusadasi & Bodrum : The local tour operator may request the details of ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time.
  • Departures from Istanbul : This option includes round-trip flight tickets between Istanbul and Izmir. Therefore, the local tour operator may request your passport details in order to book your flight tickets. If you do not provide the requested information, your domestic flight tickets may not be issued, and you may not be able to join the tour. If you fail to provide this information at least 48 hours prior to your trip, or if you refuse to share the required details, you will need to cancel your reservation. Otherwise, the local tour operator may apply the tour’s cancellation and refund policies, as your booking cannot be completed due to missing required information.
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required.
  • Infant meals not included.
  • Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults. If you will be 1 adult + 1 child, the local tour operator can request & charge the amount of 2 adults.
  • Please note that if you cancel or skip any part of the itinerary during the tour, no refund will be provided for the cancelled or skipped portions.
  • All the information provided above forms part of the terms and conditions for tour. You have been confirmed your acceptance of these when you book this tour. The local tour operator clearly specifies the details in the program, explanations, and reservation options, and is responsible only for the services indicated. That's why, please read those details while booking this tour.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveller reviews

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Patricia_B Aug 2025 · Viator
Very disappointed

we were never picked up. We woke up 3 o’clock in the morning to be ready at four driver never showed up the first time the second time they call us that they didn’t pick up on the hotel. so we never got to go on the trip, very disappointed that was the reason why we went there we never were told why was the reason why the first time the guy never showed up and I had made this reservation month a month ahead and pay for it. I would never make another reservation with this company or tell my friends about you guys.

Michael_C Aug 2025 · Viator
Tour was excellent. The...

Tour was excellent. The guide Mehmet, is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to be with. Side trips to rug making, pottery and Turkish delight was nice.

Jeff_H Apr 2025 · Viator
private tour. Excellent...

private tour. Excellent guide. Spend a whole date seeing sights around Ephesus. All around great experience

Mary_R Mar 2025 · Viator
Great day out!

We had the most amazing day out. Gee was an unbelievable tour guide. His enthusiasm was infectious. We learned so much. He gave us so much context for what we were seeing.

Regino_C Mar 2025 · Viator
The trip was excellent...

The trip was excellent from pick up from airport to the whole visit to the food to all the experience till sending us back to airport

KELVIN_T Mar 2025 · Viator
Good tour guide, inconvenient sales tactics

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. They do entice you with buying carpets and high end jackets while on tour though after the lunch and school tour and 5 minute fashion show. It was an interesting experience seeing how it was made but we didn’t appreciate the pushy sales tactics afterwards. I would be okay with one sales motion but two was a bit too much for my mom, she got a headache. The tour itself was very good though and we covered a lot of ground.

MaryAnn_Z Jan 2025 · Viator
Very organized...

Very organized experience. Exceeded our expectation - definitely recommend this trip! The guide was knowledgeable and accommodating to our needs!

Thaer_N Jul 2024 · Viator
Great experience.

Our driver and our guide were wonderful people. Very kind and friendly and cared a lot for our experience on a very hot day in Western Turkey. You get to see all the sights and our guide (Bushra) explained each taking care to answer our questions. The driver made sure we had plenty of water on board our air conditioned coach and it was a pleasure to driver from location to location. The lunch at the carpet making place was fabulous. I will agree with others that the only bad point is the owner of the carpet place (Aussie guy) gave a real pressure sell trying to get us to buy a rug. (Thousands of pounds!). It was definitely a hard sell as he said the money goes to the ladies who hand knit the rugs. As much as that may be true it’s a guilt trip! Having said that like someone else pointed out you CAN refuse which is what we did. I think if there was a way this tour could include the lunch but avoid the hard sell then it would be perfect. I would still recommend the tour as the overall experience was great.

Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.

Product code 236057P37

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