Classic Ephesus Tour

Highlights

• Amazing Ephesus
• House of the Virgin Mary
• Sirince hilltop village
• Site of the Temple of Artemis
• St John’s Basilica

Please bear in mind; we can always redesign this tour according to your interest and time.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel at 09:30 am and take you on a full-day journey through one of the ancient world’s most remarkable landscapes — from sacred hilltop sanctuaries to a Hellenistic city frozen in stone, and a charming Greek village tucked into the hills.

House of the Virgin Mary

The day begins with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, nestled in the forested hills above Ephesus. This modest stone house is believed to be where the Virgin Mary spent her final years, brought here by the Apostle John after the crucifixion. Recognised as a sacred Christian pilgrimage site, it has welcomed Popes, kings, and countless faithful visitors from around the world. The serenity of the setting makes it a deeply moving place regardless of one’s faith.

Amazing Ephesus

From there, we descend to Ephesus itself — one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman Hellenistic cities in the world and the jewel of any Turkey itinerary. Remarkably, less than 25% of the site has been excavated to date, yet what has been uncovered is breathtaking. Walking its marble streets, you’ll pass the 25,000-seat Grand Theatre, the magnificent Library of Celsus, the colonnaded marble road, the ancient public lavatories, and more than a few surprises along the way. Your guide will bring the city back to life with vivid stories of the merchants, emperors, and philosophers who once walked these same stones.

“The ancient city of Ephesus is a major Turkey tourist attraction and high on every traveller’s things to do list.”

Sirince Hilltop Village

After the grandeur of Ephesus, we head up into the cool hills to the charming old Greek village of Sirince. Once home to a Greek Orthodox community, the village changed hands during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in the 1920s, and its distinctive whitewashed stone houses and cobbled lanes have been beautifully preserved ever since. Today, Sirince is known for its warm hospitality and its locally produced fruit wines — peach, apple, pomegranate — which you’ll have the chance to taste. Lunch is here, in the shade of the village square.

Site of the Temple of Artemis

From Sirince we drive back down to Selçuk to visit the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — the Temple of Artemis. Little remains standing today; most of the temple’s marble was dismantled over the centuries and carried off, with much of it ending up in the British Museum. Yet standing at the site, with a single reconstructed column rising against the sky, is strangely powerful. Your guide will paint a vivid picture of what once stood here: a temple four times the size of the Parthenon, surrounded by merchants, pilgrims, and wonder.

St John’s Basilica

Our final stop is the Basilica of St John, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century on the hill of Ayasuluk, directly above what is believed to be the tomb of the Apostle John the Theologian. The basilica was once one of the largest churches in the Christian world, and its sweeping ruins — arches, marble columns, mosaic floors — still convey that ambition. It stands in the shadow of a commanding Seljuk fortress, adding another layer to the remarkable history of this place.

After the Basilica, the tour concludes in Selçuk town centre — a charming place in its own right — where your guide will leave you free to explore independently before heading back.

Ephesus Tour Prices

1 Person	420 USD
2 People	240 USD Per Person
2 to 4 People	210 USD Per Person
4 to 6 People	190 USD Per Person
6 and more	Please ask for the best price.

Included

• All entrance fees to the sites
• Assistance of a private local guide
• Transport (private A/C van)
• Lunch at Sirince Village

Not Included

• Gratuities to guide and driver
• Any items not specifically mentioned as included

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Are you interested in this tour? Contact us to plan your personalised day in Ephesus.