Ephesus from Marmaris, Bodrum or Kuşadası: Drive Times and Prices

Ephesus is about 205 km from Marmaris, roughly three to three and a half hours by road; about 175 km from Bodrum, two and a half hours; and only 20 km from Kuşadası, about 25 minutes. So from Kuşadası it is half a day, from Bodrum a full day, and from Marmaris either a very long day or a trip with one night near the ruins. Our private Ephesus tour from Bodrum with the House of the Virgin Mary costs from $750 per person for eight to nine hours, and the Ephesus day tour from Kuşadası and Selçuk with lunch from $127 per person.

Most Russian-speaking visitors to the Aegean and Mediterranean coast are on a beach holiday, and Ephesus is the one big excursion of the week. The questions are always the same: how long is the drive from my resort, what does the day cost, what does the ticket cost on top, and is there a Russian-speaking guide? This page answers them resort by resort, from Kuşadası down to Antalya, and then covers tickets, the evening visit and practical points.

How far Ephesus is from each resort

Road distances and typical driving times to the ancient city, in normal traffic. Summer weekends and the roads out of the big resorts can add time.

These figures come from road routing on OpenStreetMap and our drivers' experience; your exact time depends on where your hotel is.

From Marmaris: a long day, or a night near Ephesus

From Marmaris the drive alone is six to seven hours there and back. A day trip is possible, with a start around 06:00 and a return after dark, but it leaves about three hours at the ruins and nothing else.

For guests in Marmaris we usually suggest a two-day version instead:

1. Day one. Leave after breakfast, drive north, and spend the afternoon at the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John in Selçuk, or in the hill village of Şirince. Sleep in Selçuk or Kuşadası.
2. Day two. Be at the Upper Gate of Ephesus at 08:00, before the heat and the cruise groups, then drive back to Marmaris in the afternoon.

A private tour from Marmaris with your own guide and van can be arranged on request; send us your hotel and dates. Our Kuşadası hotels for Ephesus page helps you choose where to sleep, and our Istanbul and Marmaris holiday page shows how Marmaris fits into a longer trip.

From Bodrum: the classic full day

Bodrum is the most common starting point for a long Ephesus day after Kuşadası. The road runs north via Milas and Söke, about two and a half hours each way, so the day lasts eight to nine hours with about three hours at the ruins and a stop at the House of the Virgin Mary.

The day works best with an early start, around 08:00 or 08:30 from Bodrum, so that you reach Ephesus before midday and are back for dinner. Hotels further out on the peninsula, in Turgutreis or Yalıkavak, add time before you even reach Bodrum town. Our Ephesus tour from Bodrum page has an hour-by-hour plan, and if you would rather spend less time in the van, the ancient sites of Priene, Miletus and Didyma are closer and much quieter.

From Kuşadası, Didim, İzmir and Çeşme

From these resorts Ephesus is an easy excursion:

• Kuşadası. Twenty-five minutes. A half day covers the ancient city; a full day adds the House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St John and lunch in Şirince.
• Didim. About an hour and a half. Combine Ephesus with Priene and Miletus on the way, which are close to Didim.
• İzmir. A little over an hour from the city, a little under from the airport. Our Ephesus day tour from İzmir hotels includes pickup and lunch.
• Çeşme. About two hours each way. A full day with an early start.

From Antalya, Side and Alanya

Ephesus is more than 400 km from Antalya and further still from Side and Alanya. A day trip there and back would mean eleven to fourteen hours on the road, and we do not recommend it.

Better options from the Mediterranean coast:

• Pamukkale on the way. Our Antalya to Kuşadası tour via Pamukkale is a one-way day with lunch, from $132 per person, ending near Ephesus so you can see it the next morning.
• Fly. From Antalya, fly to İzmir via Istanbul as part of a longer route.
• Closer sites. Perge, Aspendos and Side give you Roman ruins without leaving the Antalya coast. Our excursions from Antalya page lists them.

What the ticket costs and what is extra

Our tours do not include entrance tickets. These are the ministry's foreign-visitor prices, as listed in our Turkey museum prices 2027 update:

Prices are set in euros and charged in Turkish lira at the day's rate. The House of the Virgin Mary is not run by the ministry and charges its own fee at its gate. Lunch, drinks and tips are extra on all our tours. Ephesus is open from 08:00 to 18:00, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr).

For a family of three visiting Ephesus and the Terrace Houses in July 2027, tickets come to €171 with the combined ticket; the same visit in March 2027 costs €156.

Ephesus in the evening

On some evenings the ancient city opens after dark, with the Library of Celsus and the main street lit up. It is cooler than the day, much quieter, and a different experience from a morning visit. Night openings run on set dates, so check before you plan around one.

Our private Ephesus night tour with transfers from Kuşadası or İzmir takes five to seven hours and starts from $250 per person. From Bodrum or Marmaris the evening visit only makes sense if you sleep near Ephesus.

For Russian-speaking travellers

• A Russian-speaking guide. Licensed guides in Russian can be arranged on request, subject to availability. They are in demand in the summer season, so book as early as you can. Our Russian-speaking guide in Istanbul page explains how we arrange guides.
• Entry. Russian citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 60 days, according to our Turkey visa requirements page.
• Paying. Tell us when you book how you plan to pay for the tour, and carry some cash in lira for lunch, drinks and small purchases on the day.
• Children. The site is a long walk on uneven marble, about 1.5 km downhill, with little shade. A sun hat, water and a pushchair that copes with stones, or a baby carrier, make the day easier.
• Heat. July and August are very hot in the Ephesus valley. Start early and avoid the middle of the day.
• Clothes. Cover shoulders and knees for the House of the Virgin Mary; women need a headscarf in a mosque.

Tours that cover this

• Ephesus tour from Bodrum port with the Virgin Mary House, private: from $750 per person.
• Ephesus day tour from Kuşadası and Selçuk with lunch and guide: from $127 per person.
• Private Ephesus highlights tour, full day with your own guide and van: from $300 per person.
• Private Ephesus night tour with transfers: from $250 per person.

The full list is on our Ephesus and Kuşadası tours page, and the Ephesus destination guide covers the region.

Frequently Asked Questions