Best Ephesus Tours

Three starting points for Ephesus

Visiting Ephesus from a cruise ship is a very different day from visiting it from Istanbul. The first begins at the port and must finish before your ship leaves. The second begins by flying domestically to Izmir. Other travellers are already staying in Kuşadası or Selçuk and only need a guide. Decide where you are starting from, then choose a tour.

Rates depend on the season, your hotel and the inclusions, so ask us for the current price.

Tickets: included or not

From Kuşadası and Izmir, the private tours come with a private van and a guide, while museum tickets are bought by you at the entrance. On the shore excursion and on the highlights tour, your guide helps you avoid the ticket line. The 2-day trip from Istanbul works differently, with lunch and entrance fees included. The one extra there is the Cleopatra pool at Pamukkale.

A separate ticket is required for the Terrace Houses. The museum website run by the Ministry of Culture also states that the Müze Kart pass does not cover them. They lie within the site and our highlights and shore tours pass them, but you pay for that ticket yourself.

The same official website, checked in October 2026, gives the opening hours of the ancient city as 8:00 to 18:00 every day, and the ticket office shuts at 17:45. These hours may change, so confirm them before visiting.

Evening visits

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, Ephesus stays open until 21:30. Our private night visit was designed around those nights and includes a stop at the Ephesus Experience Museum. During July and August, heat lingers in the streets of marble until late in the afternoon, which makes an evening visit the cooler option. If you want to photograph the Library of Celsus in natural light, though, it is not the best choice.

Which tours include which sights

• Ephesus Ancient City, including the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsus: part of every Ephesus tour listed in the table.
• House of the Virgin Mary: on the 2-day trip from Istanbul, the highlights tour and the shore excursion.
• Temple of Artemis: included in the two-day trip that starts in Istanbul.
• Şirince Village: visited on the port tour that combines Ephesus and Şirince.

Cruise days: keep an eye on the time

During a port call there is no slack for traffic jams or a long lunch, which is why the Şirince port tour has "on-time return" in its title. There are also two longer tours from the port, Hierapolis and Pamukkale at 10–11 hours plus Pergamon at 8–9 hours, each costing from $600 a person. Only choose one if your ship is in port long enough. Check the all-aboard time against the length of the tour before booking. For more on timing, read our guide to shore excursions from Kuşadası.

Wine tours near the coast

Not every visitor wants another day among ruins. The port wine tasting day, costing from $300, takes you to two wineries for tastings and a lunch paired with wine, and also to the ancient remains of Teos. The Urla day of wine and art, costing from $380, includes ancient Klazomenai and Arkas Art Urla; lunch is not part of it. Both tours depart from Kuşadası or from the Izmir port.

Further reading on Ephesus

• Ephesus from Istanbul: one day or two
• Is a one-day flight trip to Ephesus enough?
• Kuşadası and Selçuk hotels: private Ephesus tours
• Kuşadası hotels near Ephesus
• Tour of the Seven Churches of Revelation
• Packages for Ephesus with hotel and flights