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Home/ Turkey Tours/ Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour

Ancient City of Ephesus & House of the Virgin Mary Tour

Private & daily full-day tours from Istanbul, Izmir & Kuşadası — a Christian heritage experience through the best-preserved Roman city in the Mediterranean.

Full Day · ~9–10 hrs UNESCO World Heritage Site Private or Small Group Licensed Guide Included
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Ancient City of Ephesus marble ruins, Selçuk, Turkey
The Ancient City of Ephesus — UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015
The Great Theatre of Ephesus, a 25,000-seat Roman amphitheatre
The Great Theatre of Ephesus — seated up to 25,000 spectators
Marble columns along an ancient Roman street near Ephesus
Walking the marble-paved streets of Roman Asia Minor
Stone chapel on a wooded hillside near Ephesus, evoking the House of the Virgin Mary
The House of the Virgin Mary, a Vatican-recognized Holy Place
Duration
Full Day · 9–10 hrs
Departure
09:00 AM
Group Type
Private / Small Group
Rating
4.9 / 5 ★ (238 reviews)
Tour Overview

Where Roman Grandeur Meets Christian Pilgrimage

The Ancient City of Ephesus is the largest and best-preserved archaeological site in Turkey, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Set in the Selçuk district of İzmir Province — roughly 65 km from İzmir and just 18 km from Kuşadası — Ephesus was once a Roman capital of Asia Minor and, by some estimates, the third-largest city in the Roman East, with a population that may have exceeded 50,000.

This full-day tour pairs that archaeological grandeur with a deeply personal pilgrimage: the House of the Virgin Mary, a modest stone chapel on Mount Koressos believed by long tradition to be where Mary spent her final years under the care of the Apostle John. Recognized as a Holy Place by three popes and honored by Christians and Muslims alike, it is one of the most visited sacred sites in Turkey.

Whether you're drawn by ancient history, biblical heritage, or simply the chance to walk a 2,000-year-old marble street, a licensed, English-speaking guide brings the ruins to life — from the Library of Celsus to the riot recorded in the Acts of the Apostles at the Great Theatre.

Tour Highlights

  • UNESCO-listed ruins of Ephesus, Turkey's best-preserved ancient city
  • The Library of Celsus and its restored two-story marble façade
  • The 25,000-seat Great Theatre of the Acts 19 "riot of the silversmiths"
  • House of the Virgin Mary, a Vatican-recognized Holy Place
  • Remnants of the Temple of Artemis, once a Seven Wonder of the World
  • Licensed, English-speaking guide & air-conditioned transport
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Duration
9–10 hrs
Full-day tour
Departure
09:00 AM
Hotel pickup
Group
Private / Shared
Up to 15 guests
Languages
EN · ES · DE · IT
On request

This Tour Is Perfect For

History & Archaeology Lovers Christian & Catholic Pilgrims Cruise & Shore Excursion Guests Multi-Faith Travelers Photography Enthusiasts First-Time Visitors to Turkey
Full-Day Program

Itinerary & Places You'll Visit

Daily Schedule
09:00 AM

Hotel Pickup & Departure

Your guide and driver collect you from your hotel in Istanbul, İzmir or Kuşadası (pickup point depends on your selected package) in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, and you begin the drive toward Selçuk and the ruins of Ephesus.

09:30 – 13:00

Ancient City of Ephesus

Enter through the Magnesia Gate and walk the marble-paved Curetes Street, once the main thoroughfare of a Roman provincial capital. Your guide weaves together the archaeology, mythology and biblical history of the site stop by stop.

  • Marble streets, the Commercial Agora and the public Roman baths
  • The Library of Celsus and its richly carved two-story façade
  • The Great Theatre of Ephesus — site of the Acts 19 "riot of the silversmiths"
  • Optional: the Terrace Houses, showcasing how wealthy Ephesians lived

Why it matters

Ephesus is widely regarded as the best-preserved Greco-Roman city on the Mediterranean and is one of only a handful of ancient sites where the original street plan, civic buildings and residential quarter all survive together.

13:00 – 14:00

Free Time for Lunch

Your guide recommends nearby restaurants in Selçuk serving local Aegean cuisine. Lunch and beverages are at your own expense and are not included in the tour price.

14:00 – 14:45

Temple of Artemis

A short stop at the foundations of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Little remains above ground today, but your guide reconstructs — through scale models and ancient accounts — just how immense this Ionic temple once was.

15:00 – 16:00

House of the Virgin Mary

A scenic drive up Mount Koressos brings you to this modest stone chapel, a place of quiet reflection for travelers of every faith. Many visitors light a candle, drink from the spring believed to hold healing properties, or leave a wish on the prayer wall.

From 16:00

Tour End & Return Transfer

Sightseeing concludes and you're transferred back according to your package. The full return schedule for Istanbul-based travelers is shown below.

16:00End of sightseeing — transfer toward Kuşadası / Ephesus-area hotel
17:00Departure to İzmir Airport (Istanbul-package travelers)
20:00Flight departure from İzmir
21:20Arrival in Istanbul — airport pickup & hotel transfer

Places You'll Visit — In Detail

Five landmarks, three thousand years of history — here's what makes each stop worth the walk.

Marble columns along a Roman street in the ancient city of Ephesus
UNESCO World Heritage

Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey's largest and best-preserved archaeological site, where marble-paved streets, an agora and Roman baths trace the outline of a once-thriving provincial capital.

Good to know Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, Ephesus is thought to have housed somewhere between 33,000 and 56,000 residents during the Roman period — making it one of the largest cities of Roman Asia Minor, after Sardis and Alexandria Troas.
The Library of Celsus facade in Ephesus, Turkey
Iconic Landmark

Library of Celsus

The single most photographed building in Ephesus — a two-story marble façade commissioned as both a public library and a monumental tomb.

Good to know Completed around 117 AD, the library was commissioned by Tiberius Julius Aquila to honor his father, Celsus, a former Roman governor of Asia. It once held an estimated 12,000 scrolls, and niches in its façade still hold statues personifying Wisdom, Knowledge, Intelligence and Virtue.
The Great Theatre of Ephesus carved into the hillside
25,000-Seat Theatre

Great Theatre of Ephesus

Cut into the slope of Panayır Hill, this is the largest theatre in Anatolia — and the dramatic backdrop to a pivotal scene in the Acts of the Apostles.

Good to know First built around 250 BC under Lysimachus and later enlarged by Roman emperors, the theatre could seat roughly 24,000–25,000 spectators. According to Acts 19, an angry crowd gathered here over Paul's preaching against the cult of Artemis — though Paul himself was kept from entering for his own safety.
A small stone chapel on a wooded hillside, evoking the House of the Virgin Mary
Vatican-Recognized Shrine

House of the Virgin Mary

A modest stone chapel on Mount Koressos, venerated by Christians and Muslims alike as the place where Mary is believed to have spent her final years.

Good to know The site was rediscovered in 1891 after explorers followed the detailed visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich. It has since been visited by three popes — Paul VI in 1967, John Paul II in 1979 and Benedict XVI in 2006 — and remains an active chapel with daily Mass.
A single ancient column standing amid temple ruins
Seven Wonders of the World

Temple of Artemis

Once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, today only scattered foundations and a single reconstructed column mark where it stood.

Good to know Funded in part by King Croesus of Lydia around 550 BC and designed by the architects Chersiphron and Metagenes, the temple was roughly double the size of the Parthenon. Ancient writers — including Pliny the Elder — described it as the most wonderful monument they had ever seen.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Vatican-Recognized Holy Place Licensed Expert Guide Hassle-Free Logistics Small-Group Comfort
What's Included

Tour Inclusions & Exclusions

Included

  • Professional, licensed English-speaking tour guide
  • Private or shared air-conditioned transportation
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Parking fees at all visited sites
  • Local taxes
  • Full-day guided sightseeing itinerary
  • Airport transfer (on Istanbul fly-tour packages)

Not Included

  • Entrance fees: Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary & Temple of Artemis
  • Lunch and beverages
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs
  • Optional tips for guide and driver
  • Domestic or international flights (unless stated in package)
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional audio-guide devices

AI Trip-Planning Recommendations

A few practical, data-informed suggestions to help you get more out of this particular tour.

Best Time to Visit

Go early (09:00–10:30) or after 15:00 to dodge the midday heat and the bulk of cruise-ship tour groups arriving from Kuşadası.

Dress Code for the House of Mary

It's an active Catholic shrine — cover shoulders and knees. The same modest dress is a smart, comfortable choice for the sun-exposed ruins of Ephesus too.

Combine With

This day pairs naturally with Pamukkale's thermal terraces, the hillside village of Şirince, or a wider Seven Churches of Revelation itinerary.

Footwear & Sun Protection

Ancient marble is uneven, slick and highly reflective. Closed walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water are essential, not optional.

Photography Tip

The Library of Celsus façade photographs best in the soft early-morning light, before tour buses fill the base of Curetes Street.

Mobility Notes

Much of Ephesus is walked on uneven marble and gravel. The path to the House of the Virgin Mary is paved but sloped — wheelchair access is limited at both sites.

Ephesus by Season

🌸
Spring · Apr–Jun
Mild temperatures, wildflowers among the ruins, moderate crowds.
☀️
Summer · Jul–Aug
Hot, often 35°C+. Go early and carry plenty of water.
🍂
Autumn · Sep–Oct
Warm days, cooler evenings, and noticeably fewer tour groups.
🌧️
Winter · Nov–Mar
Cool and quiet, with occasional rain — the lowest crowds of the year.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Sun hat & sunscreen
Reusable water bottle
Modest clothing (shoulders & knees)
Cash for entrance tickets & tips
Camera or smartphone
Good to Know

Practical Information

Pickup Locations

Hotels in Istanbul (combined with a same-day flight), or hotels in İzmir and Kuşadası for travelers already based on the Aegean coast.

Group Size & Languages

Private tours for your group only, or small shared groups of up to 15 guests. English is standard; Spanish, German and Italian guides are available on request.

Entrance Tickets

Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis each charge separate admission, payable on-site in Turkish Lira or by card.

Accessibility

Surfaces are uneven ancient marble and gravel; wheelchair and stroller access is limited across both Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary.

Suitable for Children

Yes — the tour suits all ages, though strollers are difficult to manage on the marble streets; a child carrier is a better option for toddlers.

What to Wear

Modest clothing is recommended at the House of the Virgin Mary; comfortable closed shoes and sun protection are essential at Ephesus.

Entrance fees are paid directly on-site and are not included in the tour price, since admission and opening hours are set independently by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Ephesus can be visited year-round, but summer midday sun is intense — sun protection and water are essential between June and September.

Reserve Your Spot

Book This Tour

TOUR CODE: KNY-063
€0
per adult, private tour

Final pricing for this route is being confirmed — send an enquiry for the latest rate, or reserve now and we'll follow up with the exact quote before charging anything.

  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • Licensed, English-speaking guide
  • Instant booking confirmation
  • Small-group comfort, private option available
Prefer to talk first? Call or WhatsApp:
+90 212 555 01 23 or info@yourtoursite.com

Have questions, or not ready to reserve yet? Send us a message and we'll reply within a few hours.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour date. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. Date changes are accommodated subject to availability.

Payment Options

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Traveler Reviews

What Guests Are Saying

4.9
★★★★★
238 reviews
5 ★
86%
4 ★
10%
3 ★
3%
2 ★
1%
1 ★
0%
S
Sarah M.
United States · Visited March 2026
★★★★★

Our guide made the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre come alive — the Acts 19 story finally made sense once we were standing there. The House of the Virgin Mary was unexpectedly moving, even for our non-religious group.

History & Faith
M
Marco R.
Italy · Visited September 2025
★★★★★

Pickup was right on time and the pace was relaxed — never felt rushed. We'd recommend going early to avoid the cruise crowds, which our guide actually suggested before we even asked.

Great Logistics
A
Aiko T.
Japan · Visited November 2025
★★★★★

The Temple of Artemis is just a foundation now, but our guide's explanation of what it once looked like was genuinely fascinating. A well-paced day with a real mix of history and quiet reflection.

Knowledgeable Guide
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

Yes. The shrine is recognized as a Holy Place by the Vatican but is visited every year by Christians, Muslims and travelers of no particular faith — Mary is also honored in the Quran, making it a genuinely multi-faith site.
No. Entrance tickets for Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis are paid on-site and are not included, since fees and hours are set independently by the relevant heritage authorities.
Expect roughly 2–3 km of walking across the day, mostly on uneven ancient marble and gravel, with gentle slopes at the Great Theatre and around the House of the Virgin Mary.
Yes. Both private, just-your-group departures and small shared-group departures are available — simply select your preference in the booking form.
Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is recommended, since the house functions as an active chapel. Comfortable, closed shoes are also advised for the marble streets of Ephesus.
Yes. This itinerary is frequently extended to include Pamukkale's thermal terraces, the village of Şirince, or a wider Seven Churches of Revelation route — just mention it in your enquiry.

Our Commitment to You

Licensed guides, transparent pricing and flexible booking — every tour is backed by free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

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