• Kusadasi - Guests will be greeted at the Kusadasi Cruise Port! After booking the tour, please reach out to our team to confirm and secure your meeting time.
• Kusadasi - Kusadasi, Turkey, is the most popular destination in Aydin Province, located approximately 56 miles south of Izmir on Turkey’s Aegean Coast. The name “Kusadasi” comes from the peninsula’s resemblance to a bird’s head when viewed from the sea, with “kus” meaning bird and “ada” meaning island.
  Kusadasi is often described as one of the most beautiful cities facing the Aegean Sea, thanks to its stunning scenery and landscape. Since its founding in 3000 B.C., Kusadasi has been a hub of art, culture, and history for Turkey and many other civilizations. Today, Kusadasi resembles a modern European city. With a hot Mediterranean climate for about 92% of the year, Kusadasi has become one of Europe’s most visited destinations.

The city features an open seaside at the back of the peninsula, where public beaches are located. Popular swimming spots in the Kusadasi district include Ladies Beach and Bird Island Beach, among others.

• Ancient City of Ephesus - According to Greek mythology, the ancient city of Ephesus was founded by Greeks in the 11th Century B.C. by Androclos, the son of the legendary King of Athens. He consulted the oracles in Delphi about where and how to establish a new settlement for the Greeks. The oracles’ response was intriguing and straightforward.

The oracles foretold that a wild boar and a fish would guide them to the new settlement site. One day, while Androklos and his companions were cooking fish over an open fire, a fish leaped from the pan into nearby bushes. Sparks from the fire ignited the bushes, and as they blazed, a wild boar emerged, fleeing the flames. Androklos pursued and killed the boar, recalling the oracles’ words, and built his city on that site.

• Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - OPTIONAL: It is known with certainty that the Virgin Mary went to Ephesus and lived there for some time. Whether she died in Ephesus was unknown until Anne Catherine Emmerich’s vision. The stigmatized German nun, who had never visited Ephesus, had a vision of the House of the Virgin Mary and described it in detail to the German writer Clemens Brentano, who later published a book about it. Catherine Emmerich passed away in 1884. In 1891, Paul, Superior of the Lazarists from Izmir, read about her vision and discovered a small building matching Emmerich’s descriptions. Archaeological evidence indicated that the little house dated from the 6th century AD, with foundations from the 1st century AD.

This site was officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1896 and has since become a popular pilgrimage destination. Pope Paul VI visited the shrine in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

• Kusadasi Castle - Kuşadası’s charming Byzantine fortress stands on the causeway-connected Güvercin Adası (Pigeon Island) and has recently been renovated. It is now part of a popular and well-maintained public park. A path winds around the island, featuring excellent information boards and a small lighthouse, offering splendid views of Kuşadası. Inside the fortress, there is a skeleton of a 14.5m fin whale and a few models of sailing boats.
• Selcuk - An ideal base for exploring the Aegean coastline, Selcuk attracts large tourist crowds due to its proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus. The ruins of this ancient Greek settlement are among Turkey’s best-preserved archaeological sites, allowing visitors to explore nearly 3,000 years of history and learn about the region’s rich cultural heritage. Selcuk itself remains a relatively small town, compensating for its lack of modern tourist attractions with hospitality and a relaxed atmosphere. Stroll through the compact city center to see the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct and the ruins of a Byzantine citadel.
• The Temple of Artemis - Artemis was the Greek goddess, the virginal huntress and twin of Apollo, who replaced the Titan Selene as Goddess of the Moon.

At Ephesus, a goddess associated with Artemis was fervently venerated in an archaic icon. The original was carved of wood, with many breast-like protuberances, apparently emphasizing fertility over the virginity traditionally linked with the Greek Artemis. Unlike Greek deities, her body and legs are enclosed within a tapering pillar-like term, from which her feet protrude.

On the coins minted at Ephesus, the many-breasted Goddess wears a mural crown (resembling a city’s walls). She rests each arm on a staff formed of entwined serpents or a stack of ouroboroi, the eternal serpent with its tail in its mouth. Like Cybele, the goddess at Ephesus was served by hierodules called megabyzae and by maidens (korai).

A votive inscription from about the 3rd century BC associates Ephesian Artemis with Crete: “To the Healer of diseases, to Apollo, Giver of Light to mortals, Eutyches has set up in votive offering (a statue of) the Cretan Lady of Ephesus, the Light-Bearer.”

For a more in-depth look at Artemis of Ephesus and her role in Ephesian life and religion, please see our special article on Artemis of Ephesus.

• Ephesus Terrace Houses - OPTIONAL: A cluster of ancient two-story homes spread across three tiers, the Ephesus Terrace Houses reveal how wealthy Romans lived during the city’s glory days. Glass floors allow you to admire geometric mosaics and still-vibrant frescoes on the walls—it’s no wonder some compare the site to Pompeii.
• Kusadasi - At the end of the tour, guests will return to the Kusadasi Cruise Port according to their ONBOARD TIME!

PLEASE NOTE: There are several ships with different arrival and departure times. We carefully check all the timings, confirm with the passengers, and coordinate our return time to the Cruise Port.

• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
• Private Local Licensed Guide
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• All Transportation Costs including Parking Fees and gas
• Entry tickets (for the “Entry Tickets Included” option)

• Entry tickets (for the “Entry Tickets Excluded” option)
• Lunch (optional)
• Personal expenses

Experience the timeless allure of Ephesus on a 4-hour shore excursion tailored for cruise passengers docking at Kusadasi Port. This concise yet thorough tour strikes an ideal balance of comfort, culture, and history — perfect for those wishing to explore at a leisurely pace.

Discover the stunning Ephesus Ancient City, renowned as one of the most well-preserved classical cities globally, and visit iconic sites like the Library of Celsus and Marble Street. Gain insights into the city’s captivating history from a professional, licensed local guide, while enjoying a comfortable round-trip journey in an air-conditioned vehicle.

This tour is meticulously organized to ensure a timely return to your cruise ship, providing a stress-free experience.

• Ideal for cruise passengers with limited time
• Explore Ephesus Ancient City with a professional guide
• Enjoy comfortable, air-conditioned round-trip transfers from Kusadasi Port
• Learn about ancient Roman life and architecture
• Guaranteed timely return to your cruise ship

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