Ephesus, Virgin Mary's House & St John Basilica Tour

Highlights of the Ephesus, Virgin Mary's House & Basilica of Saint John Tour

• Ancient City of Ephesus — the Great Theatre, Celsus Library, Temple of Hadrian, Marble Street, the Agora and the Terrace Houses
• House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) — the tranquil hilltop shrine where Mary is believed to have spent her final years
• Basilica of Saint John — the Byzantine ruins above Selcuk marking the tomb of St. John the Apostle
• Temple of Artemis — the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
• Traditional Turkish lunch in Selcuk and a visit to a local handicrafts workshop

This full-day Ephesus tour from Kusadasi brings together the greatest classical and Christian landmarks of the Aegean in one unforgettable daily excursion. Beginning at the cruise port, you drive the short distance to Ephesus, where your licensed guide leads you along the ancient marble streets. You explore the Great Theatre, the elegant Temple of Hadrian, the Terrace Houses with their mosaics and frescoes, the Agora and the world-famous facade of the Celsus Library, piecing together the story of a city that was once one of the largest in the Roman Empire.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Kuşadası

Arriving in Kuşadası on a cruise ship? The Ephesus, Virgin Mary's House & St John Basilica Tour is one of the shore excursions we regularly arrange for cruise guests calling at the port of Kuşadası. For cruise guests we can arrange pickup at the cruise terminal where the shared tour schedule allows; if your time in port is short, we recommend the private version of this tour, which is timed to your ship. Tell us how many hours your ship stays in port and we will confirm that the full programme fits comfortably. Send us your ship name and the date of your call in Kuşadası and we will confirm availability.

Day Trip to Kuşadası from the Greek Islands (Samos and Patmos)

Holidaying on Samos or Patmos? The Ephesus, Virgin Mary's House & St John Basilica Tour is an easy day trip from the Greek islands: take the morning ferry to Kuşadası, join the tour, and sail back in the evening (from Samos the ferry takes 45 minutes; from Patmos the ferry takes about 3 hours). We meet you at the Kuşadası ferry port and time the programme to the ferry schedule. For longer itineraries we check the ferry timetable first and confirm that the full programme fits your day. Please bring your passport and check the Turkish entry requirements for your nationality before travelling.

From the ruins the tour climbs the wooded slopes of Bulbul Mountain to the House of the Virgin Mary, a peaceful stone chapel and pilgrimage site revered by Christians and Muslims alike. You then visit the Basilica of Saint John above Selcuk, built over the apostle's tomb and offering sweeping views across the plain, and pause at the lone surviving column of the Temple of Artemis, once counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is a rare chance to stand among sites that shaped both ancient history and early Christianity on a single Kusadasi day trip.

A traditional Turkish lunch in Selcuk, with vegetarian, vegan, halal and kosher choices, and a stop at a local handicrafts cooperative round out this Ephesus day tour. With a professional English-speaking guide and comfortable air-conditioned transport, this daily excursion from Kusadasi is ideal for history enthusiasts, pilgrims and curious travellers who want to see the very best of the Ephesus region in one well-organised day.