Private Claros, Metropolis and Temple of Artemis Tour from Kusadasi
Private Claros, Metropolis and Temple of Artemis Tour from Kusadasi is a private day tour (full day) visiting Kusadasi, Selcuk and Ephesus. The price is available on request. Included: Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver and Entrance fees to Claros and Metropolis.
Secret Antiquities of Ionia: Claros and Metropolis from Kusadasi
Beyond Ephesus, the hinterland of Kusadasi hides ancient sites that most travellers never see. This private day tour from Kusadasi takes you to Claros, home of one of the most respected oracles of Apollo in the ancient world, and to Metropolis, the hilltop 'city of the Mother Goddess', before ending at the Temple of Artemis in Selcuk. It is a calm, uncrowded daily excursion for anyone who has already explored Ephesus and wants to go deeper into Ionian history.
You travel with a private vehicle, driver and professional English-speaking guide. For another off-the-beaten-path classic, see our Didyma, Miletus and Priene tour from Kusadasi.
Highlights
- Claros - the oracle sanctuary of Apollo, with its Doric temple, underground consultation chambers and monumental altar.
- Metropolis - a Hellenistic and Roman city with a well-preserved theatre, council house and bath buildings.
- Temple of Artemis - the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in Selcuk.
Claros belonged to the Ionian city of Colophon. Envoys from across the Greek and Roman world came here to put questions to Apollo, and inscriptions recording their visits have been found in the sanctuary. Today the ruins lie in a green valley where groundwater often floods the temple floor, giving the site a striking, almost mystical look. Metropolis, set on a ridge north of Ephesus, has been excavated since 1990; its small theatre is among the best-preserved Hellenistic theatres in the region. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was rebuilt several times, and only scattered foundations and one standing column remain of the colossal marble building.
Good to know
- Clothing: comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen; the ancient sites have little shade.
- Walking: moderate; some steps and uneven ground, and parts of Claros can be muddy after rain.
- Season: spring and autumn are ideal; the flooded temple at Claros is most photogenic in spring.
- Duration: about 8 hours.
Quick facts
| Tour type | Private · day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | Full Day |
| Price | On request |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 4 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant online confirmation · no prepayment — pay your guide on the tour day · free hotel/cruise-port pickup · TÜRSAB-licensed (A-5751) |
| Last updated | November 2026 |
Tour Programme
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Tour Programme ▾
Claros / Metropolis / Temple of Artemis
Morning pick-up, around 08:30, from your hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk. A drive of about 45 minutes along the coast brings you to the sanctuary of Claros near Ahmetbeyli.At Claros your guide explains how pilgrims consulted the oracle of Apollo: you see the Doric temple with its underground oracle chambers, the great altar and the fallen colossal statues, often standing in shallow spring water.Late morning you drive inland to Metropolis, an ancient city on a hill above the plain of Torbali. Explore the theatre, the council house and the baths of this quiet, rarely visited site. A lunch stop can be made at a local restaurant on the way (at your own expense).In the afternoon you return towards Selcuk and visit the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, where a single re-erected column marks the vast sanctuary.Remaining time can be spent with your guide in Selcuk or back at Claros before you are driven to your hotel in the late afternoon, after a day of about 8 hours.
What's Included
✓ Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at hotels in Kusadasi and Selcuk
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Licensed professional guide in your language (other languages on request)
- Entrance fees to Claros and Metropolis
✕ Not Included
- Lunch and drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
Your Route Across Turkey
Kusadasi → Private Claros → Selcuk → Ephesus
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Fill in your details — instant confirmation. No prepayment or card: you pay your guide on the tour day (cash: TRY/EUR/USD/GBP). Free hotel or cruise-port pickup, timed around your schedule.