Daily Ephesus & Sirince Tour from Ankara – Fly-In Day Trip to Izmir

Ephesus and Sirince Day Trip from Ankara by Domestic Flight

This daily Ephesus and Sirince tour from Ankara turns a single day into a journey to the Aegean coast: an early domestic flight to Izmir, a fully guided walk through one of the finest Roman cities in the Mediterranean world, and an unhurried afternoon in a hillside wine village before you fly home the same evening. It is a well-paced day tour for travellers based in the capital who want to see Ephesus without adding extra nights to their itinerary.

• Ephesus Ancient City – the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Odeon, the Temple of Domitian and Trajan's Fountain
• Temple of Artemis – the ruined sanctuary once listed among the Seven Wonders of antiquity
• House of the Virgin Mary – a revered Christian pilgrimage site in the hills above Selcuk
• Isa Bey Mosque – an elegant 14th-century monument of the Anatolian beyliks
• Sirince Village – stone houses, fruit wine tasting and Turkish coffee brewed on hot sand
• Aegean lunch and a stop at a carpet weaving centre or leather workshop

Founded by Ionian settlers around the 10th century BC, Ephesus grew into the leading Roman city of Asia Minor. Its marble streets lead past public baths, temples and the two-storey facade of the Library of Celsus, once among the largest libraries of antiquity, while the Great Theatre could seat some 25,000 spectators. The city also holds a special place in Christian history through the visits of St Paul and St John, and it is counted among the Seven Churches of Revelation. Nearby, a lone column marks the Artemision, the vast temple to Artemis begun in the 6th century BC.

After lunch the daily excursion climbs to Sirince, a former Greek village of whitewashed houses and vineyards, famous today for its fruit wines and local crafts. Note that the domestic flights between Ankara and Izmir are not part of the package and require self check-in at the airport; the Terrace Houses at Ephesus carry a separate ticket. Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the ancient streets are uneven, and bring sun protection in the warmer months.