Half Day Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi – Library of Celsus & Temple of Artemis (Shared)

Half Day Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi with the Temple of Artemis

Our half day Ephesus tour from Kusadasi is designed for travellers who want to see one of the best-preserved ancient cities on earth without giving up a whole day of their holiday. A professional English-speaking guide meets you at your hotel, and comfortable air-conditioned transport, entrance fees for the sites in the programme and the return transfer are all arranged for you, making this an easy and rewarding daily excursion.

Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers in Kuşadası

Arriving in Kuşadası on a cruise ship? The Half Day Ephesus 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 Half Day Ephesus 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.

• Ancient City of Ephesus – once the leading commercial centre of western Anatolia
• Library of Celsus – the iconic two-storey facade of Roman Ephesus
• Great Theatre – a vast auditorium carved into the hillside
• Agora, gymnasium and baths – the public heart of the ancient city
• Temple of Artemis – a wonder of the ancient world listed by classical writers

Ephesus grew rich as a harbour and trading city, and that wealth paid for a remarkable building programme that you can still trace on foot today. Walking its marble streets, you pass the remains of temples and civic buildings before reaching the Library of Celsus, whose restored front is among the most photographed monuments in Turkey. The theatre, the agora where merchants met, the gymnasium and the public baths complete the picture of daily life in a great Roman city of Asia Minor.

The city was dedicated to the goddess Artemis, and her temple was counted in antiquity among the Seven Wonders. Rebuilt several times, its final form dates from the third century BC; today a lone reconstructed column marks the spot and helps you imagine its former scale. This Ephesus day trip is ideal as a short daily tour, and it is a natural choice for a first day tour in the region. Lunch is not included, so you are free to eat where you like once you are back in Kusadasi.