From Kusadasi
This half day Ephesus tour from Selcuk is an efficient morning day tour and introduction to one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once the leading commercial and political centre of Roman Asia. In around four hours you walk its marble streets with a licensed English-speaking guide and then visit the site of the Temple of Artemis, with hotel pickup and drop-off in Selcuk included.
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. Because it runs as a private tour, we plan the timing around your ship: your guide and driver meet you at the cruise terminal, and the programme is adjusted to your all-aboard time. 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.
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 with your private guide and vehicle 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.
Ephesus flourished as a wealthy port for more than a thousand years, and its ruins tell the story of everyday life, trade and worship in the classical world. Along Curetes Street you pass shop fronts, fountains and the ornate Temple of Hadrian before the street opens onto the two-storey facade of the Library of Celsus, built as a monument and a store of thousands of scrolls. The Great Theatre, cut into the slope of Mount Pion, hosted plays, gladiator shows and public assemblies. Your guide also explains the Christian heritage of Ephesus, including the traditions connected with St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary, and its place among the earliest centres of the faith.
The daily excursion then continues to the Temple of Artemis, a vast marble sanctuary that ancient travellers counted among the wonders of the world; today a single re-erected column marks the spot. Run as a daily Ephesus tour throughout the year, this Ephesus day trip is ideal for families, couples, solo travellers and cruise passengers with limited time. Expect moderate walking on uneven stone, wear comfortable shoes and in summer bring a hat, sunscreen and water.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis Half Day Programme The tour begins in the morning when your English-speaking guide picks you up from your hotel in Selcuk. After a short drive you reach the ruins of Ephesus, which served as the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Walking down the marble paving of Curetes Street, you discover the city's monuments one by one while your guide describes how its citizens lived, traded and worshipped. Highlights include the Library of Celsus with its celebrated facade, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Roman Baths and the Agora, before you reach the Great Theatre, where crowds of more than 25,000 spectators once gathered. Along the way you also hear about the early Christian history of Ephesus, including the traditions of St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary. The tour then moves on to the nearby Temple of Artemis, known as the Artemision, where only a few remains survive of a sanctuary once listed among the ancient world's seven wonders; your guide explains its significance for the Greek and Roman world. After some free time for photographs, you are driven back to your hotel in Selcuk around midday. The order of the visits may change depending on local conditions.
Kusadasi → Half Ephesus → Temple of Artemis → Selcuk → Ephesus
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!