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This private day trip packs thousands of years of Aegean history into a single trip from Izmir. You’ll start at the House of the Virgin Mary, a quiet chapel on Mount Koressos where Christians and Muslims both come to pray. From there you walk down through the Ephesus Ancient City Ruins, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, with marble streets, standing columns, and the two-story facade of the Library of Celsus. The Terrace Houses show how wealthy families actually lived, right down to their mosaic floors and heated rooms.
You’ll also stand in the Great Theatre where Paul once spoke, then break for an included Aegean lunch in Selçuk. In the afternoon you’ll see the lone column of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, plus the 6th-century Basilica of Saint John and the Seljuk-era Isa Bey Mosque. Because it’s private, the pace is yours and your guide answers every question along the way. It’s a full, honest day of ancient Greek temples, Roman engineering, and early Christian sites, all with a licensed local guide and an air-conditioned car.
Highlights
Around 8:00 AM, after breakfast, your private guide and driver pick you up from your Izmir hotel and head south toward Selçuk. It's about an 80-kilometer drive, roughly an hour through Aegean farmland and olive groves. Your first stop is the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone chapel on the slopes of Mount Koressos. Many believe Mary spent her final years here after coming to Ephesus with the Apostle John.
The house was located in the 19th century following the visions of a German nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich. You'll have time to light a candle inside, drink from the spring, and tie a wish to the prayer wall. Next you'll descend to the Ephesus Ancient City Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities anywhere. You'll enter through the upper gate and walk downhill on marble streets.
Along Curetes Street your guide points out mosaics, carved reliefs, and standing columns. You'll see the arched Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus and the two-story Trajan Fountain. A highlight is the Terrace Houses in Ephesus, homes of wealthy Ephesians with frescoes, mosaic floors, and underfloor heating still in place. Then comes the Library of Celsus, built in 117 AD as a tomb for Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus.
Steps away is the Great Theatre of Ephesus, carved into Mount Panayir with room for about 25,000 people. Stand in the orchestra and test the acoustics; this is where the Apostle Paul preached. Expect two to three hours of walking here, much of it downhill on uneven marble, so wear good shoes and bring a hat and water. Around 1:00 PM you'll stop for an included set-menu lunch at a local restaurant in Selçuk, with grilled köfte, salads dressed in Aegean olive oil, and seasonal mezes.
After lunch you'll drive a short way to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only a single reconstructed column and scattered foundations remain, often with storks nesting on top. Next is the Basilica of Saint John on Ayasuluk Hill, built under Emperor Justinian in the 6th century over the believed grave of Saint John. Nearby stands the Isa Bey Mosque from 1375, built partly with Roman columns taken from Ephesus. You'll be back at your Izmir hotel around 5:00 to 5:30 PM, depending on traffic. END OF OUR SERVICE AND TOURS.
Yes. You'll have your own guide, driver, and vehicle, with no other travelers joining. The pace and stops are yours.
We pick you up at your Izmir hotel or from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, usually around 8:00 AM. Just share your address when you book.
Plan on two to three hours on your feet at Ephesus, mostly downhill on uneven marble streets. Comfortable closed shoes make a big difference.
Yes, a set-menu lunch at a local restaurant in Selçuk is included. Drinks other than the meal itself are not, so you'll pay for those separately.
They're the covered homes of wealthy Ephesians, with preserved frescoes, mosaics, and heating systems. The separate ticket is included in your tour price.
Yes, we can add Şirince at extra cost if time allows. Let us know before the tour so your guide can plan the day.
Dress modestly at the House of the Virgin Mary and Isa Bey Mosque, covering shoulders and knees. Women should bring a scarf for the mosque.
It works for most ages, but the walking is long and largely downhill. Let us know about any mobility needs and we'll adjust the pace.
The tour runs in most weather since much of it is outdoors but walkable in light rain. Bring a compact umbrella or rain jacket just in case.
If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, you must notify All Istanbul Tours at least 5 days before the tour starts. For a cancellation or date-change request received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from the paid balance. For a cancellation or date-change request received less than 5 days before the tour starts, the full amount paid is non-refundable. If a traveler does not appear for the booked service, the reservation is treated as a no-show and the full amount paid is non-refundable.
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