Ephesus Travel Guide
Private Tours of Ephesus and Western Turkey from Kusadasi, Izmir, Selcuk, Sirince with local tour guides.
     Private Ephesus shore excursions from Kusadasi and Izmir cruise ports for cruise passengers.          
  • Ephesus Travel Guide
    • Temple of Artemis
    • House of Virgin Mary
    • Basilica of St. John
    • Terrace Houses
    • Sirince Village
    • Isa Bey Mosque
    • Grotto of Seven Sleepers
    • Archaeological Museum
    • Questions about Ephesus >
      • How and when to go? Where to Stay? >
        • Hotels near Ephesus
        • Izmir Airport - Selcuk Town Train Schedules
    • Other places to visit near Ephesus >
      • Shopping in Kusadasi and Ephesus
    • Ephesus Pictures
  • Private Ephesus Tours
    • Private Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi >
      • Private Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi Cruise Port >
        • Private Tours for Oceania Cruises Passengers
        • Private Tours for Marella Cruises Passengers
        • Private Tours for Azamara Cruises Passengers
        • Private Ephesus Tours for Regent Passengers
        • Private Tours for NCL Passengers
        • Private Tours for Windstar Cruises Passengers
        • Private Tours for Holland America Line Passengers
        • Private Ephesus Tours for Silversea Passengers
        • Private Ephesus Tours for Star Flyer Passengers
      • Private Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi Setur Marina
      • Private Ephesus Tours from Guzelcamli Hotels
    • Private Ephesus Tours from Izmir >
      • Private Ephesus Tour from Istanbul
      • Private Ephesus Tours from Izmir Airport
      • Private Ephesus Tours from Alacati, Cesme
      • Private Ephesus Tours from Izmir Cruise Port >
        • Private Ephesus Tours for MSC Cruise Passengers
        • Private Ephesus Tours for Costa Cruises Passengers
    • Private Ephesus Tours from Selcuk Hotels and Selcuk Train Station >
      • Tour Guide Only Services for Ephesus
      • Private Ephesus Tours from Sirince Hotels
    • Ephesus in Bible - Private Biblical Ephesus Tours >
      • Private Biblical Tours of Ephesus with Expert Local Tour Guides
      • Private Christian Heritage Tours of Ephesus
      • Cave of St. Paul in Ephesus
    • Ephesus Private Tour Rates >
      • Dates for Discounted Private Ephesus Tours
      • Our team of Ephesus Tour Guides
      • Private Tour and Transfer Vehicles
      • 2018 Entrance fees for Ephesus and surroundings
    • Excursiones Privadas a Efeso >
      • Tour privado sugerido de una semana de Turquía
      • Excursión a Éfeso para cruceros desde el Puerto de Kusadasi >
        • Excursiones privadas de Efeso para pasajeros de la Linea Holland America
        • Excursiones Privadas de Efeso para pasajeros de Cruceros Royal Caribbean
        • Giras Privadas a Efeso para pasajeros de Celebrity Cruceros
      • Qué hacer en Kusadasi
      • Excursiones privadas de hoteles de Selcuk
      • Solo Guia Turistico Servicios
      • Excursiones Privadas de Efeso para pasajeros de cruceros MSC
      • Tour privado de Pamukkale desde Kusadasi
      • Especial Tour de Éfeso: El Desayuno tradicional turco y Efeso
    • Excursoes privadas de Efeso >
      • Excursões privadas de Éfeso para os passageiros de Norwegian Jade
    • Частные Эфес туры >
      • Частный Эфес Экскурсии из порта Кушадасы >
        • Частные Эфес туры для Royal Caribbean пассажиров
        • Частные Эфес туры для норвежских пассажиl
        • Индивидуальные туры Эфес для Holland America Пассажир
        • Частные Эфес туры для Celebrity Cruises пассажиры
      • Частный тур в Памуккале от Кушадасы
      • Частные Эфес туры от аэропорта Измира
      • Частные Эфес туры для круизных пассажироk
      • Эфес Экскурсия на Эфес Экскурсовод
      • Частные Эфес туры для круизных пассажироk
    • Private Exkursionen von Ephesos >
      • Ephesos mit dem Tempel der Artemis ab Kusadasi Hafen
      • Ganztägige Tour Ephesos für Deutsch sprechende Gäste
      • Private Ausflüge von Ephesos für Mein Schiff 2 Passagieren
    • Escursioni private di Efeso e la Casa di Maria
  • Ephesus History
    • Magnesia Gate
    • State Agora, Basilica, Odeon, Prythaneion
    • Memnius Monument & Domitian Temple >
      • Caduceus or Rod of Asclepius ?
    • Hercules Gate, Trajan Fountain, Hadrian Temple
    • Public Baths, Latrines
    • Ephesus Celsus Library
    • Agora, Marble Street
    • Ephesus Theater, Church of Mary
  • Contact Us
    • Private Tour Enquiry Form
  • Denizhan`s Blog
  • Western Turkey Tours
    • 2 Days Ephesus Pamukkale Tour
    • 2 Days Western Turkey Tour
    • 3 Days Western Turkey Tour
    • 3 Days Biblical Tour of Western Turkey
    • 1 Week Private Tour of Turkey
    • Istanbul Walking Tours
  • Izmir Airport Transfers
  • Private Pamukkale Tours
    • Private Pamukkale Tours ending at Denizli Cardak Airport
    • Private Pamukkale Tour from Double Tree Hotel Kusadasi
    • New Excavations at the Ancient City of Hierapolis (Pamukkale)
    • Plutonium (Gate to Hell) in Hierapolis (Pamukkale)
  • Private Tours of Laodicea
  • Private Aphrodisias Tours
  • Private Pergamon Tours
    • Pergamon Re-created
  • Private Sardis Tours
  • Private Priene Tours

When to go to Ephesus?

Coldest time of the year is January and February. Average temperature these days are approximately 10 C /40 F. Almost never have any snow. Rainy season is in  between October and April. It hardly rains in the summer time. The warmest time of the year is July and August. Midday temperature rises upto 43 C/110F. Best time to visit Ephesus is April, May, October, November. This is the time the weather is neither hot, nor cold.

Current Temperature in Ephesus:

How to go to Ephesus?

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Atlasjet flight
A lot of travelers who visit Istanbul also would like to pay a visit to Ephesus. Ephesus is located 450 miles south of Istanbul and it is 9 hours bus drive. Our recommendation would be to take a flight from Istanbul to Izmir and drive from Izmir Airport to Ephesus. Ephesus is 45 minutes drive from the airport of Izmir. Last year a private airline called Atlas Jet started a free shuttle for their passengers from Izmir Airport to Selcuk Town.
The other way of transportation is to take a bus from Istanbul. We do not recommend it altough the bus services are very high in world standards. It takes approximately 9 hours to drive from Istanbul to Ephesus.
Railway system is not very much developed in Turkey. We would say the best way is to take a flight from Istanbul. If you would like to have a daily tour. We can arrange you a private tour starting from the airport.

Kusadasi/Ephesus is also reachable by ferries from Samos, the Greek island. From 01st April to 31st October everyday there are ferries going back and forth.  Approximate cost of a ferry 30 Euro incl. tax (one way), 35 Euro incl. tax (round trip)

For day trips to Ephesus from Istanbul, below please find the links of  the airlines offering flights.

Atlas Global : http://www.atlasglb.com/
Pegasus : http://www.flypgs.com/
Onur Air : http://www.onurair.com.tr/
Turkish Airlines : http://www.turkishairlines.com/tr

Airlines like AtlasJet and Onur Air have free shuttles fro flights from Istanbul.
If you happen to come from a different destination or coming with a different airline. You need to drive or take a train. We provide private airport transfers to Kusadasi and Selcuk town from Izmir Airport. Selcuk is the modern name for Ephesus. It is a small twon having a population of 25 thousand. Selcuk is 55km south of Izmir. It is an hour drive from Izmir Airport. 

Selcuk is also accesible by train from Izmir Airport. The same train also go to Denizli where Pamukkale (Hierapolis) is located.

The Train schedule is as follows: (Click here for the official timetable)

Izmir Airport > Selcuk Train Schedule
Izmir Airport > Selcuk Train Schedule
Selcuk > Izmir Airport Train Schedule
Selcuk > Izmir Airport Train Schedule
For more information, visit: 
Izmir, Izmir Airport - Selcuk Town (Ephesus) Train Schedules
  • Private Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi
  • Private Ephesus Tours from Izmir
  • Private Biblical Ephesus Tours
  • Ephesus Private Tour Rates
  • Questions About Ephesus and Tours
  • Private Ephesus Tour Enquiry Form
  • Our team of Ephesus Tour Guides
  • Read Ephesus Tour Reviews
  • Write a Ephesus Tour Review
  • Excursões privadas de Éfeso
  • Excursiones Privadas a Éfeso
  • Частные Эфес туры
  • Private Führungen von Ephesos
  • Contact Us

Places to visit:
  • House of Virgin Mary
  • Ephesus Archeaological Museum
  • Temple of Artemis
  • Basilica of St. John
  • Sirince Village
  • Isa Bey Mosque
  • Grotto of Seven Sleepers
  • Terrace Houses in Ephesus
  • Ancient City of Ephesus:
  • Magnesia Gate
  • East Gymnasium
  • State Agora
  • Basilica, Odeion
  • Prythaneion
  • Memmius Monument
  • Domitian Temple
  • Hercules Gate
  • Curetes Street
  • Hadrian Temple
  • Scholastica Baths
  • Latrines 
  • Celcus Library
  • The Brothel
  • Commercial Agora
  • Marble Road 
  • Theater 
  • Harbour Street
  • Church of Mary 
  • Ephesus in Bible
  • House of Virgin Mary
  • Temple of Artemis
  • Basilica of St. John
  • Ephesus Museum
  • Terrace Houses
  • Sirimce Village
  • Isa Bey Mosque
  • Grotto of 7 sleepers

  • Other places to visit near Ephesus.
  • Istanbul Walking Tours - Winter Deals
  • Suggested Turkey Tour Program
  • Private Airport Transfers to Kusadasi
  • Private Pamukkale Tours from Kusadasi
Ephesus in a busy day
Ephesus in a busy day

Where to stay in Ephesus?

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La Vista Hotel Kusadasi
There are sevaral options for visitors. 

Staying in Izmir is not recommended, since Izmir city does not offer much for the travellers. 

Village of Sirince can be a good choice but going there is a liitle bit difficult.

Selcuk town is nice and very close to Ephesus but the hotels are not in high standards. 

Our recommendation is to stay in Kusadasi and do the tour of Ephesus out of Kusadasi. Kusadasi has several beaches, nice restaurants and good hotels that you may enjoy.

Recommended hotels to stay in Kusadasi:
  • Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel - 4 Stars
  • LaVista Boutique Hotel
  • Charisma Deluxe Hotel - 5 Stars
  • Double Tree by Hilton Hotel - 4 Stars
  • Korumar Deluxe Hotel - 5 Stars
  • Hotel Ilayda - 3 Stars
Recommended hotels to stay in Selcuk 
​(booking.com links) :
  • Saint John Hotel​
  • Hotel Kalehan
  • Cella Hotel
  • Nea Efesos Hotel​
Recommended hotels to stay in Sirince:
  • Gullu Konaklari - Boutique Hotel
  • Markiz Konaklari - Boutique Hotel
  • Nisanyan Boutique Hotel
Recommended hotels to stay in Izmir :
  • Best Western Plus Hotel Konak
  • Hilton Izmir - 5 Stars
  • Izmir Palas Hotel - 4 Stars
  • Ibis Izmir Alsancak - 3 Stars
  • Karaca Hotel - 4 Stars
  • Key Hotel - 5 Stars
  • Kaya Prestige - 4 Stars
  • Met Boutique Hotel
  • Orty Airport Hotel
  • Swissôtel Grand Efes Izmir
Picture

Cruises calling to Kusadasi & Izmir Ports

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Kusadasi Cruise Port
Majority of the people who visit Ephesus come with cruise ships either
to  the Port of Kusadasi or Port of Izmir. Below please find a list of some of
the  cruise ships calling to both of these ports. 

Cruise ships that call to Kusadasi Port:
Royal Caribbean Cruises: Splendour of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas,  Navigator of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Vision of the  Seas 
Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity  Century, Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Constellation
Princess Cruises:  Royal Princess, Star Princess, Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Pacific Princess 
Oceana Cruises: Nautica, Regatta, Insignia, Marina
Seabourn Cruise Line: Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Quest
Wind Star Cruises: Wind Spirit, Windstar
Holland America Line: Prinsendam, Eurodam, Amsterdam, Noordam
Silver Sea  Cruises: Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Wind 
Louise Cruises: Cristal,  Aegean Pearl, Aquamarine
Star Clippers
Cunard Cruises: Queen Victoria
Azamara Cruises: Azamara Quest

Cruise ships that call to Izmir Port: 
Izmir, is located at the western part of Turkey. It is the 3rd largest city of Turkey having population over 2.5 milion people. The largest export port of Turkey. Known as Smyrna in the ancient times. First settlement dates back to 3000 BC. Since the modern settlement was made on top of the old one there is not much to see in down town Izmir. Higlight of the area is Ephesus. Ephesus is located 65 miles south of Izmir, an hour drive. 

Costa Magica of Costa Cruises
MSC Divina of MSC Cruises
Norwegian Jade of Norwegian Cruise Line
Aegean Odyssey of Voyages to Antiquity
Costa Classica of Costa Cruises
Costa Fascinosa of Costa Cruises
Norwegian Spirit of Norwegian Cruise Line
Costa Deliziosa of Costa Cruises
Seabourn Spirit of Seabourn Cruise Line
Carnival Legend of Carnival Cruise Line
Costa Mediterranea of Costa Cruises
Seabourn Odyssey of Seabourn Cruise Line
Costa Pacifica of Costa Cruises
Queen Elizabeth of Cunard Cruise Line
 
Kusadasi Port Cruise Timetables
Izmir Port Cruise Timetables
Booking.com
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