Ephesus Day Trip from Istanbul, Ephesus Tours from Istanbul

Is Ephesus worth visiting?
Ephesus is an incredible place to visit, an ancient Greco-Roman city. Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth a visit. The ancient city of Ephesus is one of the best preserved World Heritage Sites in the world. Ephesus takes you to the past, very far back in time. The city grew and prospered under Roman rule. The presence of many luxurious villas in Ephesus clearly indicates that the city was rich and wealthy. Walking the streets of Ephesus, entering ancient temples and markets, and exploring ornate houses, we get a rich picture of life over 2,000 years ago. It is not only exciting, but also a very rewarding experience. The city of Ephesus was huge. It covered an area of 400 acres. At its peak, the city had 200,000 inhabitants. When you visit Ephesus, you will witness one of the largest ancient cities in the world.​

How far is it from Istanbul to Ephesus?
Ephesus is 450 miles south of Istanbul and is 7 hours away by car. There is no direct train from Istanbul to Ephesus. There are trains from Istanbul to Izmir Alsancak train station and from Izmir Basmane Train Station to Selcuk (Ephesus) you need to get on another train. Transportation by train in Turkey is slow and not in high standards. Our recommendation would be to take a flight from Istanbul to Izmir Airport and fly to Ephesus from Izmir Airport.

Can you do a day trip to Ephesus from Istanbul?
It is possible to visit Ephesus from Istanbul within a day. As an Ephesus tour operator we provide organized day trips, offering hassle-free transportation with local tour guides, and a well-planned itinerary. These trips include round-trip transportation from Izmir Airport and sufficient time to explore the highlights of Ephesus, such as the Library of Celsus, the Ephesus Theater, and the Temple of Artemis. Although it may require a long travel day, traveling from Istanbul to Ephesus offers a unique opportunity to witness the magnificent ruins of a great ancient city. 

You can book your domestic flight on your own from Istanbul and we will meet you at the domestic terminal at Izmir Airport. At Izmir Airport, our tour guide will meet you. After the tour you will be taken back to Izmir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. 

Full Day tour of Ephesus,  House of Mary & Basilica of St. John 
At Izmir airport you will be met by your Ephesus local tour guide. As your vehicle makes its way along the Aegean Coast, you will pass some of the regions fertile lands. As you reach the silted  valley, time seems to come to a halt and then reverse. After a steep drive up  Mt. Pagus, you will arrive at a stone chapel. This converted house probably  dates from the 1st century and was envisioned by a German nun as the site where  the Virgin Mary spent her last days. Continuing to Ephesus, leave your vehicle at  the parking area and start your Ephesus Walking Tour through Magnesia Gate. As you stroll along the old marble streets, you will pass the Odeon and Upper Agora. You will also  see the ornate Hadrian Temple, the remains of some Byzantine houses, the  beautifully restored facade of the Celsus Library,  the Thermal Baths of Scholastica, the Commercial Agora and the theater, which  accommodates 25,000 spectators and is still used for occasional performances. After your  visit to Ephesus, re-board your vehicle for an enjoyable lunch.  Afterwards enjoy a presentation about Turkish weavings, see the girls at the looms  knotting carpets  and kilims. Learn about the natural dyes and learn the  differences between Silk, flosh , wool and cotton weavings for handmade rugs. The proprietors will give  a fascinating demonstration of the local traditional crafts. Next is the  Basilica of St. John, one of the seven churches of Asia  Minor, is your final  stop before your return to Izmir airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

Private Ephesus Tour Costs (starting and ending at Izmir Airport) 
Up to 6 people - MPV + Tour Guide: 245 Euro (Total amount to be paid for your party of 1-6)
Up to 12 people - Mercedes Minibus + Tour Guide: 300 Euro (Total amount to be paid for your party of 7-12)
* Above Rates are NOT per person rates. They are total to be paid for your group.
* We offer %20 Discount on certain dates. Discounted Ephesus Tour Dates
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Rates Cover:
- Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide 
- A/C Private Transportation with Driver
- All transportation costs.
- Tax, service charges
- Traditional Turkish Lunch
- Pick up and drop off from/to Izmir Airport..

Rates Do Not Cover:
- Entrance fees to the sites.
- Domestic Flights
- Drinks during lunch

Cost of entrance fees:

• Ephesus + Ephesus Experience Museum: 40 Euro per person
• Temple of Artemis: Free of Charge
• House of Mary: 13.5 Euro p.p. (700 TL) 
• St. John's Basilica:  6 Euro p.p.
• Sirince Village: Free of charge
• Ephesus + Terrace Houses + Ephesus Experience Museum: 52 Euro p.p. ​
• Ephesus Archaeological Museum: 10 Euro p.p.

Important Notice :
We do not issue flight tickets. Therefore for Ephesus day trip from Istanbul we recommend the travelers to book the following flights:

Pegasus : http://www.flypgs.com/
Istanbul > Izmir : PC2811 depart Istanbul at 9.10am
Izmir > Istanbul : PC2816 depart Izmir at 6.15pm

Turkish Airlines : http://www.turkishairlines.com/tr
Istanbul > Izmir  TK2312 depart Istanbul at 8.00am
Izmir > Istanbul : TK2329 depart Izmir at  6.00pm

For more information and availability, please contact us.