Ephesus Day Trip From Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey
If you are visiting Istanbul and have limited time to explore the rest of Turkey, then this tour is for you! Don't miss the opportunity to visit Ephesus, one of the most majestic ruins sites in the world in this 1 day trip from Istanbul to Ephesus with domestic flights. Learn the importance of Ephesus in ancient times, and walk in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, St Paul, St John and more in this informative tour which commences with an early morning from your Istanbul hotel, and a transfer to the airport for your flight to Izmir. You'll be met on arrival then driven to Ephesus to commence your guided tour in a late-model air-conditioned vehicle. Visits will include the ancient city of Ephesus with its impressive Celsus Library and Theatre, the House of Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis. Afterwards you will be transferred back to Izmir for your flight back to Istanbul where you will be met and transferred back to your hotel.
More About This Activity All Day Trips →
You will be picked up from your Istanbul hotel between 5.00-5.30am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir at approximately 7.00am. (Please note that pick up time depends on the location of your hotel / apartment in Istanbul).
After a one hour flight from Istanbul to Izmir, you will be met on arrival at Izmir airport, and then drive approximately 1 hour to Ephesus where you will meet your group at approximately 9.30am.
Your tour starts from the Magnesia gate of Ephesus. We reserve tickets for you and you will not stand in line or waste your precious time in Ephesus.
Your guide will then take you on a stroll along the marble streets of Ephesus, passing the Odeon, monuments, fountains and more, with a highlight being the impressive façade of the Celsus Library and the remarkably intact great theatre. Your guide will also give you the option to have a look at the work in progress to restore Ephesus’ famous terrace houses (entrance fee is an additional 15TL per person payable directly at the site) - once home to Ephesus’ elite citizens. As you walk, you’ll be intrigued by the stories of the people who once lived here, and you’ll learn about the important role symbolism played an in daily life.
We will also visit the House of Virgin Mary, discovered after a German nun had visions about it and described its location, and also believed to be the place where Mary spent her last days.
After lunch we will stop at Isabey Mosque. Built in 1375, it is a great example of Seljuk architecture, and incorporates stones and columns from the ruins of Ephesus and the nearby Temple of Artemis.
Our last stop of the day will be at the site of the Temple of Artemis. Although just a single column remains today, your guide will bring to life how majestic it was back in the day, and the integral role it played in the daily life of the locals
After the tour, towards late afternoon we will transfer you to Izmir airport for your return flight to Istanbul (approximately 7.30pm). On arrival in Istanbul you will be met and transferred back to your Istanbul hotel / apartment.
« Go Back