Overwiev

Private Ephesus Tour & Shore Excursion From Izmir

You will be/can be met at Izmir harbor or your Hotel in Izmir. Then we will drive to Ephesus; during your journey, your local tour guide will give you lots of information about Ephesus, The House of the Virgin Mary, and The Temple of Artemis. Your local tour guide will hand you your Ephesus Map and a Turkey Map. The journey from Izmir to Ephesus is 80 km/50 miles one way and will take around 1.10 hours.

The House of Virgin Mary

We will pass through the verdant and picturesque countryside before arriving at our first stop, The House of the Virgin Mary. Following the Predominant Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the resurrection of Christ and lived out her final resting years here. This is based mainly on the traditional belief that John came to Ephesus and the biblical statement that Jesus consigned her to John’s care (John 19:26-27).

Ephesus Ancient Ruin

After The House of the Virgin Mary, we will head on to the next destination, the Ancient City of Ephesus; the tour here shall be a walking tour and will take you through one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in the entire world. You will be able to see the Odeon, The Fountain of Trajan, the steam baths of Scholastic, the Temple of Hadrian, and course, lets’ not forget the awe-inspiring library of Ephesus. The library is adorned with columns and statues. The Grand Theatre, where Saint Paul preached, is the largest in antiquity, with a capacity of 24.000 seats. You will then return to the bus through the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. After your 2-hour exploration around Ephesus, we will head for a lunch break for about 1 hour.

The Temple of Artemis (Diana)

Then we will continue on tour and head on for our next stop, which is the Temple of Artemis (Diana); this unique temple was built in honor of the Greek Goddess of hunting, wild nature, and fertility, deemed as one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple of Artemis used to be the largest marble temple in the ancient Greek world since it was four times as big as the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. Offerings by thousands of pilgrims each year enabled the temple to grow so wealthy that it became the world’s first bank. Today, little remains of the magnificent structure. Your guide will describe its importance, wealth, and the tension between the Romans and Christians that settled in the area over the centuries.

We trust you enjoyed your tour!

P.S. Please note that there will be a shopping possibility where you may have the chance to see and buy some unique traditional & handmade souvenirs from the holy lands where civilizations lived to make your visit unforgettable.