Ephesus Day Tour from Izmir Airport
Day Tour to Ancient Ephesus from Izmir Airport
Ephesus day tour from Izmir Airport with transfers, guide, lunch, Virgin Mary House & Temple of Artemis. Ideal for layovers or quick cultural escapes.
Tour Overview
Izmir is one of the most visited cities in Turkey, blending rich history with vibrant modern life. Whether you’re arriving for business or leisure, you can easily explore one of the country’s most iconic archaeological sites with our Ephesus Day Tour from Izmir Airport.
Ephesus, located in the charming town of Selçuk, was once a prominent Ionian city. Its grand temples, elegant marble streets, and the world-famous Library of Celsus tell the story of a highly sophisticated civilization.
With our hassle-free service, you’ll enjoy a smooth round-trip transfer from the airport, skip-the-line entrance to all sites, and walk through ancient history with a knowledgeable local guide.
- Round-trip airport transfers from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport are included.
- Entrance tickets to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary are pre-arranged — no waiting in line.
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide will accompany you throughout the day.
- A tasty lunch at a local restaurant is included in the package.
- Comfortable, modern vehicles ensure hassle-free land transportation.
The Ephesus Day Tour from Izmir Airport is perfect for travelers who want to make the most of their layover or one-day stay in Izmir.
Tour Itinerary
Upon your arrival at Izmir Airport, our staff will greet you with a name sign.
(Please note that your flight should arrive between 07:30 AM and 08:30 AM. Return flight must be scheduled for 19:00 or later.)
You will be transferred directly to the Ephesus Ancient City for a guided full-day tour.
- Odeon (Bouleuterion) – Begin your journey at this semi-circular structure used for concerts and council meetings. It reflects the social and political life of ancient Ephesus.
- Prytaneion – Explore the administrative center of Ephesus, where sacred fires for Hestia were kept burning and city officials met.
- Domitian Temple – A historically significant temple dedicated to Emperor Domitian, one of the earliest examples of emperor worship in the region.
- Trajan Fountain – Admire this monumental Roman fountain dedicated to Emperor Trajan. It once supplied water to the city and was richly decorated with statues.
- Celcus Library – One of the most iconic structures of the ancient world. Built to honor Roman senator Celsus, it once housed over 14,000 scrolls and represents Roman architectural excellence.
- Marble Road – Walk the famous street connecting the Celcus Library to the Great Theater, lined with column bases, carvings, and ancient advertisements.
- Temple of Hadrian – A beautifully preserved temple with detailed reliefs reflecting Roman religious culture and architecture.
- Public Latrines – A surprisingly advanced social facility used in Roman times, showcasing how communal life functioned even in daily needs.
- Agora – Once the political and commercial heart of Ephesus, this wide open market square was where trade, ideas, and decisions flowed freely.
- Great Theater – Conclude your city walk at this magnificent 25,000-seat amphitheater, the largest in Anatolia, where gladiator fights and orations were held. St. Paul once preached here.
- Lunch Break – You’ll enjoy a delicious Turkish lunch at a local restaurant. (Drinks are extra.)
- House of Virgin Mary – Visit this sacred pilgrimage site believed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary. Located on Mount Koressos, it is holy to both Christians and Muslims, and was declared a pilgrimage site by the Vatican in 1967.
- Temple of Artemis – Final stop is the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. While only a few columns remain today, its historical importance is unparalleled.
16:00 ─ The Ephesus tour from Izmir Airport ends.
You will be transferred back to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for your return flight.
Alternatively, drop-off can be arranged at hotels in Selçuk or Kuşadası upon request.
What's Included
Included
- Airport Pick Up & Drop Off in Izmir Airport
- Transportations in the tour
- English Speaking Local Tour Guide
- Lunch
- Parking and road tolls
- Local Taxes
Not Included
- Personal Expenses
- Drinks at the lunch
- Entrance fees to the visiting sights
- Optional day tours to Pamukkale, Didyma, Priene, Miletos & Pergamon
Important Remarks
Please read the following important information carefully before booking. These remarks contain essential details about your tour experience.
- This tour is available for all arrivals at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.
- Pickup time will be adjusted according to your flight arrival — please share your flight details in advance.
- You will be welcomed at the airport with a name sign and directly transferred to the Ephesus area.
- Flight tickets are not included. If needed, we can assist with booking.
More Details
As you land at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, a historical journey begins. You’re greeted at the terminal exit and whisked away through lush countryside to one of the world’s most celebrated ancient cities — Ephesus.
Led by a passionate local guide, you walk through time — along marble streets once traveled by philosophers, emperors, and merchants. You marvel at the scale of the Great Theater, admire the ornate details of the Temple of Hadrian, and stand in front of the reconstructed Library of Celsus, once home to over 12,000 scrolls.
After a delicious local lunch, your tour continues to the peaceful House of Virgin Mary, believed to be the last residence of the mother of Jesus. The final stop is the sacred ground where the Temple of Artemis once stood — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
You return to the airport not just with photos, but with the lasting memory of walking in the footsteps of legends.
From a call and chatting with Leyla to getting a very safe van driver for our group of 10 to getting our tour guide Asli everyone on the team was extremely professional and very friendly. Tour guide Asli was able to set up the whole tour with less than six hours notice according to our flights. And Asli our tour guide was so nice and friendly. The local travel expert in the office Leyla was very knowledgeable about every site and activity. In fact, we are booking another tour Thru them now in Cappadocia and Antalya. Excellent service, friendly staff, and great tours.
Great tour organization, excellent service, and a nice experience for a quick glance in Ephesus. Our tour guide was very friendly and explained a lot about the ancient sites. Hight recommended.
Ephesus ancient city then Virgin Mary house trip was very nice. The guide, Erol was excellent, so friendly and knowledgeable. We were having a good time during the tour time and saw what we wanted to/should see in the area. Thanks...
This was a wonderful Ephesus tour! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and his expertise during the tour of ancient Ephesus and the history of Turkey was really appreciated.
We booked a day tour of Ephesus, and pickup and drop off at Izmir airport with Toursce tour group and it was simply fantastic. Coskun was our contact person and he was absolutely terrific from the moment we made contact. Having never done an Ephesus tour, David had several questions, and he answered each one fully and accurately. Since that was a private tour, so it was highly flexible, and truly designed to please us, without any sort of a rush on time. In fact, This was us who were pushing them to move on. That was worth every penny. The tour guide was simply outstanding. I would highly recommend the toursce travel and please request to deal with Coskun, as they are truly what you call a one stop shop and absolutely fantastic.
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