Ephesus, Virgin Mary & Artemis: Private Tour with Lunch & Entry

4.89

(733 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You look lost,” our guide, Emre, grinned as I squinted at the jumble of signs outside Kusadasi port. He waved a sign with my name—honestly, that small welcome felt like a relief after the noise of the cruise terminal. We piled into a spotless van (it even smelled faintly like lemon), and Emre started chatting about Ephesus before we’d even left the parking lot. He had this way of mixing facts with little jokes—like when he called the Library of Celsus “the world’s fanciest bookshelf.”

I didn’t expect to feel so tiny walking down those marble streets in Ephesus. The stones were warm from the sun, and you could still see grooves where carts once rolled. Emre pointed out carvings on columns, pausing so we could run our hands over them—he said some were nearly 2,000 years old. There was a moment near the Great Theater when everything went quiet except for a bird somewhere high up; I tried to picture Paul preaching there or Cleopatra riding by. Not sure I managed it, but it gave me goosebumps anyway.

After all that history, we drove up winding roads to the House of the Virgin Mary. The air smelled different up there—pine needles and incense from inside the chapel. People moved quietly, tying ribbons to a wall outside (I almost tied my shoelace by accident). Lunch came next—a simple spread at a local spot: grilled chicken, rice pilaf, and this yogurt dip I can’t pronounce (Emre tried to teach me; I failed). Maybe it was just hunger talking, but it tasted better than any fancy meal.

The last stop was the Temple of Artemis—just one column standing now, storks nesting on top. It’s strange how something so famous can feel almost forgotten in the grass. On our way back through Gazibegendi Park, Emre pulled over so we could see Kusadasi spread out below us—the harbor looked small from up there. I still think about that view sometimes when things get noisy at home.