Private 1-Day Ephesus Tour from Istanbul – incl. Flight

One day, one great city of antiquity: early in the morning we fly from Istanbul to Izmir and drive to Selçuk. We walk through Ephesus from the upper city to the Great Theatre, visit the Terrace Houses on request, drive to the House of the Virgin Mary on Nightingale Hill and stand at the last column of the Temple of Artemis. In the evening you fly back to Istanbul.

Highlights

• Domestic flight Istanbul – Izmir and back, departing from IST or SAW
• Ephesus: Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre for 25,000 spectators
• On request the Terrace Houses with frescoes and mosaics of wealthy Ephesians
• House of the Virgin Mary on Nightingale Hill
• Artemision, Basilica of St John and İsa Bey Mosque in Selçuk
• All transfers and a private guide – nothing to organise yourself

Full description

Ephesus was one of the largest cities of the Roman Empire – a port, the seat of the governor and a place where Paul preached. We walk from the Magnesian Gate past the State Agora and Odeon down Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. If you like, we visit the covered Terrace Houses with their wall paintings and mosaics.

Then we drive up Nightingale Hill to the House of the Virgin Mary, where tradition says the mother of Jesus spent her last years. In the afternoon we stand at the last column of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, and climb up to the Basilica of St John on Ayasuluk Hill. In the evening we take you to Izmir airport; in Istanbul you are picked up and brought back to your hotel.

For you this means: you book everything in one step – flights, transfers and guiding – at one fixed total price.

What we see

We adapt order and selection to weekday, opening hours, weather and your wishes.

• 1 · Flight Istanbul – Izmir
  Early pick-up at your hotel in Istanbul, transfer to IST or SAW airport, flight to Izmir (ADB), drive to Selçuk.
• 2 · Ancient city of Ephesus
  Magnesian Gate, State Agora, Odeon, Curetes Street, Temple of Hadrian, Library of Celsus, Great Theatre.
• 3 · Terrace Houses (optional)
  Roman homes with frescoes and mosaics under a protective roof, separate ticket.
• 4 · House of the Virgin Mary
  Chapel on Nightingale Hill, spring and wishing wall.
• 5 · Artemision and Basilica of St John
  The last column of the Temple of Artemis, Justinian's basilica over the traditional tomb of John, and the İsa Bey Mosque.
• 6 · Flight back to Istanbul
  Transfer to Izmir airport (ADB), evening flight, in Istanbul transfer back to your hotel.

Included

• Private, state-licensed tour guide in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Domestic flight Istanbul (IST or SAW) – Izmir (ADB) and back
• Transfer hotel Istanbul – airport and back
• Transfer Izmir airport (ADB) – Selçuk and back with vehicle and driver for the day programme
• Planning, coordination and time management of the day

Not included

• Entrance fees (Ephesus, Terrace Houses, House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John)
• Lunch, drinks
• Personal expenses, tips

Meeting point

We pick you up early in the morning at your hotel in Istanbul and bring you back there in the evening. Departure airport is either Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).

You will recognise me by the sign “MeinReiseleiter.de” and the visibly worn guide licence. We confirm meeting point and time with your booking.

Important information

German, English, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish – 25 more languages on request.

• Names as in your passport – We issue the flight tickets in the names you enter in the booking form. Please write them exactly as in your ID or passport.
• Bring your ID – All travellers need their passport or national ID card for the domestic flight.
• Long day – Early pick-up, back at the hotel late in the evening. If you prefer a slower pace, choose our 2-day tour with a hotel night.
• Flight times – We confirm the exact flight times and your hotel pick-up time with the booking.
• MuseumPass Aegean – Can be added in the booking form; paid in full with the deposit and non-refundable. Children under 8 do not need a pass.
• Comfortable shoes and sun protection – Ancient paving, little shade in Ephesus; bring water in summer.