Private 2-Day Ephesus Tour from Istanbul – incl. Flight & Hotel

Two days, no rush: in the morning we fly from Istanbul to Izmir and drive to Selçuk. The first day belongs to the ancient city of Ephesus with the Terrace Houses, the Artemision and the Basilica of St John. After a night in a 4-star hotel we visit the House of the Virgin Mary on Nightingale Hill and the mountain village of Şirince on day two, before we take you to the late return flight to Istanbul at around 8 pm.

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
• Artemision, Basilica of St John and İsa Bey Mosque in Selçuk
• House of the Virgin Mary on Nightingale Hill and the wine village of Şirince
• One night in a 4-star hotel, all transfers and a private guide on both days

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. 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.

On the second day we drive up Nightingale Hill to the House of the Virgin Mary, where tradition says the mother of Jesus spent her last years – a quiet place visited by Christians and Muslims alike. At the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk you see the finds from the city, including the famous Artemis statues. Then we head up to Şirince, a former Greek village among olives and vines, with time for a stroll and lunch. In the evening we take you to Izmir airport; the return flight leaves at around 8 pm, and in Istanbul you are picked up and brought back to your hotel.

For you this means: you book everything in one step – flights, hotel, transfers and guiding – at one fixed total price. There is nothing to organise yourself.

What we see

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

• 1 · Day 1 · Flight Istanbul – Izmir
  Pick-up at your hotel in Istanbul, transfer to IST or SAW airport, flight to Izmir (ADB), drive to Selçuk.
• 2 · Day 1 · Ancient city of Ephesus
  Magnesian Gate, State Agora, Odeon, Curetes Street, Temple of Hadrian, Library of Celsus, Great Theatre.
• 3 · Day 1 · Terrace Houses (optional)
  Roman homes with frescoes and mosaics under a protective roof, separate ticket.
• 4 · Day 1 · 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. Hotel in the evening.
• 5 · Day 2 · House of the Virgin Mary
  Chapel on Nightingale Hill, spring and wishing wall, views over the forests near Ephesus.
• 6 · Day 2 · Ephesus Museum Selçuk
  Finds from Ephesus: Artemis statues, friezes from the Temple of Hadrian, everyday objects from the Terrace Houses.
• 7 · Day 2 · Wine village of Şirince
  Stone houses in the hills above Selçuk, lanes, fruit and grape wines, time for lunch.
• 8 · Day 2 · Late flight back to Istanbul
  Transfer to Izmir airport (ADB), return flight at around 8 pm, in Istanbul transfer back to your hotel.

Included

• Day 2 as a separate tour: guide and vehicle with driver for the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus Museum and Şirince
• Private, state-licensed tour guide on both days in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Domestic flight Istanbul (IST or SAW) – Izmir (ADB) and back, late return flight at around 8 pm
• 1 night in a 4-star hotel in the Selçuk / Kuşadası area
• 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 both days

Not included

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

Meeting point

We pick you up at your hotel in Istanbul on the morning of day 1 and bring you back there on the evening of day 2. 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.
• Flight times – The return flight on day 2 leaves at around 8 pm – so the whole day is free for the second tour. We confirm the exact flight times and your hotel pick-up time with the booking.
• Rooms – Two adults share a double room; with an odd number or on request there are single rooms. Children sleep in their parents' room at no extra charge.
• 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.