Where to Go: the 6 Best Temple Tours in Turkey

1.Ephesus Temple of Artemis and House of Mary Private Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,573 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $15Our pick

Meet your private guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port for a 4 to 5 hour visit to Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and Mary’s House. Guides such as Mel, Seyhan, Füsun, and Bugra tailor the pace, explain the sites in clear English, and include lunch plus a Turkish carpet demonstration.

“This is a must do tour and I would highly recommend Mel as a guide. We had a fantastic afternoon with Mel catering to our needs and wants and ensuring that we had a comfortable tour. Her knowledge of the area and great sense of humour really made the day. We were picked up from the terminal on time, found our minivan and headed off. We did everything we wanted including a special quick detour to see the beautiful sunset. Ephesus is an absolute must-see; don’t miss it! So glad we had Mel as a tour guide; she has a wonderfully warm and fun personality.”

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2.Ephesus and Temple of Artemis Private Tour from Kusadasi Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 672 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $14Best value

Meet your private guide at Kusadasi cruise port for Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and a Turkish lunch. Guides such as Fatih, Seyhan, Eren, Alp, and Bihter tailor the visit well for families, history fans, and cruise passengers. Allow for shopping and craft demonstrations along the way.

“We had an excellent tour with Seyhan. He was extremely knowledgeable and shared what he knew with enthusiasm for his country. We certainly got more than we expected for the price to see the Ephesus ruins and the Temple of Artemis, learn about rug making and have a lovely Turkish lunch. Highly recommend this service”

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3.Ancient Perge, Aspendos Amphitheater and City of Side Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 644 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $42

Spend about 10 hours exploring Perge, Aspendos, and Side from Antalya with a guide such as Ibrahim, Oğuzhan, Ozzy, or Gamze. Expect Roman ruins, a superb ancient theater, Apollo’s seaside columns, lunch, hotel pickup, and a small group of up to 15. Some departures also include Manavgat Waterfall.

“The history of some impressive ancient Roman sites explained in some detail - and with a deep knowledge from the tour leader. She brought it to life, making it a richer experience.”

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4.Ephesus & Temple of Artemis Tour with Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 449 reviews · from $27

Meet your guide outside Kusadasi cruise terminal for a 3.5-hour visit to Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. Expect Roman streets, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, and a small-group ride back to port. Guides such as Esra, Aysel, Mesta, and Ahmet have earned praise for clear, lively explanations.

“The tour was fantastic! The bus was large and air conditioned. The stops were good. We were able to get in all we wanted and then some more! The driver got us to where we needed safely and the tour guide was so knowledgeable. We stopped at the Heirloom Carpet Centre where we watched women make carpets and had a great lunch. Would recommend this tour 100 times!!”

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5.3-Hour Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Cruiser Only

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 274 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $30

Meet your licensed guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port and explore Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, and the Temple of Artemis in a private air-conditioned van. Guides such as Bilal, Umut, Utku, and Taylan are praised for clear explanations and flexible pacing. Countryside lunch and craft demonstrations may be included.

“Our experience is one of the best tours we’ve ever been. Our tour guide Bilal was extremely knowledgeable and helpful with my 89 year old mother.. Ergin our driver was polite and always had the vehicle cool.. I highly recommend this tour!!!”

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6.Ephesus Tour with Temple of Artemis and Sirince Village From Izmir

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 239 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $145

Travel from Izmir to Mary’s House, Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and Sirince Village on an 8 to 9-hour guided day. Expect hotel, airport, or port pickup, buffet lunch, air-conditioned transport, and an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Nizam, Melike, and Mehmet are especially praised.

“The best part of this tour is Mehmet , our host. He is a teacher as well I believe, so sorted, so warm and spoke only when it’s required, no overload of info. The day was damn hot and he walked with us to every single place/spot. anybody thinking of visiting Turkey in July, pls think again. Never requested for a review or anything else for that matter. Very professional. It’s a great historical tour, Ephesus is great, house of Mary Yes. I didn’t find anything interesting in temple of Artemis or syringe village. But you need to spend a day.”

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