Selcuk

Day Trips

Our most recommended Selcuk Day Trips

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  1. From Kusadasi: Ephesus and Temple of Artemis Private Tour

  Ephesus was created by the Ionians in the 11th-Century BC and later expanded by the Romans. Now considered one of the grandest reconstructed sites in the ancient world, the region also hosted the likes of Cleopatra, Mark Antony, the Virgin Mary and John the Apostle. The ruins of Ephesus are the biggest open-air museum in Turkey and you will get to explore them on this half-day tour from Kusadasi port. Your route will take you past the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Great Theater and the spectacular Celsus Library, one of the best-preserved buildings among the ruins. Ephesus is also a sacred site for Christians, due to its association with several biblical figures, including St. Paul and St. John the Evangelist. But the highlight is the last resting place of the Virgin Mary. After Jesus had been crucified on the cross, the Virgin Mary came to Ephesus to spend the last ...

  The tour guide was excellent. He was informative and interesting. The tour was well paced and the trip to the Ceramics outlet was worthwhile.

  Reviewed by Anonymous, 7/28/2015
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  2. Ephesus Day Tour with Return Flights From Istanbul

  Explore an historical gem of the eastern Mediterranean on a full-day tour of Ephesus from Istanbul, with round-trip flights, and walk in the footsteps of Cleopatra, Mark Antony, the Virgin Mary, and John the Apostle. The largest open-air museum in Turkey, Ephesus contains more than 30 buildings and structures linked together by streets that still bear the marks of chariot wheels. Your guide will show you the awe-inspiring Great Theater, where St. Paul preached against the pagans and gladiators once engaged in battle. Walk along Marble Street to the Library of Celsus and be dazzled by its restored façade. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, Roman baths, and other remarkable ruins. Continue to the Church of the Virgin Mary. According to Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the Resurrection of Christ. The church was erected on the foundation of the house whe...

  What an experience! Spending the day with my fantastic guide Nafia was more than I could ask for. Sine it was only the two of us, She showed me sites within Ephesus which she isn’t normally able to do with large groups. Her knowledge of this ancient city was impressive and I learned so many interesting facts throughout the day.

  Reviewed by Ron, United States, 11/27/2020
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  3. Selcuk: Full-Day Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary Tour

  Following a pickup from your hotel in Selcuk, enjoy a short drive to Ephesus in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan. Start by visiting the extensive ruins in the ancient city. Admire the fascinating ancient structures surrounding you, including the spectacular Temple of Hadrian, the stunning facade of the Library of Celsus, and the vast Great Theater.     Continue the tour to the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Then, stop by the house of Virgin Mary, a popular place of pilgrimage for Catholics, where it is believed the Virgin Mary spent the remainder of her life. Located on top of Bulbul Mountain, it offers visitors a panoramic view of the town.   Finally, explore the Isa Bey Mosque and marvel at its crown-like doors, a jewel of Seljukian architecture combined with decorative elements from the Ottoman Empire.

  Our guide, Marcy is a warm-hearted passionate woman. She is a great storyteller, so as we were touring, we could envision the ancient places. Ephesus is really worth going with a great guide.

  Reviewed by Shu Yi Valerie, 3/11/2020
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  4. From Istanbul: Ephesus & Şirince Day Trip w/ Wine Tasting

  Spend the day exploring the most memorable places in Ephesus and Şirince on this guided full-day tour from Istanbul, lunch included. Visit the House of Virgin Mary, see the Temple of Artemis, and taste local wine at a vineyard. Enjoy convenient round-trip transportation from Istanbul. Start your trip by getting picked up from your hotel in Istanbul and transferred to the Istanbul Airport for your flight from Istanbul to Izmir. Upon arrival at Izmir Airport, meet your driver to head to Ephesus to start the tour. First, stop at the House of Virgin Mary, the place where Mary may have spent her last days. This place was officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1986, and since then it has become a popular place of pilgrimage. The visit to the House of Virgin Mary takes about 45 minutes. After, take a 5-minute drive to Ephesus to continue the tour. Ephesus is an excepti...

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  5. Ephesus: Full-Day Tour from Kusadasi or Izmir

  You’ll meet your professional guide and head out on the drive to Ephesus-Selcuk. Ephesus is considered one of the most spectacular open-air museums in the world, and certainly a highlight of any visit to Turkey. During this guided full-day tour, the ancient city will come alive as you walk through the 2,000-year-old marble streets. Admire the Library of Celsius, Hadrian's Temple, the Fountains of Trajan, the temples of Hadrian and Domitian, and more. See the great theater that had a seating capacity of 24,000 spectators. Visit the terrace houses, located on the slopes of Bulbul Mountain, opposite the Hadrian Temple. The terrace houses were residences of the wealthy, and featured beautiful frescoes and mosaics in their interiors. After visiting the Ephesus ruins, you’ll continue on to the House of the Virgin Mary. The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains a...

  Ephesus is awe inspiring, a great tour around the excavated parts with a friendly guide, The house of virgin Mary and the church of St. John, the gospel writer, is included. Not to be missed!

  Reviewed by christian, 8/28/2021
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  6. Ephesus and Pamukkale: Day Trip by Plane from Istanbul

  Enjoy a full-day package trip that takes you on a guided tour from Istanbul to 2 of Turkey’s most fascinating attractions: the ancient cities of Ephesus and Hierapolis. Spend a full day marveling at ancient, multi-cultural architecture and monuments without worrying about any of the details of traveling and organizing. You’ll start your day with pickup from your hotel in Istanbul, bright and early at 5:15 AM for a transfer to the airport for your 7:30 AM flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted and brought to Ephesus to meet with your guide and take your Ancient City Tour. Ephesus is an iconic former-Greek city, built in the 10th century, famed for its temples, monuments, and theaters. Known as the commercial, religious, and social center of antiquity, this is sure to be the highlight to your whole visit to Turkey. Explore the city’s combination of Greek, Roman and Byzantine mar...

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  7. From Izmir: Full-Day Small-Group Ephesus Tour

  Start with a pickup from your hotel in Izmir. Then, the discovery of Ephesus begins with the House of the Virgin Mary and a 10-minute drive to the ancient city of Ephesus. Explore the city by walking on the marble streets, accompanied by a guide.

  See the Odeon, State Agora, the Pretension, the Memmius Monument, the Domitian Temple, Hercules Gate, Curetes Street, Hadrian Temple, and the Latrines. Choose to take an optional visit to the terrace houses for an additional cost.

  After the terrace houses, carry on with your exploration with the Celsus Library, Marble Road, Commercial Agora, Great Theater, and Arcadian (harbor road). Enjoy a nice lunch served in a quaint local restaurant.

  Visit the Temple of Artemis. Here, there will be a good chance to take gorgeous pictures of the church of St. John and the Mosque of İsa Bey. Enjoy free time in the old village of Siri...

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  8. Full-Day Tour of Ephesus with Flight from Istanbul

  On this tour, visit the beautiful city of Ephesus, a gem of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. Its rich history will take you back in time and you will learn why this city was so important in the past. It is also home to the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. On this tour you will visit all its ancient sites. Visit the Grand Theater, which is believed to be the largest theater in the ancient world with capacity for 44,000 spectators. Also explore the ruins of the famous Temple of Artemis which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Another interesting sight is the fascinating facade of the Library of Celsus, which has been carefully reconstructed from its original pieces. The library was built by Celsus' son and once held more than 12,000 scrolls. After a delicious lunch of Turkish cuisine, visit the House of the Blessed Virgin. ...

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  9. From Istanbul: Ephesus Full-Day Tour

  Spend a full day among the famous ruins of Ephesus, flying from Istanbul to Izmir and back. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and transfer you to Istanbul's Ataturk Airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival at Izmir, you will meet with your tour guide and drive the 40 minutes to Ephesus. Visit the vast and rich archeological site of Ephesus, imagining life in Roman times as you pass through the ancient city gates. See the ruins of State Agora, a marketplace from Roman times. Admire Marble Road, dating back to 1 A.D. Then view the beautiful architecture of Celsus Library, the 3rd largest in the ancient world. Your guide will also show you Ephesus Theatre, which once held 15,000 spectators, and many other ancient landmarks of Ephesus' Greek and Roman pasts. After lunch visit the Virgin Mary’s House archeological site, where it is said Mary spent her l...

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  10. Full-Day Pamukkale Tour from Kusadasi

  The rock formations of Pamukkale (literally, "Cotton Castle") are a series of white terraces saturated with dissolved calcium bicarbonate, bubbling up from the feet of the mountains beyond. As the water flows over the edge of the plateau and cools, carbon dioxide is given off and calcium carbonate precipitates as hard chalk, or travertine. The spring emerges in the middle of the ancient resort city of Hierapolis (the ruins themselves are worthy of a stop as well). Sadly, the travertine that makes up the Pamukkale is gradually turning from white to yellow, and is even thought to be drying up. Thirsty hotels are blamed by the government, which has demolished many of them. This is good for the Pamukkale, but it makes finding a hotel increasingly difficult. Most stay in Pamukkale Koyu. The Hierapolis archaeological site lies west of Pamukkale Koyu. Its main features include a temple of Apo...

  It was one of my best trips during my stay in Turkey. The organization was excellent. I was picked up at the arranged time from my hotel. I was very lucky with professional guides John and Nizam, who were both friendly and helpful.

  Reviewed by Anna, 9/17/2019