Ship to Shore – Ephesus Shore Excursion

This half-day or one-day tour is an opportunity for passengers from cruise ships docking in Kusadasi or Izmir to explore Ephesus, one of the most important and best-preserved cities from the ancient world.

Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  No trip to Turkey is complete without a visit to Ephesus.   According to legend, the Greeks founded Ephesus around 1,000 BC.  The ruins of today date from the 4th Century under the Romans when Ephesus became an important port on the Aegean.  Excavations have revealed grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period.  Ephesus also played an important role in the spread of Christianity.

Among the major sites, you will see are the remains of Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which was four times larger than the Parthenon in Athens, the Library of Celsus, which has to be seen to be believed, the Great Theater, where St. Paul preached, the magnificent Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian and the Odeon, where members of the City Council in Roman times gathered to discuss city issues.  You’ll walk along Marble Street, Curetes Street (one of the main streets of ancient Ephesus), and Arcadian Way, which led from the Great Theater to the harbor.  The harbor silted up which led to the decline of Ephesus as an important port.  Ephesus was captured by the Selcuks in 1090.  You will also see the house where it is believed the Virgin Mary spent her final years, watched over by the Apostle John.

Ship to Shore – Ephesus Shore Excursion

Route: Fountain of Trajan, Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Temple of Artemis
Tour Type: Small Private Group Tour
Duration: Full Day

INCLUDED

• Pick up  and drop off from Kusadasi or Izmir port
• Professional English-speaking tour guide
• 1 lunch
• Entrance fees to all the sites