Türkiye · EPHESUS TOURS IN BODRUM
Good ephesus tours in Bodrum fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Travel from Bodrum by private air-conditioned van to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis. Your licensed guide may include local crafts or carpet weaving, with lunch and cruise-port return built in. Guides such as Ibrahim, Utku, Bilal, and Canan have led past tours.
“The driver was on time and the tour guide was excellent. Ephesus was so impressive the scale of the city.”
Travel by air-conditioned coach from Bodrum to Ephesus with an English-speaking guide, about three hours at the ruins, buffet lunch, and optional House of the Virgin Mary visit. Guides such as Miriam, Fatma, and Emel have earned praise, but expect two shopping stops and extra charges for breakfast, drinks, and some admissions.
“Ephesus is a great place to visit, but the tour incorporated several stop offs that weren't mentioned in the package. It made the day too long and we were not interested in these visits, we just wanted to visit Ephesus. Our pick up was rescheduled to 6.15am from 7am, but they were half an hour late.”
Start with a 5:00 am hotel pickup in Bodrum, ride by air-conditioned coach to Ephesus, then visit the House of the Virgin Mary. You get a guide, lunch, and hotel return, but must budget for entrance fees, breakfast, drinks, and possible shopping stops.
“I had to pay twice to visit the Virgin Mary House, which is unfair. According to the ticket it includes all but later I was told that not.”
Travel by air-conditioned bus from Bodrum to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary with an English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup, buffet lunch, insurance, and return transport are included. Expect an early start, long drives, a group of up to 45, extra entrance fees, and ceramic shopping stops.
“Great tour round Ephesus. But the unannounced stops for hard sell of jewellery and Turkish delight were not appreciated All the dallying and diversions meant we didn't get back till 9pm after a 6.30am start. Ephesus is literally 170km from Bodrum.”
Travel by air-conditioned coach from Bodrum to Ephesus with a licensed English-speaking guide. The day includes a Bafa Lake breakfast stop, Turkish delight tasting, an optional House of the Virgin Mary visit, open-buffet lunch, and about three hours at Ephesus.
“This trip does not include what the Viator listing says it does. It’s says it includes the Mary House, Temple of Artemis, Basilica of St John and museum. That’s not correct. It’s the House of Mary (extra fee) or the other stuff. I was cheated out of 1/3 of my trip. I paid a little bit more for this trip to see everything compared to others. I complained during the trip and was tiold to contact the tour operator. It’s not like I can go see the rest of the sites promised”
Spend a long day exploring Ephesus, the Library of Celsus, Roman streets, and the House of the Virgin Mary. An English-speaking guide, hotel transfers, and lunch are included, but budget another €65 for the main entrance fees and expect two sponsored shopping stops.
“Avevo paura che fosse un'escursione pesante visto le tante ore, invece è stato tutto molto fluido e piacevole. Sicuramente ha aiutato il fatto che a settembre c'è meno gente in generale, e che fa meno caldo. C'erano vari stop per fare acquisti ed andare in bagno. Tutto in tempi ragionevoli. Ho apprezzato che il pranzo fosse a buffet (molto veloce e potevo scegliere quello che mi piaceva). Grazie Beyza”
Travel privately from Bodrum to Ephesus with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, pre-paid entry, and a Turkish lunch. Spend about two hours among the Library of Celsus, Grand Theater, and marble streets, then visit Mary's House and the Temple of Artemis.
“Ephesus was amazing and so worth the drive. We had a very bubbly tour guide who made the trip a lot of fun.”
Pick a strait, a valley or a stretch of coast.
