Library of Celsus framed by columns on Curetes Street, EphesusWeavers at their looms in a carpet workshop, SelçukHanks of dyed wool for hand-knotted rugs, SelçukHand-painted Turkish ceramic platesCruise ships in Kusadasi bay

Ephesus and Local Crafts: Private Shopping Tour for Cruisers

  • Duration4–5 hours
  • StartsFrom/to Kusadasi Cruise Port
  • TypePrivate, only your group
  • CancellationFree up to 24 h before
  • Payment50% deposit online, rest in cash on the day
  • ReturnBack to your ship on time, guaranteed

Tour at a glance

Duration
4–5 hours
Starts
From/to Kusadasi Cruise Port
Price
From $180 total for 2 guests (≈ $90 per person); price depends on group size
Included
A licensed, professional local guide from our Kusadasi team, A private tour for your party only, Pick-up and drop-off at Kusadasi cruise port or your hotel, Back at the ship on time, guaranteed
Entrance fees
Not included; paid in cash (USD or EUR) on the day, only for the sites you visit. Your guide brings skip-the-line tickets
Group size
1–15 guests online; larger groups on request
Children
Ages 0–4 travel free (max. 2 per booking); from age 5 the adult price applies
Cancellation
Free up to 24 h before
Payment
50% deposit online, rest in cash on the day

About this tour

Half history, half craft. This private day pairs the ruins of Ephesus with the workshops of the surrounding countryside, where rugs, leather and ceramics are still made by hand. It is the tour for travellers who would like to come home with something special, or simply see how it is made.

Your day

We meet you by the port's information desk as you walk out, name card in hand, and drive about twenty minutes to Ephesus Ancient City. With your guide you explore this UNESCO-listed Greco-Roman city, from its temples and library to the Roman theatre associated with St. Paul and St. John.

Next, the Terrace Houses on Bulbul Mountain open the doors of wealthy 1st-century homes, with frescoes, mosaics and household objects still in view.

The second half of the day belongs to local makers. Tell us what interests you and we take you there: a rug-weaving cooperative where you watch knots tied on the loom, a leather workshop making jackets and bags, or a studio for handmade pottery and ceramics. Watching is as welcome as buying, and there is no obligation to purchase.

On the way back you get a panoramic view of Kusadasi town and the castle on Pigeon Island.

Good to know

Comfortable shoes and sun protection help at Ephesus. Entrance fees are settled in cash on the day, in US dollars or euros, for the sites on your route only; skip-the-line tickets come with your guide. Whatever you choose to see, our timetable follows your ship, and we guarantee your on-time return.

Places you visit

  • Ephesus Ancient City
  • Terrace Houses of Ephesus
  • Local cooperative: Hand-Woven Rugs and Leather Outlets

Included

  • A licensed, professional local guide from our Kusadasi team
  • A private tour for your party only
  • Pick-up and drop-off at Kusadasi cruise port or your hotel
  • Back at the ship on time, guaranteed
  • Air-conditioned minivan with a separate driver

Not included

  • Gratuities (recommended)
  • Entrance fees for the sites on your route, settled in cash (US dollars or euros) on the day; the skip-the-line tickets travel with your guide

Meeting point

Port exit gate, Kusadasi cruise terminal

Your guide waits at the cruise terminal exit holding a sign that says "PRIVATE & GROUP EPHESUS TOURS", 30–45 minutes after your ship docks. We confirm the exact meeting time and spot by email before your tour.

Good to know

  • Nobody else joins: your guide and vehicle are booked for your party only.
  • One price for the whole party: it does not go up per head within your group size.
  • We meet you at the cruise terminal exit gate, next to the information desk, 30–45 minutes after the ship is alongside, holding a sign that says "PRIVATE & GROUP EPHESUS TOURS".
  • Site tickets are not in the tour price. You pay them in cash (USD or EUR) on the day, only where you go in; your guide has skip-the-line tickets with them.
  • A 50% card deposit confirms the booking; you hand the other 50% to your guide in cash.
  • Up to two children aged 4 or under ride free on each booking; anyone 5 or older counts as an adult.
  • Expect old, uneven paving stones: flat shoes with grip are best, and from May a hat and water bottle too.
  • Your all-aboard time sets the plan for the whole day, and we get you back to the pier before it.

Price for your whole group

One price per private group, not per person. Children 0–4 travel free (max. 2 per booking).

GuestsGroup total
1–2 guests$180
3 guests$220
4–6 guests$250
7–9 guests$280
10–12 guests$300
13–15 guests$350
16+ guestsAsk for a quote

Questions

Is the price for each person?

No, it is one price for your whole party. As long as your group stays within the size you chose, nothing is added per person.

What exactly am I paying for?

A licensed guide for your party alone, the transport on the day (a private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the Ephesus tours; tram and public transport in Istanbul) and our on-time return to your ship. The tour page lists what is in and what is not.

Do you include the entrance tickets?

No. Ticket prices change during the year, so they stay outside the tour price. Your guide carries skip-the-line tickets, and you pay for them in cash (USD or EUR) on the day, only for the places you enter.

Can the tickets go on my card?

No. Because your guide buys them for you, they are paid in cash (USD or EUR) on the tour day.

How do I reserve?

Reserve online up to 24 hours before the tour. A 50% deposit is charged to your card in USD; the remaining half is paid in cash to your guide on the day.

Can I cancel?

Yes. Cancel at least 24 hours before your tour and the whole deposit is refunded. If your ship cannot dock in port, you also get the full deposit back.

Where will we find our guide?

At the cruise terminal exit gate, next to the information desk, 30–45 minutes after your ship docks, look for a sign that says "PRIVATE & GROUP EPHESUS TOURS". Before the tour we email you the exact time and spot.

Why so early in the morning?

On days with several ships, the sites fill up fast. Meeting 30–45 minutes after docking puts you ahead of the crowds and the midday heat.

What if we run late at a site?

Your guide keeps an eye on the clock for you. The day is planned backwards from your ship’s all-aboard time, and we guarantee your return to the port in time.

Is the walking hard?

It is manageable at an easy pace. Ephesus is walked mostly downhill on old marble that is uneven in places, and the Terrace Houses have plenty of steps. Tell us about any mobility needs when you book and your guide will plan the pace and breaks.

How much do children pay?

Children up to 4 years old are free, up to two per booking. From the age of 5 they pay the adult price.

Do we stop for lunch?

Lunch is only included when the tour page says so. Otherwise your guide can suggest a local place on the way, and you pay the restaurant directly.

Who are you?

Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi is a brand of Iglesias Tour Turkey, a TÜRSAB-licensed travel agency (licence no. 10772) based in Kusadasi since 2010. Every guide we work with is a licensed professional guide.

Photos: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)

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