Biblical Ephesus Tour (Private and Half-Day) Itinerary
You will be picked up by your guide from your meeting point. Your first stop will be the Temple of Artemis, where you will spend about 15 minutes. You will enter Ephesus from the upper city of ancient Ephesus ruins with your guide. You will be admired by;
- Celsus Library which is the highlight and masterpiece of Ephesus
- The largest Greco-roman theater of the Ancient World
- Hadrian Temple
- The Marble Street
- The Odeon
- The Temple of Domitian
- The Commercial and State Agora
- Double Church (The Church of Mary) wherein 431 AD. the Third Ecumenical Council was organized.
After you will visit all of them when you are on the way to The Basilica of St. John the Evangelist (where he was buried).
After you all have seen the sites you will have your lunch in a Turkish local restaurant with delicious homemade Turkish food. There are options for vegetarians and gluten-free.
Sites to Visit
- Temple of Artemis: One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
- Ancient City of Ephesus: The largest uncovered the Ancient City of Turkey.
- Double Church: First Church of the ancient city of Ephesus.
- Basilica of St. John: The burial place of St. John.
Duration Time
This will be your Private Half-Day Ephesus Tour, which means the duration of your tour depends on your interest. For the general idea, you will spend about 4 or 5 hours on this tour.
Recommendations: There are uneven ancient streets in Ephesus, please have your comfortable shoes and clothing, If you visit in summer please get your hat and sunblock creams and water.
Tour Prices
Private Ephesus Tour price is changing according to the number of adults. Please ask the price.
Children aged 7 and under can enter Ephesus and other historical sites around Ephesus free of charge. You must present an ID, passport or a photo of these documents to show your child’s age at the entrance.
PS: We would like to introduce to you the local cultural aspects of Ephesus showing handmade Carpet & Rug Art Weaving Teaching–Village and Ceramic Center or Leather Company – An Opportunity Not To Be Missed!
Temple of Artemis: One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
You will visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world. You will learn the interesting and thought-provoking stories of the Temple of Artemis, a masterpiece of the Archaic period, from our guides and will definitely experience the ancient Hellenistic and Ionian world.
You will also meet famous figures who left their mark on the Temple of Artemis, such as the Lydian King Croesus, Aristarchus, Alexander the Great, and Herostratus.
Ancient City of Ephesus: The largest uncovered ancient city of Turkey.Ephesus was undoubtedly one of the four largest cities in the ancient world, both during the Greek and Roman periods. You will have the opportunity to explore this fascinating Greco-Roman city, adorned with marble, a symbol of wealth, with our guides.
You will witness interesting and thought-provoking events that took place within Ephesus, and you will be amazed by the sheer size of the ancient city.
By the way, approximately 15% of the ancient city of Ephesus that you will visit has been restored. Generally, public buildings have been restored. The city structures of Ephesus have not yet been touched.
The largest cities in the world during the Ancient Greek/Hellenistic period:
1. Alexandria – Egypt; the largest center of the Hellenistic world.
2. Syracuse – Sicily; one of the largest cities of the Western Greek world.
3. Athens – Aegean world; center of culture, philosophy, and democracy.
4. Ephesus – Ionia-Aegean region; a very powerful city, especially in terms of trade, port, and culture.
The largest cities in the world during the Roman era:
1. Rome – The largest of the empires; nearly 1 million inhabitants.
2. Alexandria – Egypt; one of the largest after Rome.
3. Antioch – Syria; a major metropolis of the East.
4. Ephesus – Ionia-Aegean region; capital of the province of Asia and one of the largest cities in the Aegean during the Roman period.
Double Church: First Church of the ancient city of Ephesus.
One of the most important events in the Christian world, the schism of Christianity into denominations, took place in the ancient city of Ephesus. Furthermore, the Double Church (or Church of the Holy Virgin Mary), which has witnessed visits from some of the world’s most famous archbishops and priests, including Popes in our time, awaits its esteemed visitors.
Basilica of St. John: The burial place of St. John.
This massive complex was built for St. John, the most trusted apostle to whom Jesus entrusted his mother Mary, and who also wrote the Gospel. You will be amazed when you hear about the history of this grand structure, both before and after its construction. You will learn why it was built, what rooms and sections it comprises, and what kinds of ceremonies were performed on special occasions.
