Ephesus Day Tour From Istanbul by Plane

Highlights

1. Curetes Street and the façade of the Library of Celsus
2. The Great Theater, where Saint Paul's preaching caused a riot
3. The mosaics and painted walls of the Terrace Houses
4. The House of the Virgin Mary on its wooded mountain
5. The hill village of Şirince and its fruit wines

Program

1. Early morning

   Flight to İzmir

   Your driver takes you from your hotel to the airport for a short domestic flight. Your guide and a driver meet you at arrivals.

2. Morning

   Ephesus

   From the upper gate down Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

3. Late morning

   The Terrace Houses

   Roman homes with mosaics and wall paintings under a protective roof.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

4. Midday

   The House of the Virgin Mary

   A small stone house on the mountain, a place of prayer for Christians and Muslims.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

5. Lunch

   Selçuk

   Lunch in town, then the Basilica of St. John on Ayasuluk Hill.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

6. Afternoon

   Şirince

   A hill village of old houses and fruit wines.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

7. Evening

   Flight to Istanbul

   Back to İzmir airport for the evening flight. In Istanbul, your driver takes you to your hotel.

In depth

Ephesus can seem too far for a short trip to Turkey. However, it is a short flight from Istanbul. With an early flight and a guide waiting at the airport, you can walk the marble streets of a great Roman city of Asia Minor and be back in Istanbul for dinner. That is our Ephesus day tour from Istanbul: one long, rewarding day. As a day trip from Istanbul, it needs no packing, and you sleep in your own hotel that night.

Flying South on the Ephesus Day Tour From Istanbul

The day starts early, with your driver at your Istanbul hotel. Domestic flights from both Istanbul airports reach İzmir quickly. Then your guide and driver meet you in the arrivals hall, and the drive to Ephesus takes about an hour, through olive groves and past the town of Selçuk.

Walking Ephesus Downhill on the Ephesus Day Tour From Istanbul

We enter Ephesus at the upper gate, so the whole walk goes downhill. First, you pass the Odeon, where the city council met, and then Curetes Street opens below you. It runs down past temples, fountains and the public latrines to the façade of the Library of Celsus, built in the 2nd century AD as a tomb and a library at once.

Beyond it, the Great Theater could seat some 25,000 people. Here, as the Book of Acts tells, the silversmiths of Ephesus rioted against Saint Paul, because his preaching threatened their trade in statues of Artemis.

The Terrace Houses on the Ephesus Day Tour From Istanbul

On the slope above Curetes Street, a protective roof covers the Terrace Houses, the homes of rich Ephesians. Inside, you walk on glass walkways above mosaic floors and painted walls. Although they need a separate ticket, they are one of the highlights of the day.

Mary, John and a Hill Village

From the ancient city, we drive up the mountain to the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone house where many pilgrims believe Mary spent her last years. Both Christians and Muslims come here to pray. After lunch in Selçuk, we visit the Basilica of St. John, built by Justinian over the apostle’s tomb.

Finally, if time allows before your flight, we climb to Şirince, a hill village of old houses, olive oil soap and fruit wines.

From our guides

• The Temple of ArtemisOnly one column still stands of this Wonder of the World, and storks often nest on top of it.
• Çöp şişIn Selçuk, lunch means tiny lamb skewers wrapped in thin bread.
• Şirince wineThe village is known for wines made from blackberries, peaches and other fruit.
• Polished marbleThe streets of Ephesus are polished by two thousand years of feet. Wear shoes with good grip.

Our suggestion Take the first flight of the morning. You arrive at Ephesus in the cool of the morning, and the sun has not yet warmed the marble streets.

More Time on the Aegean

If you can stay the night, add Priene, Miletus and Didyma, or continue to Pamukkale. For more ideas, see our guide to Selçuk and Ephesus. We arrange your entry to Ephesus and time the day to its seasonal hours. Arriving by ship at Kuşadası instead? Our shore excursion starts at the pier. From a base on the coast, the Priene, Miletus and Didyma tour fills a second day with three more ancient cities.

Before you go

• 

  Ephesus

  Open

  Open every day

  Closed

  Open every day

  Dress

  Comfortable shoes and sun protection; modest clothing for the House of the Virgin Mary

  Entry

  Ticket required; the Terrace Houses need an extra ticket; the ticket includes the Ephesus Experience Museum

  Official site ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Terrace Houses of Ephesus

  Entry

  Inside the Ephesus site, with its own entrance and a separate ticket

  Official site ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• 

  House of the Virgin Mary

  Dress

  Respectful dress

  Entry

  Site entrance on the mountain road; chapel open for prayer

• 

  Basilica of St. John (St. Jean), Selçuk

  Entry

  Ticketed archaeological site

• 

  Şirince

  Open

  The village is open at all times; churches and shops keep their own hours

  Entry

  No ticket needed

Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.

What’s included

Practical

Updated: October 22, 2026

Starts

Early morning. We collect you at your Istanbul hotel for an early morning flight.

Ends

Your hotel in Istanbul, after your evening flight from İzmir airport

Meeting point

Your hotel in Istanbul; your guide meets you in the arrivals hall at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport

Walking

Overall, moderate: about 3 kilometers (2 miles) downhill through Ephesus, on uneven marble.

Accessibility

Tell us your needs. Ephesus is downhill but uneven; the car meets you at both gates.

Cancellation

If your flight is delayed, we adjust the order of the day.

Frequently asked questions