Private Ephesus and Şirince Tour from Izmir
The marble streets of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and an afternoon in the hill village of Şirince.
Photo: Turkey Your Way
- Duration
- Full day (about 9 hours)
- Region
- Aegean, Ephesus, İzmir
- Walking
- Moderate
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
Best for First-time visitors
Tour code EPH-D08
The essence
A private Ephesus Şirince tour from Izmir combines the great ancient city with a village in the hills. First, you walk through Ephesus to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Then you visit the House of the Virgin Mary on Bülbül Dağı. In the afternoon, you drive up to Şirince, a village of old stone houses among vineyards and olive groves.
Highlights
- Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- The Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre
- The House of the Virgin Mary
- The old houses of Şirince
- The church of St. John the Baptist in Şirince
Program
-
Morning
Pick-up in Izmir
Your driver collects you from your hotel for the road south.
-
Morning
Ephesus on the Ephesus Şirince tour
From the upper city down to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater.
Opening hours & dress code -
Midday
The House of the Virgin Mary
The chapel on Bülbül Dağı.
Opening hours & dress code -
Afternoon
Şirince
The village lanes and the church of St. John the Baptist.
Opening hours & dress code -
Evening
Back
The drive back to Izmir.
In depth
Between the ruins of Ephesus and the hills behind Selçuk lies a whole day of things to see. A private Ephesus Şirince tour from İzmir brings them together, with your own guide and driver. If you would rather sleep in the village, Markiz Konakları has eight rooms with fireplaces.
Ephesus on the Ephesus Şirince Tour
The Library of Celsus and the Great Theater
Your driver collects you in İzmir and heads south to Selçuk. There, you walk through Ephesus, a Hellenistic and Roman city that once stood on the coast. Its streets lead down to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater. Since 2015, Ephesus has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The House of the Virgin Mary
Next, you drive up Bülbül Dağı to the House of the Virgin Mary. In 1891, Lazarist priests identified the house here. Today, Christians and Muslims alike come to pray.
Şirince After Ephesus
A village in the hills on the Ephesus Şirince tour
Then you drive up to Şirince, about 8 km from Selçuk. Its old name was Kırkınca, and it was a Greek town until 1923. Today, its people still live from vineyards, wine and olives. For lunch, Şirince Artemis serves Aegean dishes in the village’s old stone school. To stay the night, Kırkınca Evleri, which the Gülgün family has run since 1999, keeps the village’s old name.
From our guides
Our suggestion In Şirince, ask your guide for the spot where the view across the valley takes in both halves of the village.
The church of St. John the Baptist
Finally, you see the church of St. John the Baptist, built in 1805. From the village, the road leads back down to İzmir. See also our Ephesus guide. From İzmir again, our Sardis tour reaches Sardis, its Temple of Artemis and Philadelphia, and the Alaçatı tour heads to the old town, an Aegean cooking session and Çeşme Castle.
Would you like to see Ephesus and Şirince in one day? Give us a date, and Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the hill village of Şirince fit into one day.
Before you go
-
- 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
-
- Dress
- Respectful dress
- Entry
- Site entrance on the mountain road; chapel open for prayer
-
- 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
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- A private vehicle and driver for the day, with pick-up from your hotel
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“He answered all my questions, kept me updated and made sure everything went smoothly.”
From your guide
What to wear
A hat, sunscreen and shoes with good grip for the smooth marble streets of Ephesus.
Best time
Spring and autumn. In summer, we reach Ephesus early.
Photos
In Şirince, the view across the valley takes in both halves of the village.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
- Ends
- Your hotel
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in Izmir, or the airport
- Walking
- Moderate: a long walk downhill at Ephesus and steep lanes in Şirince.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs. The paving is uneven in places, so wear shoes with a good grip.
- Cancellation
- In extreme heat, we change the order of the day.
Frequently asked questions
What do we see on the Ephesus Şirince tour?
Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the village of Şirince.
How far is Şirince from Ephesus?
About 8 km from Selçuk, a short drive up into the hills.
Can we start the Ephesus Şirince tour from Kuşadası?
Yes. Tell us your hotel in Kuşadası, and we plan Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and Şirince from there.
Is the Ephesus Şirince tour suitable for kids and seniors?
Yes, for children and older travelers who can walk on uneven ground: the old paving of Ephesus is uneven in places. Tell us your needs.
How much walking is there?
Moderate: a long walk downhill at Ephesus and steep lanes in Şirince.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
Can we customize the Ephesus Şirince tour?
Yes. It is private, so we can give Ephesus more time, shorten Şirince or add places nearby.
How long does the tour take?
A full day, about 9 hours. Since it is private, we can spend longer at Ephesus or keep Şirince short.
