Ephesus Day Trip From Istanbul by Air

You will be picked up from your Istanbul hotel between 5.00-5.30am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir at approximately 7.00am. (Please note that pick up time depends on the location of your hotel / apartment in Istanbul).

After a one hour flight from Istanbul to Izmir, you will be met on arrival at Izmir airport, and then drive approximately 1 hour to Ephesus where you will meet your group at approximately 9.30am.

Your tour starts from the Magnesia gate of Ephesus. We reserve tickets for you and you will not stand in line or waste your precious time in Ephesus.

Your guide will then take you on a stroll along the marble streets of Ephesus, passing the Odeon, monuments, fountains and more, with a highlight being the impressive façade of the Celsus Library and the remarkably intact great theatre. Your guide will also give you the option to have a look at the work in progress to restore Ephesus’ famous terrace houses (entrance fee is an additional 15TL per person payable directly at the site) - once home to Ephesus’ elite citizens. As you walk, you’ll be intrigued by the stories of the people who once lived here, and you’ll learn about the important role symbolism played an in daily life.

We will also visit the House of Virgin Mary, discovered after a German nun had visions about it and described its location, and also believed to be the place where Mary spent her last days.

After lunch we will stop at Isabey Mosque. Built in 1375, it is a great example of Seljuk architecture, and incorporates stones and columns from the ruins of Ephesus and the nearby Temple of Artemis.

Our last stop of the day will be at the site of the Temple of Artemis. Although just a single column remains today, your guide will bring to life how majestic it was back in the day, and the integral role it played in the daily life of the locals

After the tour, towards late afternoon we will transfer you to Izmir airport for your return flight to Istanbul (approximately 7.30pm). On arrival in Istanbul you will be met and transferred back to your Istanbul hotel / apartment.