The 15 Best City Highlights Shore Excursions in Turkey

1.ONLY FOR CRUISE GUESTS: Best Seller Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 297 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Spend about 5.5 hours with a private English-speaking guide and driver, visiting Ephesus and Mary’s House from Kusadasi cruise port. Guides such as Ayse, Ekin, Alpha, and Marsy tailor the pace well, while optional rug, ceramic, food, and market stops may add local flavor.

“How do I give this tour more stars??!!! This was hands down the best tour we took our whole trip! Ekin quickly read our group as mom with three teens and gave us just the right amount of info and details at each site. He shared stories and local culture. He and our driver made sure we were safe and reached each destination strategically ahead of the crowds. If we could go back and take him with us to every city we would. I highly recommend this agency and Ekin!!!”

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2.Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 273 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $100

Start at Galataport with an English-speaking guide and cover Istanbul’s top sights in about eight hours. You’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, and more. Expect substantial walking, museum fees, and possible shopping stops.

“It was great! The only issue was that this tour contrary to its name Shore Excursion, was not meant for those in a cruise line just spending the day in Istanbul. We had to leave the tour on our own and get back to the ship in order to be onboard by the time the ship sailed away. It is the perfect tour for those staying in town for a couple of days. It manages to go to a lot of the main attractions in only one day.”

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3.Ephesus Sightseeing Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 145 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $90

Meet your guide at Kusadasi port for an eight-hour visit to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, St John’s Basilica, and the Temple of Artemis. Expect a small group of up to 14, air-conditioned transport, a Turkish lunch, and possible carpet or leather demonstrations.

“This was my favorite tour on my cruise! Best carpet demonstration, small fashion show, huge sights, and the best tour guide, Ali!”

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4.SKIP THE LINE / Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour / FOR CRUISE GUESTS ONLY

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 141 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $170

Spend about six hours with a private guide and driver visiting Ephesus, Mary’s House, the Temple of Artemis, and the Terrace Houses. Guides such as Ayshe, Memo, Banu, and Mehmet are available by assignment, with pickup from Kusadasi port or selected hotels.

“Outstanding. Extremely knowledgeable guide. Professional. Easy going. Picked up on time. Comfortable Mercedes car. We wanted to go to Ephesus only and that’s what we did. Great lunch. No pressure at all to buy”

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5.Private Bodrum City Tour for Cruisers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 140 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $99

Start at Bodrum Cruise Port with an English-speaking guide and private air-conditioned vehicle. Visit Bodrum Castle, the Underwater Archaeology Museum, Myndos Gate, windmills, the ancient theatre, and the bazaar. Guides such as Dee, Selin, Lily, Nora, and Eylem are praised for flexible pacing and local food tips.

“Bodrum review Our guide Lily was wonderful and truly made our tour very memorable. She was very knowledgeable, flexible and patient with what we wanted to focus on seeing more of. After the tour she took us to a local restaurant where we had the best kebab we ever had. I highly recommend Otto travel and make sure to ask for Lily.”

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6.Ephesus Highlights Tour for Cruise Customers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 90 reviews · 5 - 6 hours · from $25

Meet your guide at Kusadasi Port for a flexible 5 to 6 hour visit to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, Selcuk, and Artemis Temple. Guides such as Umut, Ibrahim, Senem, and Abe are praised for clear storytelling and personal service. Lunch and transport are included, but entry tickets cost extra.

“The private tour was exceptional from start to finish. Prompt pick up from our hotel and Bil was quick to establish our level of knowledge and interest and what we wanted to see in particular. The timings for all aspects of the tour were spot on and every member of our group loved listening to Bil's information and historical insights. The value for money is extremely good (you could easily charge far more!) and we had a fantastic day exploring.”

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7.Bodrum City Tour for Cruisers Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $75

Join a small group of up to 10 for a six-hour Bodrum shore tour with a local guide, air-conditioned transport, castle and museum time, hilltop views, and a Turkish carpet cooperative visit with lunch available.

“Everything was excelent. Guide was very informative. We visited Bodrum and also a small village where we enjoyed a lot.”

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8.Ephesus Highlights Tour for Cruisers from Kuşadası Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $14Best value

Meet your licensed guide at Kuşadası Cruise Port for a private 5 to 7-hour tour of Ephesus and nearby sites. Expect a comfortable minibus, flexible pacing, port pickup, and guides such as Kaya, Mehmet, or Ali, with entrance fees handled separately or through an included ticket option.

“Our guide was fantastic. Ephesus was incredible and should not be missed. It far exceeded our expectations.”

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9.Highlights of Ephesus Tour from Izmir Port / Cruisers only

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $270

Meet your licensed local guide at Izmir Cruise Terminal for a private 6 to 7 hour tour of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and Artemis. You’ll travel by private van, eat lunch at a rural weaving school, and return before your ship sails.

“Our driver Yavuz is excellent..We had more better conversation with him than our tour guide..He is mostly on his cell phone and not that informative and feels like he is in a hurry.”

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10.Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour (GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $29

Meet your licensed guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port and travel by air-conditioned minivan to Ephesus, the Ephesus Museum, Saint John Basilica, and the Temple of Artemis viewpoint. The private format lets you set the pace, while the operator coordinates your return to the ship.

“Ozgur was an AMAZING guide...from the moment we met him, he was so knowledgeable, friendly, outgoing, patient, helpful, and so much more. He never rushed us though any of the sights...offered great suggestions...I felt like we had made a new friend! I would highly recommend him for this tour...and give him a raise for his exceptional job!”

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11.Highlights of Ephesus Tour (Skip-the-line)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 6 hours · from $71

Meet your private English-speaking guide at Kusadasi Cruise Pier for a six-hour visit to the House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Sedat Kirkan and MehMet Kadir Sahin have led this route, which includes private transport but not entrance fees or lunch.

“It was the perfect honeymoon excursion. 10/10. 5 stars. Would recommend to anyone!”

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12.Cruise Guests : Highlights of Ephesus Tour / Kusadasi Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kusadasi cruise port shortly after docking, then explore Ephesus in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The day can include Mary’s House, Turkish treats, a historic mosque, or pottery, with guides such as Sergen, Dilek, and Isik available through the operator.

“From the first email through getting off the bus at the end of the tour, this company delivered exactly what was promised! A full day exploring Ephesus with Dilek, a visit to Mary’s house, tasting Turkish treats and more, the day was wonderful. Thank you so much to Elif for helping everyone in our groups to have a fabulous and comfortable day in Ephesus! 10 plus stars!!! Do not hesitate to do it!!”

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13.Bodrum Shore Excursion: Private Bodrum Express Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · from $298

Meet your private guide at Bodrum port, ride in an air-conditioned minivan, and visit the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and hilltop amphitheater. You get a focused three-hour tour, port pickup and return, and a guide such as Suat Akay may tailor the outing to your schedule.

“Super customized tour. Operator was on time, friendly and showed us a wonderful day. He even took us to 3 places for our drop off for next excursion. The directions were bad and he made sure we got where we needed to be safely.”

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14.Istanbul city tour from Cruise ship terminal Galataport.

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews

Start at Galataport and explore Istanbul’s Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque, and Spice Bazaar with a private guide and air-conditioned minivan. The guide can adjust the day, including an Asian-side ferry and Turkish lunch, but Hagia Sophia admission costs extra.

“There are many options for the private tour. We wanted to see the Asia side and so our tour guide arranged for us to do a ferry over to that side. We went for an authentic Turkish lunch and then stopped by and had some amazing desserts. Read more”

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15.Small Group Cruise Shore Excursion – Old City Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $119

Meet Mustafa or another licensed English-speaking guide at Galataport for a five-hour Old City tour by private vehicle. Visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace area, Grand Bazaar, and Hippodrome in a group of no more than 10, with optional Hagia Sophia admission.

““I had an unforgettable experience with Sunny Travel on this tour starting from Galataport and exploring the historic Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet. Mustafa, was incredibly knowledgeable and made the experience truly special. The tour perfectly highlighted the rich historical essence of the Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Istanbul!”

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