Port day · PRIVATE SHORE EXCURSIONS IN TURKEY

15 Private Shore Excursions in Turkey You Can Do Before All-Aboard

31 tours  ·  from $19 a head

The 15 best private shore excursions in Turkey you can book for a day ashore, with what each costs, how long it runs and how far it goes from the berth. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return - The House of the Virgin Mary
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions with a Guaranteed Return, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return

1.Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8,527 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kusadasi cruise port and ride in a private, air-conditioned van to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Fatih, Dicle, Tuna, Banu, and Zeynep have tailored visits to different ages, walking abilities, and interests.

“Fatih was one of the best tour guides we ever had. He was brilliant, spoke perfect English, made us feel safe about where we were and that we would get back to our ship on time. He was thoughtful and responsive. I would love to see more of Turkey, especially if he was our guide.”

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PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line - Walking the marble streets of Ephesus
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions with a Guaranteed Return, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line

2.PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,807 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $29

Meet your guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port, then visit Ephesus, Mary’s House, and the Temple of Artemis in a private air-conditioned van. Guides such as Fatima, Nilay, Mehmet, and Ismail tailor the pace to your group. Add Terrace Houses or a Turkish lunch if time allows.

“This company uses local guides to show us around and this really adds to the quality of the trip. Our guide, Fatima was excellent. She asked for our input in choosing what types of things to see and visit. I strongly recommend Viator and ask for local guide, Fatima.”

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PRIVATE TOUR FOR CRUISERS: Mary's House (Meryemana) and Ephesus - Walking through Ephesus from the Senate to the Great Theatre
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

PRIVATE TOUR FOR CRUISERS: Mary’s House (Meryemana) and Ephesus

3.PRIVATE TOUR FOR CRUISERS: Mary’s House (Meryemana) and Ephesus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,349 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $29

Meet your licensed guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port for a private half-day tour of Ephesus, Mary’s House, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Fatima, Josh, Ozzy, and Filiz tailor the pace, explain the ancient sites clearly, and can add local food or craft stops.

“Fabulous tour with a great guide Valerie who was so informative and a lovely person to spend the day with. Our party of 4 included 3 ladies in their 80s, and Valerie was very sensitive to our needs in terms of walking, shade, stops to sit/ rest, avoiding crowds where possible & getting us back to the ship in really good time. Our driver was so professional, and never kept us waiting for him. The communication beforehand from the tour company was great, very clear & we knew what to expect from the day. Early start, our ship docked at 7am, our guide was waiting for us, so we were…”

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Private Tour in Ephesus and Traditional Turkish Bath from Port - A private van makes a port day less tiring
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Private Tour in Ephesus and Traditional Turkish Bath from Port

4.Private Tour in Ephesus and Traditional Turkish Bath from Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 675 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $42

See Ephesus with a private English-speaking guide, including the Celsus Library and Grand Theater, then enjoy Turkish lunch and an optional hammam. Guides such as Fusun, Seyhan, Gozde, and Alper have tailored visits for families, cruise passengers, and guests with special needs.

“Sayham was amazing. Very knowledgable and had a lot of history to share. The only downside was the carpet pitch, could’ve done without it but this tour is so worth your time. The Turkish bath was a great treat. 10/10”

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FOR CRUISE GUESTS:BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR/On Time Return - The Virgin Mary’s House, a peaceful first stop
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions with a Guaranteed Return, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

FOR CRUISE GUESTS:BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR/On Time Return

5.BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR/On Time Return

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 614 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kusadasi Port, then visit Ephesus, the Virgin Mary’s House, and the Temple of Artemis. Private transport lets you adjust the pace and add Sirince. Guides such as Nesli, Murat, Eda, and Hakan are praised for warm, personal tours, though shopping stops may take time.

“This was the best tour in our 9 day trip. It was truly a private tour with a large luxury Mercedes van and a driver. The tour guide Neslie, was sensational, she was knowledgeable, personable and spoke perfect English. She made sure that we saw all the important sights in and around Ephesus. She arranged a wonderful typical meal for us to experience at a cost of $10 each and would not allow us to buy her meal. I can't say enough about our wonderful guide and friend, she made this tour memorable and the highlight of our trip. Thank you!”

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Skip-the-Line Istanbul: Private Tour from Cruise Ship & Hotel - Meeting your guide at Galataport
Istanbul Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Skip the Line, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Skip-the-Line Istanbul: Private Tour from Cruise Ship & Hotel

6.Skip-the-Line Istanbul: Private Tour from Cruise Ship & Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $280

Spend about six hours with a private English-speaking guide, private driver, and air-conditioned Mercedes van. Meet at Galataport or your hotel, then walk Istanbul’s Old City sights, with prearranged Hagia Sophia entry, a visit to the Basilica Cistern, and time in the Grand Bazaar.

“We had a great day with our guide. We saw the highlights of Istanbul and even had an authentic lunch which really immersed us into the culture and experience of the day. We enjoyed the shops and every part of our day!”

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Ephesus Small Group - Semi Private Shore Excursion - Entering Ephesus through its monumental streets
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Small Group Shore Excursions, Small Group Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Small Group Shore Excursions in Turkey, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Ephesus Small Group – Semi Private Shore Excursion

7.Ephesus Small Group – Semi Private Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 406 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $27Best value

Meet your guide at Kusadasi Port and ride in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter to Ephesus, Mary’s House, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Ahmet, Tas, Taylan, and Nage are praised for clear English and flexible pacing. Lunch and a carpet demonstration are included, but entrance fees cost extra.

“Our tour guide Ahmet was wonderful. He was knowledgeable and was prepared for everything. He reshuffled the schedule bc we were early and took us to the Ephesus before the crowd. there was several sites that was not on the itinerary which he stopped by and let us see. Lunch was wonderful in the carpet demonstration was very cool. I would definitely recommend it..”

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ONLY FOR CRUISE GUESTS: Best Seller Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour - Ephesus: two hours in a major Roman city
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ONLY FOR CRUISE GUESTS: Best Seller Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour

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

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

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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Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port - The Hippodrome and Istanbul’s imperial core
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Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

9.Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $99

Meet your English-speaking guide at Galataport or your hotel for a 7 to 8-hour private Istanbul tour. Visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Grand Bazaar in an air-conditioned vehicle, with skip-the-line tickets arranged by your guide.

“The best thing was getting ahead of the long lines with a small party private group. We skipped all the tourist lines, very much appreciated.”

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3-Hour Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Cruiser Only - Entering Ephesus through Marble Street and the Great Theater
3-Hour Experiences, Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Tour Reviews, Turkey Shore Excursions

3-Hour Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Cruiser Only

10.3-Hour Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Cruiser Only

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 274 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $30

Meet your licensed guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port for a private van tour of Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Bilal, Umut, Utku, Taylan, and İrem are praised for clear English and flexible pacing. Lunch is included, but site tickets and shopping stops cost extra.

“The tour was great from start to finish. Our guide Ozy met us promptly and escorted us to our vehicle and driver. His historical knowledge and expertise about the area, the history of the Turkey in general, and the culture enhanced our experience. Having an independent guide at such a busy spot as Ephesus was invaluable and he helped us navigate the crowds with ease.”

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Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour - Hagia Sophia: the day’s essential first chapter
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Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour

11.Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 258 reviews · 7 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Spend about seven hours with a private English-speaking guide exploring Istanbul’s Old City from Galataport or a central hotel. Visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar, with flexible pacing and help buying timed-entry tickets.

“Had an awesome tour, saw lots and learnt lots, very busy but Eva(sorry don’t have correct spelling) was very good at directing us around the old city and spice market Would recommend her”

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From Kusadasi: Private Ephesus Tour for Cruise Passengers - The House of the Virgin Mary: quiet, brief, and personal
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From Kusadasi: Private Ephesus Tour for Cruise Passengers

12.Private Ephesus Tour for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 252 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $30

From Kusadasi Port, your guide leads you through the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, Selcuk, and the Temple of Artemis in about 6 to 7 hours. Guides such as Gul, Guray, Vedat, and Serdar are praised for clear storytelling, flexible pacing, and cruise-safe timing. Entrance fees and lunch cost extra.

“Our guide Guray, did a marvelous job of bringing the history and story to life for us on our tour of Ephesus. We found out over lunch that he’d studied archeology and history at university and it certainly showed. We both appreciated his flexibility and concern for my husband who has balance issues. It was a lot of walking but I never once wanted the tour to be shortened. His driver was excellent, too, Highly recommended!”

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ALL INCLUSIVE Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses tour with LUNCH - Starting at the top can make the route easier
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ALL INCLUSIVE Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses tour with LUNCH

13.ALL INCLUSIVE Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses tour with LUNCH

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 203 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $134

Visit Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, and the Temple of Artemis with a private English-speaking guide and air-conditioned minivan. Guides such as Aleyna, Cenk, Cem, Nejdet, and Ozzy are praised for clear explanations and flexible pacing. Lunch and entrance fees are included, with optional carpet or pottery stops.

“Tour was one of the best of my 2 month trip. Our guide Nejdet was informative, friendly and just a nice guy who guided us through the crowds and to shady spots and best photo spots. Van was excellent condition with great aircon. There was no push to see carpets etc unless we wanted. The lunch was relaxing and tasty. Cannot fault the tour. Best way to see sites. Highly recommend”

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Private Ephesus & Virgin Mary Tours for Cruisers - Skip The line - The House of the Virgin Mary, a quiet start with a possible wait
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Skip the Line, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Private Ephesus & Virgin Mary Tours for Cruisers – Skip The line

14.Private Ephesus & Virgin Mary Tours for Cruisers – Skip The line

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 176 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $79

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kusadasi Port or your hotel for a 4 to 5-hour tour of the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis. Choose a small group of up to 10 people or go private, with Terrace Houses available as an upgrade.

“This was a super Ephesus and more tour! I can't think of a reason to take a different tour. Very easy to find the guide at the pick up point near the cruise ship terminal exit. Very flexible with the return time so you don't stress about your departure. Totally AC in the A+ condition van. The guide Ozan and driver were great. They asked what else we wanted to see and made every adjustment. They advised on what would be a good use of our time. I especially recommend the little restaurant by the rug factory!!! The handmade rug factory was excellent and informative -- impressive but polite sales…”

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SKIP THE LINE / Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour / FOR CRUISE GUESTS ONLY - Ephesus: two hours among marble streets
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SKIP THE LINE / Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour / FOR CRUISE GUESTS ONLY

15.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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New in Private Shore Excursions in Turkey

★ 5.0Private Tour : Biblical Ephesus Tour for Cruisers from Kusadasi ( Ephesus ) PortFrom $3955 reviews
★ 5.0Private Express Ephesus Tour from Izmir Port / Cruisers onlyFrom $31918 reviews
★ 5.06 Hour Private Shore Excursion To Bodrum with Lunch IncludedFrom $34649 reviews
★ 4.5Private Tour to Ephesus including Basilica of St John and Temple of ArtemisFrom $43832 reviews
★ 4.5Private Shore Excursion: Ephesus,Temple of Artemis,St. Mary HouseFrom $22461 reviews
★ 5.0EPHESUS TOUR From Cruise Port: Private Tour & Skip The LineFrom $3665 reviews
★ 5.0SKIP LINES Private Ephesus Tour for Cruise Guests ON TIME RETURNFrom $1966 reviews
★ 5.0Private Ephesus &The Mary’s House Tour for Cruisers(skip theline)From $15068 reviews
★ 5.0Private Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi PortFrom $4469 reviews
★ 5.0NEW: Private The Most Detailed Ephesus Shore Excursion / with LunchFrom $7971 reviews

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Private Shore Excursions191Small Group Shore Excursions32City Highlights Shore Excursions122Cruise Port Transfers80Beach & Swim Shore Excursions43Ephesus Shore Excursions48
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