Ephesus and St. John Basilica

⏲ 7 Hours 📍 Kusadasi Cruise Port → Kusadasi Cruise Port 🗣 English, Spanish 💶 From €110

7 Hours

Kusadasi Cruise Port → Kusadasi Cruise Port

English, Spanish

Ephesus Shore Excruions

Starting from

€110

✦ About This Tour

Join a full-day private Biblical tour from Kusadasi Cruise Port and explore the early roots of Christianity in one of the most important regions of the ancient world. Designed for cruise passengers, pilgrims, and those with an interest in faith-based travel, this tour offers an in-depth look at sacred sites in and around Ephesus.

📅 Itinerary

This private tour includes an expert-led walking tour of ancient Ephesus, a Biblical-themed lunch, a cultural carpet workshop, and a visit to the Basilica of St. John. A special inter-denominational mass can be added on request at the House of the Virgin Mary.

Your first stop is the House of the Virgin Mary, where you can see how the mother of Jesus spent her last days. You will see where she slept, you can leave your intention on the Wishing Wall, and collect holy water from the Fountain of the Virgin Mary.

From there, continue to the ancient city of Ephesus, where you’ll follow a licensed guide through one of the best-preserved archaeological sites of the Roman world. Highlights include the Great Theater, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Library of Celsus. You'll also stop at the Church of Mary, believed to be the first church in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and hear stories from the Acts of the Apostles that are closely tied to the city’s history.

The next stop is the Basilica of St. John in Selcuk, built over what is believed to be the tomb of John the Apostle, the writer of the Gospel of John. The site offers insight into early Christian architecture and provides a panoramic view over the town.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, with a selection of dishes inspired by ingredients mentioned in the Bible.

Afterwards, you'll have the opportunity to visit a local carpet workshop, where you'll listen to a local expert share the importance of Christianity in native carpets during a demonstration at a typical shop.

This experience is ideal for travelers arriving by cruise ship who seek a more meaningful, reflective way to explore the Ephesus region. It combines scripture, archaeology, and local culture into a seamless, professionally guided day trip.