Private Tour: Antique Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi and Selcuk Hotels

Ephesus was the second-largest city in the Roman Empire over 250.000 people in the 1st BC. Ranking only behind Rome it was the second-largest city in the world. Ephesus was also a harbor city. And, this giant city was built only with marble. Did you know Ephesus had the largest amphitheater in the ancient world over 25.000 seats? Also see Goddess Nike, Local pharmacy, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celcius (the third largest library), Marble Street, and Harbour Street.
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
The House of Virgin Mary is a place where according to the beliefs of many people Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent the last years of her life. She was supposed to arrive at Ephesus together with St. John and lived there in the years 37-45 CE until her Assumption or Dormition.
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
Ephesus Terrace Houses
Terraced Houses are located on the hill, opposite the Hadrian Temple. Also called “the houses of the rich”, they are important for the reason that they give us an idea about the family life during the Roman period. They were built according to the Hippodamian plan of the city in which roads transected each other at right angles.
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
The Prytaneion
Behind the basilica is the Prytaneion, where religious ceremonies , official receptions and banquets were held. The sacred flame symbolizing the heart of Ephesus was kept constantly alight in the Prytaneion. The construction of the building dates to the 3rd century B.C, during the reign of Lysimachos, but the ruins of the complex dates to the Augustan age. The four-cornered pit in which the sacred fire is burned is a relic from the reign of Lysimachos. The front of the building is four columns, beyond the columns is a courtyard surrounded by a portico, and on the north is the center of the building, the ceremonial hall, and its side rooms. The eternal flame was here in the center of the ceremonial hall, the red color on the floor determined the location of the flame. The double columns on the corners of the hall held up the wooden roof. During excavations, archeologists found 2 artemis statues, which are now presented in the Ephesus museum.
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Fountain of Pollio
The water was brought to the fountains of Ephesus from three main sources through aqueducts and distributed from fountains by a branching system of baked clay pipes. The sources were Kencherios (42km) at Kuşadası, Çamlık village stream of Marnas (15km), and the Cayster River (20km). Water was free of charge by the city in the public fountains. Also, they provided refreshments on hot summer days for the streets. It has a high arch facing the temple of Domitian. It is known to be decorated with a number of statues. One of these statues is the Head of Zeus which is on display in the Ephesus Museum today. Some of these statues were thought to be taken from the Isis Temple, probably after an earthquake, to repair the fountain. The statue group of Odysseus and Polyphemus , that once were on the basin, are now displayed also in Ephesus Museum.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Baths of Varius
The ruins to the east of the Basilica belong to the bath of Varius, dating to the Roman period. The construction dates to the 2nd century A.D and the mosaics in the 40 meters long corridor date to the 5th century. It is built of cut blocks of marble. It has three sections, frigidarium (cold water), tepidarium (warm water), and caldarium (hot water). The excavations have not been completed yet.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
The Temple of Artemis
Temple of Artemis or Artemision, also known as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek Temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis. It was located in Ephesus and it was one of the seven wonders of the world.
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free