Private Tour – Didyma, Ancient Ephesus & Museum Tour
Photo permit included
Tour by public transport
Canal Boat tour included
Train tickets included
Suitable for little children
Wheelchair accessible tour
Museum ticket included
Light snack included
Lunch included
Transportation included
Walking Tour
Kusadasi is reputed for being one of the most attractive cities of the Aegean, as it is close to the important historical sites including Ephesus, Didyma, Priene, Miletos-the principals of ancient times, and ideal for sightseers. The extensive ruins including the theatre, library, or gymnasium create the special atmosphere of Ephesus and appeal to many visitors. Didyma is a famous temple for its oracles. This temple dedicated to Apollo was the richest and biggest of the Ionian temples on Anatolian soil. The most important monuments to be seen at Miletos are the Bath of Faustina, the Delphinion, and the amphitheater. The first establishments in Priene date back to 2000 BC. According to ancient documents, these first settlers were the Banians who mixed with the Ionians.
What's included
- English Speaking Guide
- Air-Conditioned Transportation
- Entrance Fees to Didyma, Ephesus, and Museum
Highlights
Itinerary
10:00
After meeting with your tour guide the first visit will be Didyma. The word Didyma means “twins” and it was associated by some as being the meeting place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Didyma was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo, which served a similar purpose as the Delphi of Anatolia. It was not a city, but a sanctuary linked to Miletus by Milesians with a 19km/12mi sacred road.
After this, we will drive on to the Ephesus area. We will start visiting from the upper gate and take a stroll through the marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, some dating back over 2000 years. Among them the Baths of Scholastica and the Library of Celsus. It was built at the beginning of the 2nd Century A.D. by Gaius Julius Aquila to be a memorial to his father Gaius Julius Celsus Polemanus, the proconsul of Province of Asia, the Temple of Hadrian and The Grand Theatre are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in the 3rd Century B.C and it was later expanded to 24,000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st Century A.D.
At the end of your time in Ephesus, you will now have a little free time to explore the souvenir shops and cafeterias.
Once you have explored at your own pace, you will now move onto the Ephesus Archaeological Museum which is located in Selcuk Town just a 5-minute drive away!
The museum is best known for its Statue of Artemis, retrieved from the temple of the goddess in Ephesus.
You will then be returned back to the port in plenty of time for your cruise ship’s departure.