The 11 Best City Highlights Shore Excursions in Turkey

1.Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour

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

Meet your guide at Galataport at 9 a.m. for an eight-hour tour through Istanbul’s imperial center. You’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, and more. Groups are capped at 14, though the day includes extensive walking and may include shopping stops.

“Gurkan was a wonderful, knowledgeable tour guide! Our full day included all the highlights of Istanbul - Topkapi Palace, The Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and Hagia Sophia, with lunch on a rooftop terrace.”

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2.Ephesus Sightseeing Tour with Lunch

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

Leave Kusadasi port with a local English-speaking guide for Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, St. John’s Basilica, the Temple of Artemis, and a Turkish lunch. Groups are capped at 14, though some departures are much smaller. Expect expert guiding, plenty of walking, and possible carpet or leather shopping stops.

“Lovely experience- great driver and guide. The political situation in Turkey is so sad- they would not discuss this situation but were so thankful that we visited. Other passengers were late due to a connection issue- but started our tour- then joined group- redid the first part of the tour for the second group and got us other transportation back to the port. GREAT SERVICE- I want to go back to TURKEY”

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3.Private Bodrum City Tour for Cruisers

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

You’ll tour Bodrum with a private English-speaking guide and separate driver, visiting the castle, Underwater Archaeology Museum, Myndos Gate, windmills, amphitheater, and bazaar. Guides such as Dee, Selin, Nora, and Eylem have helped shape flexible half-day visits, though the handicraft stop may include a strong carpet and jewelry sales pitch.

“This private group tour was amazing for our group of 11. Our guide Melike, was amazing, and knowledgeable. We truly had an unforgettable experience. Would recommend this tour.”

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4.Bodrum City Tour for Cruisers Small Group Tour

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

From Bodrum Cruise Port, you’ll spend about six hours with a licensed local guide and a maximum of 10 people. See the castle and underwater museum, photograph the hilltop windmills and amphitheater, then visit Etrim Halicilik for a carpet-weaving demonstration and Turkish village lunch. Entrance fees and lunch are extra.

“We arrived in Bodrum by cruise ship, and it was one of the best stops of the trip. The city is beautiful, very clean, and has a charming atmosphere. The tour was well organized, and the guide was friendly and explained everything in great detail.”

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5.Ephesus Highlights Tour for Cruisers from Kuşadası Port

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

Meet your guide at Kuşadası Port for a private, 5 to 7-hour visit to Ephesus and nearby sights. You’ll see the Celsus Library, Great Theater, Terrace Houses, Artemis Temple, St. John’s Basilica, and Mary’s House. Guides such as Kaya, Mehmet, and Ali tailor the pace and coordinate your return to the ship.

“Hassle free tour, great guide, bus and driver, We had a little bit of flexibility in our schedule and we didn’t do the time wasting leather, carpet, factories”

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6.FOR CRUISERS: Highlights of Ephesus Private Tour (GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN)

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

Explore Ephesus, its museum, Saint John Basilica, and the Temple of Artemis on a 4 to 6 hour private tour from Kusadasi. A licensed guide and separate driver keep the day flexible, while pre-purchased museum tickets help you avoid long lines. Cruise passengers receive port pickup and a guaranteed on-time return.

“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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7.FOR CRUISERS: Highlights of Ephesus Tour (Skip-the-line)

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kusadasi Cruise Pier for a private six-hour tour of Mary’s House, Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis. You’ll walk marble streets with guides such as MehMet Kadir Sahin or Sedat Kirkan, with time for lunch and photos. Entry fees are extra, and comfortable shoes are essential.

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

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8.Private Bodrum Express Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · from $298

Meet your private guide at Bodrum cruise port, then ride by air-conditioned minivan to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and Bodrum Amphitheater. You get focused guiding, flexible help with onward drop-offs, and a guaranteed on-time return policy. Admission fees, food, and drinks are extra.

“Private tour cancelled and local rep had no record of our private tours that we had already paid for”

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9.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 tour of Istanbul’s Old City. You’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and Hippodrome, with private transportation and a group capped at 10. Hagia Sophia admission and lunch cost extra.

““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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10.Istanbul city tour from Cruise ship terminal Galataport.

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews

Meet your private guide at Galataport and explore Istanbul by air-conditioned minivan over about eight hours. Visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque, and Egyptian Bazaar. The private format may allow changes, including an Asian-side ferry, Turkish lunch, or dessert stop, if arranged with the guide.

“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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11.Highlights of Ephesus Tour FOR CRUISERS

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $57

Spend about eight hours touring Ephesus from Kusadasi with a private English-speaking guide and separate driver. See the Grand Theatre, Celsus Library, Temple of Hadrian, Terrace Houses, and House of the Virgin Mary. Pickup and drop-off are included, but entrance tickets, food, drinks, and gratuity cost extra.

“This was a good tour - guide was knowledgeable. The tour company needs to advise of how much admission fees will be extra per each attraction. It was an extra 110 Euros - for 2 of us - for entry to Ephesus and house of Virgin Mary. We chRead more”

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