The 11 Small Group Shore Excursions in Turkey That Earn Their Price

1.Small Group Tour for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,100 reviews · 5 hours · from $29Our pick

Spend five hours with an English-speaking guide such as Tas, Nesli, or Ahmet, visiting the House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis. A Mercedes van, local lunch, and carpet-weaving demonstration are included. Entrance fees are extra, but tickets are pre-purchased so you can skip the line.

“Nesli was a great guide! She was very informative & managed to customise the tour suited for our family. The walk through the Ephesus was very pleasent with her around. Special thanks to the driver (forgot his name 😞) for the friendly & excellence service.”

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2.Ephesus Small Group – Semi Private Shore Excursion

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

Visit Ephesus, Meryemana, the Temple of Artemis, and nearby Christian sites from Kusadasi Port with a licensed guide and private Mercedes Sprinter. Guides such as Ahmet, Tas, Taylan, and Nagi are praised for clear English, flexible timing, and strong knowledge of the ruins. Lunch and a carpet demonstration are included, but entrance fees are extra.

“Absolutely incredible experience, far exceeded our expectations! We had a private tour of 5 ppl with Asli. She was knowledgeable, kind, helpful and friendly. Saw all the major sites we wanted to see and had a fantastic day of memories! Great tour!!”

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3.Small Group Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $15Best value

Walk downhill through Ephesus with a licensed English-speaking guide, seeing the Celsus Library, Great Theater, Hadrian’s Temple, and more. You’ll also visit the Temple of Artemis, enjoy lunch with dietary options, and see Turkish carpets, ceramics, and leather goods. Groups are capped at 10, with port pickup and drop-off.

“We had a wonderful time. Our tour guide, Chef, was great. He knew so much about the area and the topic. The gave us so much interesting information and pointed out so many things on the drive to and from the main sites. At the sites, we stopped at the main areas and he went through the history of the place and how things were back when the city was alive. The home of the Virgin Mary was also amazing, so reverent and inspiring. We also had a great lunch and learned a lot about carpet weaving and even ended up buying a carpet! On the way back to the…”

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4.Small-Group Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul Egyptian Bazaar

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 23 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Start at Istanbul Port with a small group of up to 15 people, visit the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, then cruise the Bosphorus past Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, and Rumeli Hisarı. Guides such as Ali and Seckin have led this outing. You get port pickup, transport, and a worry-free return, but only about 45 minutes at the bazaar.

“Very nice morning tour. Picked up on time with a small group. Almost like a private tour. Nice cruise on the Bosphorous and a good trip to the Egyptian spice market. Would highly recommend.”

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5.Small Group Tour for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 16 reviews · 5 hours · from $20

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Kusadasi cruise port for a five-hour tour of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Nina, Kaya, Ya cuz, and Serdar are praised for clear history and an unhurried pace. Entrance fees and lunch cost extra, and comfortable shoes are essential.

“le informazioni sui prezzi degli ingressi non erano aggiornate”

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6.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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7.For Cruisers: Small Group EPHESUS Tour with Temple of Artemis

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $120

Spend 7 to 8 hours exploring Ephesus with an English-speaking guide and a maximum of 15 people. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis, Şirince village, and the Celsus Library, with hotel or cruise pickup, buffet lunch, and transport from Kuşadası or Selçuk included.

“The Celsus Library was breathtaking. It was very well maintained and out tour guide was humorous and informative. The house of the Virgin Mary and learning the history was wonderful to. Have to say we were impressed with this tour and would recommend to others.”

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8.Small Group Istanbul Full-Day Shore Excursion: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $248

This 8-hour Istanbul shore excursion visits the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar with an English-speaking guide. Groups are limited to eight, lunch is included, and port pickup and drop-off help cruise passengers manage a full day ashore. Guides may include Burak, Sedat, or Tanner.

“This tour was wonderful. Our tour guide Sedat was great! He explained all about the history. It was wonderful to finally see Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque and Topkapki Palace. This tour also came with a delicious lunch. I highly recommend this tour!”

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9.Private & Small Group Shore Excursions with TRAM

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 6 reviews · 7 hours · from $71

Meet your English-speaking guide at Galata Port, walk 200 meters to the tram, and reach Sultanahmet in about 20 minutes. Over seven hours, you’ll visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Grand Bazaar. Serkan is one guide named in the feedback. Entrance fees are extra, with route changes on Sundays and Tuesdays.

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10.Small Group Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $20

Meet your guide at Kusadasi Port for a seven-hour small-group visit to Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and Meryemana, the House of the Virgin Mary. You’ll ride in a luxury minivan, hear the story of Ephesus from a licensed guide such as Deniz, and see traditional carpets being woven in Selcuk. Entrance fees are extra.

“We enjoyed every moment of our tour today! Deniz is such a knowledgeable and accommodating guide. I learned so much about Ephesus and Turkey. I highly recommend him and his company!”

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11.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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