Exploring Ancient Ephesus: Roman Ruins, Rug Makers & More
Oct 5
After a relaxing sea day on our Virgin Voyages cruise, we arrived at our second port, Kusadasi, Turkey, the gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus. This city has a long history with a strong religious history with sites like the House of the Virgin Mary and the tomb of St. John.
A Legendary Start: Temple of Artemis (aka Diana)
We booked a shore excursion through Virgin Voyages that took us straight to the historical heart of the region: the ruins of Ephesus, including a stop at the Temple of Artemis, also known as the Temple of Diana. That name might sound familiar if you’re a fan of Amazonian legends… or Wonder Woman. 😉
While only a single column remains of what was once one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the sense of grandeur still echoes. The picture on the right is of the Library of Celsus, one of the most maintained ruins on the site, though it has been reconstructed.
Wandering Through Ephesus: A City Frozen in Time
From there, we entered the stunning excavation site of Ephesus, a city that was once home to Cleopatra and Marc Antony, and later transformed under Roman rule, including temples built in honor of Emperor Hadrian.
Highlights included:
The Library of Celsus – breathtaking even in ruins and fully reconstructed for visitors to admire.
The marble Curates Street, where carts once clattered and merchants sold their wares.
Ancient public bathrooms (complete with Roman ingenuity and a touch of humor).
The Great Theatre, which once held over 20,000 spectators - it’s a massive structure that’s still in impressive condition.
We did not book the ticket that included the House of the Virgin Mary, as that was a separate stop, but that is an option for you as well.
🎥 Travel Tip: Will “accidentally” wandered into the Terrace Houses (a separately ticketed area), but don’t worry, we’ll be sharing the amazing footage of these wealthy Roman homes on our YouTube channel soon. Be advised, if you want to enter this area it will cost extra - unless you are lucky like Will. 😉 Here's a sneak peek photo courtesy of Ephesus Tourism.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Use the bathroom before entering the ruins! There are no restrooms available until the very end of the walking tour, which can take up to 90 minutes or longer.
If you are traveling to Ephesus on other cruise lines, then be sure to check out excursion options on Viator here: https://www.viator.com/Selcuk-attractions/Ephesus/d25618-a2190?pid=P00011640&uid=U00231212&mcid=58086¤cy=USD
The Rug Experience: More Than a Sales Pitch
After the ruins, our tour bus took us back to Kusadasi, where we were treated to a Turkish rug demonstration. While yes, this did include a little sales pressure, the demo itself was actually fascinating. We watched as silk was harvested from cocoons, spun into strong thread, and woven into intricate designs. Some rugs can take up to five years to make, which explains the price tags; some were valued at $30K+ 😳
To make the sales pitch a bit sweeter, they served us Turkish wine and tiropita (a savory, feta-stuffed pastry). So hey, no complaints here.
A Chill Turkish Afternoon
Once the pitch was over, Will and I found a cozy local restaurant and ended up staying for a couple of hours just soaking it all in; good food, good conversation, and a chance to process everything we had seen.
Later, we strolled through the market area before heading back to the ship.
Other options for this port:
If ancient ruins aren't your thing, there were other activities to choose from like:
Explore Pamukkale - travertine terraces, dazzling formations cascading down the hillside like frozen waterfalls. We thought about doing this one, but the time of year was not the best to view the "blue pools" so we opted for the Ruins instead.
Spend the day lounging by the Aegean at the Bioga Beach Club.
A Selcuk walking tour filled with food and cultural exploration.
Ephesus and Luxury Gulet Cruise to spend some time away from the shore.
Whatever your plans are, I have no doubt you will enjoy this beautiful port city in Western Turkey.
Final Thoughts
Ephesus gave us ancient grandeur, cultural depth, and a few laughs (looking at you, Terrace House detour 👀). The ruins were some of the most extensive we’ve seen, and Kusadasi offered warmth and hospitality we won’t forget.
🧵 Want to book a similar experience? Reach out to me directly via the CONTACT button at the top right for FREE travel planning, or check out this link for Virgin specific options. ☺️
📍 Next up: Mykonos—stay tuned!
Thanks for reading!
Kristin & Will
