4.7 / 5Best of Kusadasi and Trieste Two Port Package
4.8 / 5 | 283 Reviews
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Moderate
Cruise Ship PierExclusive Ancient Ephesus
Meet your professionally trained guide and drive to Ephesus, approximately 30 minutes from Kusadasi. Famous in antiquity for its Temple of Artemus during the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of Ephesus became the greatest city in Asia Minor. You will start your 90 minute Ephesus tour at the upper Magnesia Gate, and work your way down through the city, ending near the ancient Harbor.
Along the way, you will see the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, Temple of Artemis, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika, and the Great Theater, built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period. With your skip-the-line access, you can fully enjoy these sites, which have played host to events as varied as Paul and his sermons to the Ephesians, to concerts by Sting, in part due to their remarkable acoustics.
You will walk along the Arcadian Way, where once Mark Antony and Cleopatra rode in procession. You will hear stories of Alexander the Great, the Virgin Mary, and many other famous visitors who walked the same marble streets that you are walking. As you depart the Ephesus site, you will be able to view the hilltop ruins of the Basilica of St. John in the distance, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century A.D. by Emperor Justinian.
Returning to the town of Kusadasi, guests will have the option to end their Ephesus tour in the shopping area, where they can attend a Turkish carpet explanation and explore the shops filled with jewelry, carpets, leatherware, and copper goods, or both. Turkish salespeople expect you to haggle and quite often you can get 10-15% off the listed price. Treat it as an adventure. The cruise pier is a 5-10 minute walk from the main shopping area.
Guests not wishing to attend the optional carpet shopping should stay on the bus and they will be taken directly back to the pier.
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Moderate
Cruise Ship PierLake Bled and Ljubljana
For the best of both worlds, join this combination tour of Ljubljana's charming cityscapes and Lake Bled's natural grandeur. This guided tour of Slovenia's capital and its most beloved mountain lake offers history, architecture, and unparalleled alpine beauty. See the bridges, parks, and squares designed by the famous Slovene architect, Joze Plecnik, as well as the green-domed Ljubljana Cathedral, Ljubljana Town Hall, and other historic monuments that comprise the old town center. The second portion of this comprehensive Slovenia tour brings you to Lake Bled, where snow-capped mountains surround a glacial lake and its famous island, home to a Gothic church and its wish-granting bell.
Begin your tour and enjoy a scenic 40 minute drive to Lake Bled, a popular destination for travelers from around the world. Bled Castle overlooks the lake from its north shore, and in the center of the lake Bled Island is home to a pilgrimage church built in the Gothic style and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The church's bell is visited frequently by newlyweds and travelers who hope to make their wishes come true. Nestled amid the towering alpine mountains, Lake Bled is a venue for both romantic getaways and sporting adventures. Admire Bled Castle built on a precipice above the glacial lake which according to written sources is the oldest Slovene castle. For those interested, the church is only accessible via boat at an additional cost of 14 EUR to be paid at the lake, and is not included in the tour price.)
Continue your tour to Slovenia's political, economic, and cultural capital, Ljubljana. The city's ancient roots begin in prehistoric times along the shores of the Ljubljana River, long before the Roman outpost was conquered by Atilla's Huns. In the city's center, atop a hill, you'll find the medieval Ljubljana Castle, which boasts architectural accents from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance periods. Your guide will point out the many representations of the Ljubljana Dragon along the way. Symbolizing power, courage, and greatness, the dragon can be found on the castle's tower and Dragon Bridge, which spans the city's namesake river. Also in the old town's center, you can see the many architectural contributions of Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik, including the iconic Triple Bridge, the river's embankments, and a number of exquisite parks and squares. In the mid-20th century, Plecnik transformed the capital into the modern city it is today.
This Ljubljana and Lake Bled tour offers the best of Slovenia's city and countryside, so be sure to bring a camera to capture endless memorable images. Book a spot on this comprehensive Slovenia tour and experience the very best of the country's popular attractions.
Please Note: If time permits, guests who are interested in visiting the church at Lake Bled (at an additional cost of 14 EUR to be paid at the lake, not included in the tour price) must inform the guide immediately after arriving to Lake Bled, to ensure a timely return to the ship. All guests are required to carry their passports with them on this tour as you will be crossing the Italian/Slovenia border.