St. Paul's Well / Cleopatra's Gate Transfer
St. Paul's Well and Cleopatra's Gate transfer: private cars and group vans to the old quarter of Tarsus for pilgrims, families and independent travellers.
Transfer to St. Paul's Well / Cleopatra's Gate
Most St. Paul's Well transfer requests we receive are part of a pilgrimage: a church group with its own guide, a family following the footsteps of the apostle, or one traveller who has wanted to see Paul's birthplace for years. St. Paul's Well and Cleopatra's Gate stand in the old quarter of Tarsus, close enough to walk between. This page covers both sites, what lies around them and where our private transfers can take you from here.
The Well in the Courtyard
Tradition places the well among the remains of the house where Paul lived in Tarsus. It is deep, and excavations around it have uncovered Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers, now visible under glass. Visitors draw water from the well. For many Christian pilgrims this is the quiet centre of the whole trip.
The courtyard is small. When a large group arrives, people go in turns. Leave some slack in your schedule here. The surrounding lanes are old and narrow, so a big vehicle may stop at the nearest suitable point rather than at the gate itself.
Cleopatra's Gate and Its Legend
The gate survives from the Roman period and was one of the entrances to the ancient city. Sources speak of three gates; this is the only one left. Legend says Cleopatra passed through it when she sailed to Tarsus to meet Mark Antony. Historians treat that as a story. Visitors love it anyway.
Today the gate sits in a square with traffic flowing around it. Late afternoon light on the stone blocks makes for the best photographs, so plan your stop for then if you can.
A Walkable Old Quarter
The well and the gate bracket a short walking route through old Tarsus. Most groups ask us only for drop-off and pickup and do the rest on foot:
- St. Paul's Church, now a memorial museum
- A stretch of ancient Roman road
- The shrine of the Prophet Daniel
- The restored Old Tarsus Houses, with stone facades and timber windows along narrow lanes
For places further out, such as Tarsus Waterfall or the Cave of the Seven Sleepers (Eshab-ı Kehf), book a separate point-to-point transfer and add the return leg with the "Add return" option in the booking form.
Vehicles for Pilgrim Groups and Couples
A couple fits easily in a Business Sedan or Premium Sedan. A small family with a guide is comfortable in a VIP Vito. A parish group or tour party of up to fifteen travels together in a Mercedes Sprinter, while smaller groups who want more legroom choose the seven-seat Ultra VIP Sprinter. We charge per vehicle, not per passenger.
From the old quarter we also drive to hotels in Mersin, to Adana, to the beach towns along the coast and towards Cappadocia. For the short airport leg, including the meeting at arrivals, see our page on the transfer from Çukurova Airport to St. Paul's Well. To book, pick this location in the form, enter your date and compare vehicle classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are St. Paul's Well and Cleopatra's Gate close to each other?
Yes. Both are in the old quarter of Tarsus, within walking distance of each other, which is why they share one booking point. Many visitors get out at one, walk past St. Paul's Church, the Roman road and the Old Tarsus Houses, and are picked up at the other. Just write your preferred pickup spot in the notes.
Which vehicle suits a pilgrimage group?
Groups of up to fifteen travel together in a Mercedes Sprinter, which keeps everyone with the guide. Up to eight people fit in a Mercedes Vito. Larger congregations can book more than one vehicle. Because prices are per vehicle rather than per person, the cost per head drops as the group grows.
Can you take us from the old town to Tarsus Waterfall?
Yes. You can book point-to-point transfers from the old quarter to Tarsus Waterfall, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers or central Mersin. Use the "Add return" option in the booking form so both legs sit in one reservation, each at a time you choose. Prices appear in the form for every vehicle class.
Will the car stop right outside the well?
We work door to door, but some lanes in the old quarter are too narrow for larger vehicles. In that case the car stops at the closest suitable point to the well or the gate. Sedans move more easily in tight streets. Note your preferred meeting place when you book and the driver will plan around it.