We were in Turkey at the end of April and arranged a guide for Ephesus. His name is Mutlu Bulut. The day of our tour, there was an international bike race. Because of this many of the roads were blocked off. He arranged a driver who then navigated multiple police checkpoints so that we could get around, and take the back routes. We were able to visit the various sites of Ephesus and make good use of our time. This was very helpful.
Recommend Doganbey/More Ruins! For those of you who have the time, I highly recommend this area which is just 1 hour south of Ephesus. There is a National Park ~Dilek along the coast, and nestled in the hillside is a lovely small historic village, Doganbey. We stayed there for 3 nights in a restored stone cottage. It was peaceful and quiet, just the running brook and birdsong in the morning! A nice break from the busyness of Istanbul. From the village you can walk out and do several hikes in the Park (Waterfall hike). The trail is a road and the elevation is gradual. Right in the village there are several small cafes and a restaurant, Samos Restaurant, owned and operated by the same family, with Greek roots, for several generations.
More Ruins! Priene, Miletus, and Didyma – A short distance from Doganbey there are ruins from 3 ancient Greek cities. The most extensive is Priene. I highly recommend visiting these sites: it was fun to explore and roam. They are stunning, and it quieter, and less crowded than Ephesus.