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    Ephesus

    Turkey

    Ephesus

    Point of InterestUNESCOCulture

    Ephesus is the major archaeological site of the Turkish Aegean, about an hour and a half by train south of İzmir. You come for the facade of the Celsus Library, the Great Theater, and the residential houses with mosaics and frescoes.

    by Felix Gillen

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    9. Ephesus
    Ephesus is the major archaeological site of the Turkish Aegean, about an hour and a half by train south of İzmir. You come for the facade of the Celsus Library, the Great Theater, and the residential houses with mosaics and frescoes. Since 2015, Ephesus has been a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the small town of Selçuk is right next door.

    Sights in Ephesus

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Maria's House
    Point of Interest

    1Maria's House

    The small stone house on Bülbüldağı is located approximately seven kilometers from Selçuk. It was found in 1881 based on the visions of the mystic Anna Katharina Emmerick; the Catholic Church has never decided on its authenticity. Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI came here as pilgrims. On August 15th, the Assumption of Mary is celebrated here.
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    Library of Celsus
    Attraction

    2Library of Celsus

    Tiberius Julius Aquila had the library built for his father, Governor Celsus, starting in the 110s; it was completed between 117 and 135. It also served as a tomb, with Celsus resting in a crypt beneath the building. Its holdings are estimated at around 12,000 scrolls. Only the two-story façade was re-erected between 1970 and 1978.
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    Slopehomes
    Museum

    3Slopehomes

    The covered houses are located on Kureten Street on the slope of Bülbüldağı. Six Roman dwellings on three terraces feature mosaic floors and wall paintings, the oldest dating back to the 1st century BC. To visit, you need a separate ticket in addition to the entrance fee for the excavation site.
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    Hadrian Temple
    Historic Landmark

    4Hadrian Temple

    The small temple on Curetes Street bears a dedicatory inscription by Publius Quintilius Valens Varius and his family to Emperor Hadrian. The friezes depict the founding legend of Ephesus; a Medusa head sits in the pediment. The facade visible today was reconstructed in 1957 and 1958 from original parts and additions.
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    Grand Theater

    5Grand Theater

    The theatre is situated on the western slope of Panayırdağ and overlooks Harbour Street (Arkadiane) towards the former harbour. Its origins date back to the Hellenistic period; under emperors Claudius, Nero, Domitian, and Trajan, it expanded into a three-tiered arena 142 metres in diameter. Capacity estimates range from approximately 17,000 to 25,000 seats. According to the Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 19), the silversmith Demetrius incited the crowd here against the Apostle Paul.
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    Restaurants in Ephesus

    1

    Selçuk Köfte House

    Köfte restaurant in central Selçuk. The grilled beef meatballs come mild or spicy, served with seasonal meze from the display case. For dessert, the menu offers a sweet dish of tahini, almonds, and grape molasses.
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    2

    Ejder Restaurant

    Small spot in Selçuk with lots of outdoor seating. Serving Kebab, Köfte, Çöp şiş, Meze and homemade bread, plus beer, wine and Ayran.
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    Food & Drink

    Head to Selçuk for your meal. Köfte, grilled skewers, and Meze are on the menu there.

    Çöp şiş

    Small grilled meat skewers. On the road from Ephesus to the center of Selçuk, there are several eateries specializing in them.

    Köfte

    Grilled spiced beef meatballs, with mild or spicy options. In Selçuk, served with seasonal Meze.

    Ayran

    Salted yogurt drink served with kebab and köfte in Selçuk.

    Culture and History

    Roman MetropolisTiberius Julius Aquila had the library built for his father Celsus starting in the 110s AD; it housed approximately 12,000 scrolls. The Great Theater is estimated to have accommodated around 25,000 spectators. Archaeologists reconstructed the library's facade between 1970 and 1978.Christian SitesOn the slope of Bülbüldağı lies the House of Mary, localized in 1881 based on the visions of Anna Katharina Emmerick. Popes Paul VI., John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. visited it. Every year on August 15th, a Mass for the Assumption of Mary takes place here.World HeritageUNESCO added Ephesos to its World Heritage List in 2015. Besides the ancient city, the site also includes the Artemision, Ayasuluk Castle Hill, and the Isa Bey Mosque in Selçuk.

    Arrival & On the Go

    ArrivalRegional trains depart from İzmir Basmane and İzmir Airport to Selçuk; the trip from Basmane takes about 1.5 hours. From Selçuk station, it's about 3.6 kilometers to the North Entrance. A dolmuş towards Kuşadası or a taxi is more convenient.On-siteThe excavation has an upper and a lower entrance. Many start at the top and go downhill; to return to Selçuk from the upper gate, you'll only get a taxi. For the Slope Houses, you need a separate ticket.TipArrive early: In summer, the shadeless site quickly gets very hot.Opening Hours: They vary between summer and winter; find current times and prices on the Ministry of Culture's official ticket website.

    Accommodations in Ephesus

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    Nearby

    Selçuk & Şirince

    Selçuk & Şirince

    Selçuk is the small town right next to Ephesus, about an hour and a half by train south of İzmir, and the best base for the archaeological site. In the town are the Artemision, the İsa Bey Mosque, and the Ephesus Museum. About eight kilometers east, in the hills, lies the wine village of Şirince with its stone houses.
    Aegean Coast

    Aegean Coast

    The Turkish Aegean coast stretches from Pergamon in the north to the Bodrum Peninsula in the south and is rich in ancient sites. Here are three World Heritage Sites: Ephesus, Pergamon, and Hierapolis-Pamukkale, plus seaside resorts like Alaçatı and Bodrum. İzmir, Turkey's third-largest city, is a hub with an airport and rail connections to the hinterland.
    Samos

    Samos

    Samos is located at its narrowest point, less than two kilometers from the Turkish coast, and is considered one of the greenest islands in the Aegean. Spread across nearly 480 square kilometers are the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pythagoreion and Heraion, the 1,434-meter-high Kerkis mountain, and the wine terraces where the sweet Samos Muscat grows.You come for the ancient ruins, the mountain villages of Ambelos, and the pebble coves on the north coast. The island is large enough for a week, without repeating any routes.
    Izmir

    Izmir

    İzmir, with around 4.5 million inhabitants in its province, is Turkey's third-largest city and the gateway to the Aegean coast. You'll come for the Kemeraltı bazaar district, the Kordon promenade, and its cuisine featuring Boyoz, Kumru, and Meze. The historic center is around Konak Square, with the Alsancak entertainment district to its north, and Karşıyaka across the bay.
    Alaçatı & Çeşme

    Alaçatı & Çeşme

    Alaçatı and Çeşme are located at the tip of the peninsula of the same name west of İzmir, about 75 kilometers from the airport. Alaçatı is known for its stone houses, windmills, and windsurfing area, Çeşme for its castle and harbor. North of it, the shallow sandy beach of Ilıca entices with warm thermal water in the sea.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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