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    Selçuk & Şirince

    Turkey

    Selçuk & Şirince

    CityCulture

    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.

    by Felix Gillen

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    9. 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.

    Sights in Selçuk & Şirince

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Ephesus Museum
    Museum

    1Ephesus Museum

    The Archaeological Museum in Selçuk displays artifacts from Ephesus. Its most famous exhibits are two colossal statues of Artemis Ephesia from the 1st and 2nd centuries. After a renovation, the museum reopened at the end of 2014, featuring significantly more exhibits. Admission is separate from that for Ephesus.
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    Artemision
    Historic Landmark

    2Artemision

    Of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only a single column remains today on the edge of Selçuk. It was found during excavations by the British Museum in the 1870s. The site belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ephesus.
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    Church of John the Baptist
    Church

    3Church of John the Baptist

    The larger of Şirince's two churches dates from 1805. After the population exchange, it was neglected for decades. It is a reminder of the village's Greek past, which was called Kirkince until the 1920s.
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    Isa-Bey Mosque
    Mosque

    4Isa-Bey Mosque

    The mosque was erected in 1374/75 under the Aydınoğulları ruler Isa Bey by the Syrian architect Ali ibn Mushaimish al-Dimashqi. The west facade is clad in marble, in the courtyard stand twelve columns. Stones from the Basilica of St. John were also used for its construction.
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    St. John's Basilica

    5St. John's Basilica

    The ruins of the Basilica lie on the slope of Ayasuluk Hill directly next to the İsa Bey Mosque, approximately 3.5 kilometers from Ephesus. Emperor Justinian had it erected in the 6th century over the presumed tomb of the Apostle John. It was modeled after the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. Among the ruins, the Baptistery is notably preserved.
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    Castle Ayasuluk

    6Castle Ayasuluk

    The fortress crowns Ayasuluk Hill above Selçuk, which is part of the Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site. It dates back to the Byzantines, and the walls show traces of Seljuk, Aydınid and Ottoman alterations. You visit the castle on the same ticket as the Basilica of St John.
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    Restaurants in Selçuk & Şirince

    1

    Artemis Restaurant & Wine House

    The restaurant at the entrance to Şirince is located in the former village school, a 19th-century stone building. On the shaded terrace, it mainly serves Turkish classics like Gözleme and salads. A wine shop is attached.
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    2

    Şirincem Restaurant & Cafe

    Family-run guesthouse in Şirince. The menu features village breakfast, Gözleme, Çöp şiş, stuffed zucchini blossoms, and Meze.
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    Food and Drink

    In Selçuk, you'll find simple grilled food; in Şirince, wine and Gözleme join the experience.

    Fruit Wines from Şirince

    The village is known for wines made from peach, pomegranate, sour cherry, and apple.

    Çöp şiş

    Small grilled skewers served in Selçuk at specialized eateries on the road to Ephesos.

    Gözleme

    Filled, thin dough flatbread. In Şirince, it's on many menus, often served with a village breakfast.

    Kabak çiçeği dolması

    Stuffed zucchini blossoms, a meze on the menu in Şirince.

    Culture and History

    AyasulukDuring Turkish rule, the settlement was called Ayasuluk, derived from Agios Theologos, the epithet of John the Apostle. Emperor Justinian had the Basilica of St. John built over his presumed grave in the 6th century. The Isa Bey Mosque was built in 1374/75 under the Aydınoğulları; in 1914, the city was named Selçuk.ŞirinceThe mountain village was Greek-populated until the population exchange after 1923, then named Kirkince. New inhabitants arrived from Northern Greece and continued viticulture. The village was renamed Şirince in 1926.World HeritageThe Artemision, Ayasuluk Castle Hill with the Basilica of St. John, and the Isa Bey Mosque are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ephesus.

    Getting There & Around

    Getting ThereTCDD regional trains run from İzmir Basmane to Selçuk (approx. 80-100 mins), with multiple daily services, often continuing to Denizli. Direct trains are also available from İzmir Airport. The station is on the eastern edge of the town centre.LocallyIn Selçuk, the Museum, Mosque, and Artemision are reachable on foot. For Ephesos, take a dolmuş towards Kuşadası or a taxi. Şirince is about 15 to 20 minutes by car to the east.TipCombine: Morning Ephesos, afternoon Museum and St. John's Basilica, evening Şirince.Train Tickets: Available online via TCDD, at the counter, or by phone.

    Accommodations in Selçuk & Şirince

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    Campgrounds in Selçuk & Şirince

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    Nearby

    Ephesus

    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.
    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.
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