Selçuk is a relaxed market town in the olive and fig country of Türkiye’s Aegean coast, and the best base for Ephesus, the greatest Roman city in the eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus lies just 3 km away: walk its marble streets past the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses, whose painted walls and mosaics are some of the finest Roman homes anywhere. Selçuk itself has more than enough for an extra day: the Basilica of St John and the Ayasuluk fortress on its hill, the 14th-century İsa Bey Mosque, the single standing column of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the excellent Ephesus Museum. Up in the hills, the wine village of Şirince and the House of the Virgin Mary are short trips away. Stay one night to see Ephesus early, before the cruise groups, and two to see everything.
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Selçuk at a glance
- Best for: Roman ruins, early Christian sites, a small-town base, village food and wine.
- How long: 1 night for Ephesus; 2 nights to add the museum, the Basilica of St John, Şirince and the House of the Virgin Mary.
- Best time: April to June and September to early November. July and August are very hot (often above 35 °C) and Ephesus has almost no shade.
- Getting in: İZBAN suburban trains and regional trains from İzmir (about 1–1½ hours), buses and minibuses from Kuşadası (about 30 minutes) and İzmir airport.
- Tickets (October 2026): Ephesus with the Ephesus Experience Museum €40, the Terrace Houses €15 extra, the Ephesus Museum €10, the Basilica of St John €6, or MuseumPass The Aegean €95 for 7 days.
- Before you go: visas, money and transport around the country are in our Türkiye travel guide.
Ephesus: the complete guide
Ephesus (Efes) was founded by Ionian Greeks, refounded on its present site by Lysimachus around 290 BC, and under Rome became the capital of the province of Asia and one of the largest cities in the empire, with perhaps 200,000 people. St Paul lived and preached here, and tradition says St John and the Virgin Mary spent their last years nearby. As the harbour silted up, the city declined, and the sea is now about 5 km away. Austrian archaeologists have excavated here since 1895, and the site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, together with the Temple of Artemis, the Basilica of St John and the House of the Virgin Mary.
Tickets and opening hours (October 2026)
| Ticket | Price for foreign visitors | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesus archaeological site + Ephesus Experience Museum | €40 | 08:00–18:00, last tickets 17:45; evening openings some days in season |
| Terrace Houses (Yamaç Evler), inside the site | €15 extra | 09:00–17:00, last tickets 16:30 |
| Ephesus Museum, Selçuk | €10 | 08:30–17:30 |
| Basilica of St John, Selçuk | €6 | 08:00–18:00 |
| MuseumPass The Aegean (40+ sites in İzmir, Aydın, Muğla and Denizli) | €95, 7 days | one entry per site |
Prices and hours come from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s official ticketing site; prices are fixed in euros and can be paid by card. Buy online in advance or at the gate; the queues at the gate are longest from about 9:30 to 12:30 when coaches and cruise passengers arrive. In summer the site sometimes opens in the evenings for night visits, a cooler and atmospheric option. MuseumPass Türkiye (€165, 15 days) is also valid if you are touring the country. Passes are not valid for night openings.
Since 2025 the main ticket also covers the Ephesus Experience Museum, a multimedia exhibition near the site that brings the ancient city to life with projections and reconstructions, good with children and as an introduction before you walk the ruins.
Upper gate or lower gate?
Ephesus has two entrances about 2 km apart along the main street. The upper (south) gate, by the State Agora and the Odeon, lets you walk downhill along Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre, finishing at the lower (north) gate, about 3 km from Selçuk. Most tours do it this way. If you arrive independently, take a taxi to the upper gate and walk down, ending close to town; either way, allow 2½–3 hours, or 4 with the Terrace Houses. Taxis and minibuses wait at both gates.
What to see in Ephesus
- Curetes Street: the marble main street, lined with statues, fountains and inscriptions, sloping down to the library.
- The Library of Celsus: the two-storey façade, built around AD 117 as a library and tomb for the governor Celsus, is the city’s icon, and it glows in the low sun.
- The Terrace Houses: see below; don’t skip them.
- The Temple of Hadrian: a small, finely carved temple with a Medusa-like figure in its arch.
- The latrines and baths: rows of marble seats over running water, a favourite with children.
- The Great Theatre: carved into the hill for about 24,000 spectators, where St Paul’s preaching provoked the riot of the silversmiths described in the Book of Acts.
- The Odeon and the State Agora: a small roofed council house and the civic square near the upper gate.
- Harbour Street (Arcadian Way): the colonnaded avenue that once led from the theatre to the harbour.
The Terrace Houses
Under a modern protective roof on the hillside opposite the Temple of Hadrian, six multi-storey houses of wealthy Roman families have been excavated, with frescoed walls, mosaic floors, marble panelling and courtyards. Walkways and glass floors take you through them, and you can watch restorers piecing together thousands of marble fragments. It costs €15 extra on top of the main ticket and takes about 45 minutes. For many visitors it is the highlight of Ephesus, and it is shaded, a relief on hot days.
Guided tour or on your own?
Ephesus is easy to visit independently with an audio guide (available at the entrance) or a good guidebook: the main route is a single street, and signs in English explain the main buildings. A licensed guide, hired at the gate or booked in advance, brings the city to life and is worth it if you are interested in history; agree the price and length first. Organised day tours from Kuşadası, İzmir and Bodrum usually include Ephesus, lunch, the House of the Virgin Mary and a shopping stop; check whether the Terrace Houses ticket is included.
Accessibility
The main street of Ephesus is long, uneven marble with steps and slopes in places, so visitors with limited mobility should enter at the lower gate, where the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsus are closest and the paths flattest. The Terrace Houses have stairs and walkways. Shade, benches and toilets are limited, so plan rests and carry water.
Beating the heat and the crowds
Ephesus is a big open site of white marble with very little shade. In summer, temperatures in the afternoon often pass 35 °C. Arrive at 8:00 opening time or after about 15:30, carry at least a litre of water per person (there are a few kiosks, but they are expensive), and wear a hat, sunscreen and shoes with grip: the marble is polished smooth by centuries of feet and slippery. Cruise ships docking at Kuşadası send thousands of passengers on peak mornings, mostly from 9:00 to 13:00; if you stay overnight in Selçuk, you can avoid them easily.
Other things to see in Selçuk
The Ephesus Museum
The museum in the centre of Selçuk holds finds from Ephesus, including two marble statues of the many-breasted Artemis of Ephesus, a bronze of Eros on a dolphin, gladiators’ gravestones and household objects from the Terrace Houses. It takes about an hour (€10).
The Basilica of St John and Ayasuluk Hill
On the hill above town, Emperor Justinian built a vast basilica over the reputed grave of St John the Apostle in the sixth century. Its restored columns and marble floors give a sense of its size, and the views stretch over the plain to Ephesus. The Byzantine and Seljuk fortress at the top (Ayasuluk Castle) is open in part. The İsa Bey Mosque (1375) below the basilica is a fine early Turkish mosque, free outside prayer times.
The Temple of Artemis
The Artemision was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, four times the size of the Parthenon. Today a single reassembled column stands in a marshy field on the edge of town, often with a stork’s nest on top. It is free and takes ten minutes, but it is moving to think what stood here.
The House of the Virgin Mary
In the wooded hills about 8 km above Ephesus, a small restored stone chapel (Meryem Ana Evi) marks the house where, by tradition, the Virgin Mary lived her last years. Popes have visited, and it is a pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims alike; on 15 August a mass marks the Assumption. Entry is paid separately, and there is a parking fee; there is no public transport, so take a taxi, combine it with the upper gate of Ephesus, or join a tour. Dress modestly.
Şirince
A hill village 8 km east of Selçuk, settled by Greeks until the 1923 population exchange, with stone houses, cobbled lanes and shops selling fruit wines, olive oil and soap. Minibuses run from Selçuk’s bus station. It gets very busy at weekends; go in the late afternoon and stay for dinner. See our wine tasting guide.
Museums
- Ephesus Archaeological Museum
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Terrace Houses of Ephesus
Archaeological sites
- Basilica of St. John
- Temple of Artemis
Other sights
- İsa Bey Mosque
Monuments
- Ephesus
Day trips from Selçuk
- Kuşadası: the cruise port and beach resort 20 km away, with a Genoese castle on Pigeon Island.
- Priene, Miletus and Didyma: three superb Ionian sites to the south, with the Temple of Apollo at Didyma; easiest by car or tour. Miletus and Didyma cost €6 each.
- Pamukkale: the white travertines and Hierapolis are about 3 hours away by road or train; a long day trip, better with a night.
- Aphrodisias: one of the best-preserved Roman cities in Türkiye, with a vast stadium (€12); combine it with Pamukkale.
- İzmir: Türkiye’s third city, an hour away by train, with Kemeraltı bazaar and the seafront.
- Bodrum: about 2½ hours south by road for the Aegean coast’s liveliest resort.
Activities and best months
- City sightseeingAt Ephesus the must-see spots are the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre (25,000 seats), the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary nearby. MuseumPass The Aegean covers the state sites.
Getting there and getting around
From İzmir. İZBAN suburban trains run from İzmir (including the airport station, Adnan Menderes Havalimanı) south to Selçuk, taking about 1 hour from the airport and about 1½ hours from central İzmir; TCDD regional trains from İzmir Basmane towards Denizli also stop at Selçuk. Buses run from İzmir’s main bus station. Shared shuttles and taxis run from İzmir airport (about 60 km, 45–60 minutes).
From Kuşadası and cruise ships. Minibuses (dolmuş) run frequently between Kuşadası and Selçuk (about 30 minutes) and can drop you at the Ephesus junction, about 1 km walk from the lower gate. Cruise passengers usually go on ship excursions or take taxis from the port; agree the price and the waiting time before you go. Many shore excursions use the upper gate.
From Selçuk to Ephesus. It is about 3 km from the town centre to the lower gate: a pleasant 30–40 minute walk along a tree-lined road, a short taxi ride, or a minibus heading to Kuşadası or Pamucak beach, which stops at the junction. Taxis wait at the bus station to take you to the upper gate.
Getting around. Selçuk is small and walkable. Minibuses go to Şirince, Pamucak beach and Kuşadası; a taxi or hire car is easiest for the House of the Virgin Mary and the sites further south.
When to go and how long to stay
Selçuk has a Mediterranean climate: long, very hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. July and August highs average about 34–35 °C, so heat, not crowds, is the main challenge. April, May, early June, September and October are ideal, with wild flowers in spring and warm sea for a swim at Pamucak beach in autumn. Winter is quiet and mild, often sunny between rain spells, and you can have Ephesus almost to yourself.
Selçuk in 1 day
Ephesus at 8:00 from the upper gate, with the Terrace Houses, then lunch in town, the Ephesus Museum, the Basilica of St John and the Temple of Artemis at sunset.
Selçuk in 2 days
Add the House of the Virgin Mary in the morning, the Ephesus Experience Museum, Şirince in the late afternoon and dinner in the village.
Weather month by month
Where to stay and eat
Selçuk has family-run guesthouses and small hotels with rooftop terraces, many looking up at the castle and the basilica, at lower prices than the coast. Şirince has charming village houses turned into boutique hotels; Kuşadası has big beach hotels. The Saturday market in Selçuk is one of the best in the region for produce, cheese and olives. Try çöp şiş (little lamb skewers), gözleme (filled flatbread), fresh figs and local olive oil.
Practical tips for Selçuk and Ephesus
- Go early: be at the Ephesus gate at 8:00, or go after 15:30 in summer.
- Buy the Terrace Houses ticket: it is worth the extra €15.
- Carry water and a hat: shade is almost non-existent on the site.
- Wear grippy shoes: the marble is slippery.
- Start at the upper gate: walk downhill and finish near Selçuk.
- Check cruise schedules: if you can, avoid the busiest ship days in Kuşadası.
- Consider the pass: MuseumPass The Aegean (€95, 7 days) suits a longer Aegean trip with Pamukkale and Aphrodisias.
What to pack for Selçuk
A sun hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle, comfortable shoes with grip for marble streets, light clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the mosque and the House of the Virgin Mary, a swimsuit for Pamucak beach, and a light rain jacket from November to March.
What to pack
- City walking shoesLisbon and Porto are steep, with polished limestone cobbles that get slippery, so grippy soles matter.
- Day packs and anti-theft bagsA small zipped or anti-theft bag makes crowded trams and viewpoints less stressful.
- Rain jacketsFrom October to April Porto and Lisbon see rain on roughly a third of days.
- Travel adapters and convertersPortugal uses Type C and F sockets at 230 V, so most visitors from outside Europe need an adapter.
Selçuk and Ephesus travel FAQ
How much is the Ephesus ticket in 2026?
As of October 2026 foreign visitors pay €40 for the archaeological site, which includes the Ephesus Experience Museum. The Terrace Houses cost €15 extra.
Are the Ephesus Terrace Houses worth it?
Yes. The frescoes, mosaics and marble rooms of six Roman houses are the best-preserved part of Ephesus, and the walk through them is roofed and shaded. Allow about 45 minutes.
What are the opening hours of Ephesus?
The site opens daily from 08:00 to 18:00 (last tickets 17:45) as of October 2026; the Terrace Houses from 09:00 to 17:00. Some summer evenings it opens late for night visits.
How do I get from Kuşadası to Ephesus?
Take a minibus towards Selçuk (about 30 minutes) and get off at the Ephesus junction, or take a taxi to the upper gate. Cruise passengers can also book ship excursions.
How do I get from Selçuk to Ephesus?
Walk the 3 km to the lower gate in about 30–40 minutes, take a minibus to the junction, or take a taxi to the upper gate and walk downhill through the site.
How long do you need at Ephesus?
About 2½–3 hours for the main street, library and theatre, and 4 hours with the Terrace Houses. Add an hour for the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.
Is MuseumPass The Aegean worth it?
It costs €95 for 7 days. If you visit Ephesus, the Terrace Houses and the museum (€65 together) plus Hierapolis and Pamukkale (€30) and one more site, it pays off.
When is the best time to visit Ephesus?
From April to June and from September to early November, at opening time. Summer afternoons are extremely hot.
Can I visit the House of the Virgin Mary without a tour?
Yes, by taxi or hire car; there is no public transport. Many people combine it with a taxi to the upper gate of Ephesus.
Is the Temple of Artemis worth visiting?
Only briefly. A single reassembled column stands in a field where one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World once stood. It is free and on the edge of Selçuk, so it takes ten minutes on the way to or from town.
Should I stay in Selçuk or Kuşadası?
Selçuk for a quiet, good-value base close to Ephesus and the other sights; Kuşadası for beach hotels and nightlife.
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours, night openings and MuseumPass terms: the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s official ticketing site (muze.gov.tr). History: UNESCO World Heritage listing (Ephesus, 2015). Train and minibus times, cruise-crowd patterns and the House of the Virgin Mary arrangements come from general and secondary sources and are flagged for checking. For visas, money and safety, see our Türkiye travel guide.
Also: goturkiye.com · MGM normals 1991–2020, Selçuk (climate)
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODBL) · Wikidata (CC0)