Selçuk (Ephesus) travel guide
Base for Ephesus, the Terrace Houses and Şirince. Most people stay 2–3 nights. Best months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct.
Highlights
- Ephesus & Terrace Houses
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Şirince village
- Temple of Artemis
Things to do in Selçuk (Ephesus)
- Ephesus ancient city (Library of Celsus & Great Theatre) · 3 h · about ₹3,900 per person. About €40. Arrive at opening and walk downhill from the upper gate before cruise groups arrive; little shade, carry water.
- Ephesus Terrace Houses · 1 h · about ₹1,500 per person. Separate ticket inside Ephesus; covered Roman villas with mosaics and frescoes.
- House of the Virgin Mary · 1 h · about ₹900 per person. On a hill ~8 km from Ephesus with no public transport; combine with Ephesus by taxi or tour.
- Şirince village & fruit-wine tasting · 3 h · about ₹1,200 per person. ~15 min by dolmuş from Selçuk; taste before buying the fruit wines.
- Temple of Artemis site · 0.5 h · free. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, now a single rebuilt column in a marshy field.
- Ephesus Archaeological Museum · 1.5 h · about ₹1,000 per person
- Basilica of St John & Ayasuluk Fortress · 1.5 h · about ₹900 per person
- Pamucak beach or Kuşadası afternoon · 3 h · about ₹300 per person
Where to stay in Selçuk (Ephesus)
- Selçuk town guesthouses (budget, ₹2,500–₹5,500 a night): Family-run pensions near the station; Ephesus is 3 km away.
- Selçuk boutique hotels near the aqueduct (mid, ₹5,000–₹10,000 a night): Walk to the Basilica of St John and the Saturday market.
- Şirince village houses (premium, ₹9,000–₹20,000 a night): Restored hillside houses among vineyards, 15 min from Ephesus by car.
What to eat
- Çöp şiş (small lamb skewers): Selçuk town restaurants
- Gözleme & fruit wine: Şirince village
Getting there
- Train from Izmir airport or Basmane ~1–1.5h
- Dolmuş to Ephesus (~10 min), Şirince and Kuşadası
Good to know
- Jun–Aug midday heat at Ephesus is harsh, and cruise groups from Kuşadası arrive mid-morning.
Türkiye itineraries with Selçuk (Ephesus)
- Aegean: Izmir, Ephesus & Bodrum · 8 days · 8 days, Izmir → Selçuk (Ephesus) → Bodrum · from ₹51,300 per person, base estimate before flights. A seafront city, the ruins of Ephesus and a Bodrum beach finish, linked by short train and bus rides.
- Ancient sites: Istanbul, Gallipoli & Troy, Ephesus and Pamukkale · 10 days · 10 days, Istanbul → Çanakkale (Gallipoli & Troy) → Selçuk (Ephesus) → Pamukkale · from ₹1,07,525 per person, base estimate before flights. Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul, the Gallipoli battlefields, Troy, Ephesus and Hierapolis, mostly by road.
- Istanbul & the Aegean: Ephesus, Pamukkale & Bodrum · 10 days · 10 days, Istanbul → Selçuk (Ephesus) → Pamukkale → Bodrum · from ₹84,500 per person, base estimate before flights. Istanbul, then the Aegean's two most-visited ancient sites and a Bodrum beach finish.
- Grand tour of Türkiye · 15 days · 15 days, Istanbul → Cappadocia → Selçuk (Ephesus) → Pamukkale → Fethiye (Ölüdeniz) → Antalya · from ₹1,67,675 per person, base estimate before flights. Two weeks from Istanbul to the Mediterranean: Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale and the Turquoise Coast, flying in to Istanbul and out of Antalya.