Ephesus (Turkish: Efes) is a large world heritage-listed archaeological site in Aegean Turkey.
Understand
Ephesus is one of the country's major tourist attractions.
Climate
Ephesus features a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry and sunny summers, when temperatures average around 32°C, but can often reach 38°C. The winters are mild and rainy; frosts are sporadic and snow is rare.
The climate is generally very similar to nearby Izmir, which has detailed information on its page.
Get in
The nearest town is Selçuk, which offers lodging and transportation to Ephesus.
By dolmuş
They run to the Lower Gate from Selçuk every 10-15 min in the high season, and every 30 min at other times. They cost 4 TL (Dec 2020)
By taxi
From Selçuk, the easiest way to visit the ruins is to take a taxi to the top gate. You can then walk downhill through the ruins and return from the parking lot to the Selçuk bus station via dolmuş.
On foot
You can also walk from Selçuk - it is a 4 km walk in a good asphalt way.
By plane
Izmir (ADB IATA) is the closest airport, with frequent connections from both of Istanbul's airports. Pegasus Airlines, a low-cost carrier in Turkey, often has round trip tickets for as little as 100 TL.
By tour
You can also book an organized Ephesus tour from any local tour operator in the nearby towns and cities.
Fees and permits
Entry tickets cost 100 TL per person, while the Terrace Houses (in a covered building within the site) cost an additional 45 TL per person (Dec 2020).
If you are driving your own car, parking is only available at the bottom gate (10 TL in Nov 2017).
The site is open everyday:
- Apr 15-Oct 2 – 08:00-18:30
- Oct 3-Apr 14 – 08:00-17:00
The Turkish government offers a museum pass for many sights and museums here and nearby for 132 TL. Check out what is included, and buy it if it makes sense for you.
Get around
The grounds of Ephesus are seen entirely on foot. Pathways are signed clearly and easily navigated as you make your way through the park. The ruins are situated on the bank of a hill. The entire ruins are easily covered on foot within two hours.
There are two entry/exit points. There are parking lots at both gates. If you enter from the Upper Gate, you'll be walking down hill, which is easier, so that's what the tour groups do. If you enter by the Lower Gate, you'll be walking against the flow of tour groups.
See
Sights are listed in the order that they are encountered when walking down from the Upper Gate.
- 1 Terrace House. Housed under a protective roof, this remarkably preserved Roman house is definitely worth the price of admission. Segmented into several different individual units, the marble and mosaics that decorated the house have been painstakingly restored, giving an impression of how the Roman upper-class once lived. Like the rest of Ephesus the site is a working archaeological area, but raised paths allow you to visit the majority and informative signs illuminate what you are seeing along the way. 30 TL.
- 2 Celsus Library. One of the highlights of Turkey, the impressively restored facade of this ancient library stands three stories high and is a historically accurate recreation of how the library once appeared. Built between 117 and 120 AD, the library once held as many as 12,000 scrolls, making it one of the largest in the Ancient world.
- 3 Great Theatre. The 25,000-seat theatre has been used for major concerts, such as Elton John, Ray Charles and Jethro Tull. Today, to ensure its protection it is used only for smaller acts. The theatre was built around 200 BC, and expanded or renovated several times thereafter.
Do
Buy
There are many souvenir shops at the two exit gates. You may find Turkish hand made articles. Haggling is possible. The best way is to compare prices in two or three more shops before you buy.
It is not a good place to buy carpet and leather, you can buy them in big shops at Selçuk with a reasonable price.
Do not buy "Roman coins" offered to you by men walking around or working at the site. They are fake. If they were real, it would be illegal to take them out of the country. Trying to leave with coins (real or fake) can lead to you being held at the airport until customs agents confirm that the coins are fake. Real coins can be purchased in shops with certificates permitting export.
Eat
There are many fast food and small Turkish restaurants at both gates. You can find many nice restaurants on the way to Selçuk or Kuşadası or in the towns.
Drink
There are many cafés at the both gates.
Sleep
There are no accommodations on site in ancient city. Nearest options are in Selçuk, 4 km away. There are also lots of people visiting Ephesus on a day-trip from coastal Kuşadası, a bit further away.
Go next
- Selçuk – There is an impressive Byzantine ruin, the Church of St. John, and the Ephesus Museum, which holds artefacts found at the site.
- The House of the Virgin Mary is a popular Catholic and Muslim pilgrimage site, about 6 km from Ephesus.
- Sardis and Pergamon – Consider visiting some of these other Seven Churches of Asia, both less than 4 hr from Ephesus, and containing impressive ruins.
- Aphrodisias – Another archaeological site in Aegean Turkey, with an entrance fee of 15 TL. It has perhaps more value than Ephesus but it is around 165 km away from Ephesus.