| Selçuk | ||
 | ||
| State | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | 279.85 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 28.213 (2012 census) | |
| Prefix tel | 90 232 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 35920 | |
| Time zone | UTC 2 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Selçuk is a city in the Central Aegean region of the Turkey.
To know
Selçuk owes its fortune to the fact that it is the closest inhabited center to the archaeological site of Ephesus, in fact anyone who wants to visit it will have to pass through here and probably also stay there. However, Selçuk also has something to offer tourists.
Geographical notes
Selcuk is 8 km from the sea.
When to go
The Mediterranean climate is dominant in Selçuk. Summers are hot and dry and winters mild and rainy.
How to orient yourself
Selçuk: full screen map.- Pamucak - It is the seaside resort which is 8 km from the center of Selçuk.
- Ephesus - It is the famous archaeological site which is 3 km from the center of Selçuk.
How to get
By plane
Although there is a small airport in Selçuk, this is only open for private planes. Thus the closest option for commercial flights is the airport Adnan Menderes of Smyrna (Izmir), which is located 55 km north of Selçuk.
From Izmir Airport, you have two options to get to Selçuk:
- Take trains that connect the station directly to the airport for only 4 TL. The same trains connect the airport with Selçuk six times a day. The train can be very crowded, so if not booked well in advance there could be a risk of not being able to board it.
- A faster but more expensive option is to take a dolmuş, which is more like a large van rather than a bus. They depart from the bus station (otogar) by Selçuk-Ephesus, which is 2km from the airport (a taxi ride from the airport costs 10 TL). This is not the typical otogar found in the rest of the country, it is just a bus stop with a few benches. From here, take the mini van with the Selçuk-Ephesus sign on the windscreen. Ask around if there is any manager nearby. From here, a ride to Selçuk costs 7 TL, and takes about an hour. The van makes many stops along the way, including some remote areas, but just stay on board until the end of the ride.
If you arrive in Adnan Menderes flying with Atlas Jet, you can take advantage of free shuttles to Selçuk directly from the airport.
On the train
- From Izmir
You can take one of the eight trains[link previously not working] daily departing from the station Smyrna Basmane (at 7:45 am, 9:00 am, 11:25 am, 1:30 pm, 3:40 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:15 pm and 7:10 pm. The first seven trips have Denizli as their final destination, while the last one takes stops in Söke). All trains, which pass from the airport, arrive at Selçuk station in about an hour and a half (Selçuk is not the terminus, so it is important to be careful not to miss the stop). The ticket price is 5.75 TL per person (January 2014).
- From Denizli / Pamukkale
There are six trains running from Denizli station (near Pamukkale) arrive in Selçuk (at 04:20, 05:45, 08:20, 12:50, 14:50 and 17:15) taking about 3 hours. There are two other trains that depart from Denizli (at 06:55 and 10:05) stop at Söke. The ticket price is 14.50 TL per person (January 2014).
By bus
There are also dolmuş from Smyrna, as well as buses from Pamukkale, which cost around 50 TL and serve drinks and snacks along the way.otogar) of Selçuk is located in the city center. You can take a night bus that leaves from Istanbul at midnight, which arrives around 8:00 in the morning. This service, operated by Varan bus lines, costs 70 TL (summer 2011).
How to get around
By public transport
There are mini-buses (dolmuş) to Şirince ed Ephesus, the latter at 2.5 TL per trip (January 2014). To go to the House of Mary, you may need to take a taxi.
By car
Renting two or four-wheeled vehicles can be a fun way to discover the surroundings of Selçuk. If you are planning to rent a bike it is good to keep in mind that both Şirince and the Casa di Maria are at the top of the hills.
What see
- Temple of Artemis, Artemis Tapınağı.
8:30-17:30. In reality what you will find will be an impious field with a miserable column in the center reassembled to give a vague idea of where the imposing temple (formed by 127 columns) was located and which was once considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
8:30-17:30. In reality what you will find will be an impious field with a miserable column in the center reassembled to give a vague idea of where the imposing temple (formed by 127 columns) was located and which was once considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
- Ephesus Museum (Efes Müzesi Müdürlügü), Uğur Mumcu Sevgi Yolu Caddesi, ☎ 90 232 892 6010, fax: 90 (232) 892 7002.
Entrance 5 TL. Winter: 8: 30-18: 30 Summer: 8: 30-16: 30. This museum preserves artifacts from the noble and splendid terrace houses of Ephesus (can be visited with a separate ticket). The most famous finds are the effigy of the phallic god Priapus (which, in order not to offend the sensitivity of some visitors, is visible only by pressing a button that allows the temporary opening of a display case) and the "formosa" (with numerous breasts) statuette of Artemis finely carved. The museum also contains gladiator weapons. Visiting the museum after having been to the Ephesus site will allow you to better contextualize and appreciate the artifacts you are seeing.
Entrance 5 TL. 
- Isa Bey Mosque (Isa Bey Camii), St Jean Caddesi (at the foot of Ayasuluk hill). Free entry. Always accessible except during religious services. Built in 1375 by Emir Aydin. Inside there is a bust of Isa Bey. Only one of the two minarets has remained intact to date.
- Basilica of San Giovanni, St Jean Caddesi. 5 TL. Winter: 8: 30-18: 30 Summer: 8: 30-16: 30. Remains of an imposing basilica dating back to the Byzantine period. Inside there are models that describe the area showing the distance of the coast over the centuries. From inside you can enjoy a privileged view of the castle which can also be accessed. The place has a particular historical relevance for Catholics because it would seem that St. John visited this place twice: the first in the company of Mary, and the second in 95 AD. to write his gospel. It was thanks to these visits that the Byzantine emperor Justinian decided to erect the basilica right here around 550 AD.
- Ayasuluk Castle (Ayasuluk fortress), St Jean Caddesi. 8€. Winter: 8: 30-18: 30 Summer: 8: 30-16: 30. It is accessed from the basilica of San Giovanni. From the top of the castle you can enjoy an excellent view over the whole city.
- Roman aqueduct (in the square in front of the railway station). Getting off the train this is the first architectural ruin (well preserved) you come across. The night lighting brings out its ancient splendor, so on summer evenings it is a pleasure to dine in one of the many restaurants that have outdoor tables overlooking the aqueduct.
Events and parties
- Camel wrestling. Competition that takes place in various western cities of Turkey, including Selçuk, particularly in Pamucak in the winter months.
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Life runs smoothly in Selçuk, even too much in the off-season. Near the Roman aqueduct some streets start in the direction of Atatürk Caddesi where there are several places where you can have a drink and listen to loud music.
Where to eat
Average prices
- Ejder Restaurant, Cengiz Topel Caddesi 9e (In front of the Byzantine aqueduct), ☎ 90 232 892 32 96. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of the best restaurants in town with very few tables so reservations are required in high season. From his wood-burning oven he is able to cook excellent grilled meat. Water and tea are offered by the house. Friendly and unobtrusive owner. Simple and informal environment, frequented and recommended by the locals both for the excellent price / quality ratio and for the freshness of the food offered.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- Atilla's Getaway, Acarlar Köyü (2.5 km outside the center), ☎ 90 232 892 3847, fax: 90 232 892 3848, @[email protected]. 8/14/17/24 € tent / dorm / single / double without private bathroom and breakfast. 7 € with private bathroom, 2 € with breakfast, 3 with dinner too. Air conditioning is charged separately.. The structure offers many solutions including the cheapest that can be found in the city. It has a swimming pool, a billiard table and a comfortable area with cushions where you can spend the evening in the company of other guests. Free shuttles are available to the city center and to Ephesus.
Average prices
- Amazon Petite Palace, Atatürk Mah. 1054 sok. no: 33, ☎ 90 232 892 32 31, fax: 90 212 310 69 17, @[email protected]. 30 € for a double. A beautiful hotel that has not been open for long and has been cared for down to the smallest detail (so few are found in Turkey at this price range). The rooms are equipped with air conditioning and TV. The structure, in addition to the free wifi connection, has a small but very clean swimming pool illuminated by spotlights which on summer nights can be a real added value. The owner, Emre, is a polite, pleasant and extremely helpful person. Being also the owner of the Amazon Antique Hotel (an older hotel) which is a few tens of meters on the same road, in the winter period all bookings are diverted to this new structure without changing the price.
High prices
- Hotel Bella, Ataturk Mah., St. John CAD. No: 7 (200 meters from the bus station), ☎ 90 232 892 3944, fax: 90 232 892 0344, @[email protected]. 80/120 € for single / double.. Luxury hotel which also has a (not particularly convenient) shop for carpets and jewels. Well appointed Ottoman style rooms. In the evening they also serve refined dinners with prices proportional to those of the rooms.
Safety
Small and quiet town therefore the risks to which it can be incurred are minimal.
How to keep in touch
Keep informed
- Touristic office, Agora Caddesi 35. Mon-Fri 8: 00-12: 00 and 13: 00-17: 00 (in summer also Sat-Sun).
Around
Clearly the main excursion is the one to the archaeological site of Ephesus, reachable with a dolmuş at a price of 2.5 TL (January 2014) per trip (prices are also posted inside the official ones). Upon returning from Ephesus, a gentleman is likely to call a dolmuş "private" to shorten waiting times; the ticket price remains unchanged. Being only 3 km away on fine days it could also be pleasant to do it on foot, but it is advisable to do it on the way back because Ephesus is a particularly large site that will take about 3/4 hours to visit it all (on foot) so at the end of the visit you will be able to better evaluate the residual forces. For the same route a taxi will ask you around 20 TL (2013).
Useful information
It is not uncommon to be stopped on the street by people trying to sell old coins ("old / ancient coins"). Generally they are homemade fakes, and in any case, even in the remote (practically nil) case that they are authentic, this would be an illegal practice.
