Ephesus Archaeological Site

The site is large and fascinating, and is one of the best preserved and restored cities of the ancient Graeco-Roman world. It is also one of the most popular tourist attactions in Turkey, and is often very crowded, especially with tour busloads of Christian "pilgrims", cruise ship passengers and regular tour groups.

See our Ephesus photo gallery.

The increased admission charge of 30 Lira seems quite excessive, and makes visiting the sights of Ephesus and Selçuk an expensive proposition (see Museum Boom part 1: Ephesus at The Cheshire Cat Blog).

There are two entrances to the site: the upper (southeast) and lower (northwest) entrances.

The lower entrance

The lower entrance is the most used and easier to reach from Selçuk or Kuşadası (see page 5: getting there). Most dolmus minibuses and tour buses stop here. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, toilets (see below), a large car/bus park and a post office (PTT) bank with ATMs at the entrance to the site.

The upper entrance

The upper entrance, on the other hand makes more sense for a visitor: it is a downhill walk from the Upper Agora and official part of the ancient city, to the most impressive monumental ruins of the Library of Celsus, the Terrace House and the Great Theatre. There are restaurants, souvenir shops and toilets outside the site, and a museum shop just inside the entrance. Parking space is limited, particularly for large vehicles.

Open every day

Summer (April-October): 08:30 - 19:00
Winter (November-March) 08:00 - 17:00
Admission charge: 30 TL

Audio guide rental: 15 TL
Languages: Arabic, English, French, German,
Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

A cluster of peristyle, two-storey houses of wealthy families, built in terraces on the lower slopes of Mount Koressos (Bülbül Daği, Nightingale Mountain), at the lower end of Kuretes Street. The richly appointed homes are decorated with floor mosaics, marble wall panels and frescoes. The remains are reminiscent of the ruins of houses in Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The recently restored Terrace Houses are within the Ephesus Archaeological Site, but are privately run, and a separate ticket must be bought. Considering that the admission price to Ephesus has been increased (see above), it may seem a bit steep to have to buy yet another ticket. However, if you can afford it, this is definitely worth seeing.

Open every day

Summer (April-October): 08:30 - 19:00
Winter (November-March) 08:00 - 17:00
Admission charge: 15 TL

The Cave of the Seven Sleepers (Also known as the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers; Turkish, Yedi Uyuyanlar), a 3rd century AD necropolis (cemetery), consisting of arched stone and brick tomb niches built in a cleft at the foot of the northeast slope of Mount Pion (Panayır Daği), 1.5 km east of the lower entrance of the Ephesus Archaeological Site, and 3 km southwest of Selçuk.

It is one of several places in the Middle East associated with legends of "the Seven Sleepers". "The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus" were seven young Christians who hid inside the cave around 250 AD to escape a persecution by the Roman Emperor Decius (249-251 AD). They fell asleep there and awoke 180 years later, during the reign of the Christian Emperor Theodosius II, then died shortly after.

A cult of the Seven Sleepers was established in the mid 5th century AD, a church was built here and the complex was expanded several times. The site attracted Christian pilgrims until some time in the Middle Ages.

The site has not been restored, is fenced off and is often flooded by rainwater between late Autumn and Spring. However, the tombs (what little remains of them) and a few large stone sarcophagi can be seen from beyond the fence. What can not be seen are the remains of the frescoes which decorate some of the tomb niches. It is all a bit eery, and a little disappointing. Not the most interesting site, especially if time is limited.

On the other hand the walk from the Ephesus Archaeological Site or Selçuk is through pleasant countryside. Tea and food are served in a relaxed, oriental atmosphere in open tents near the site. There are also, inevitably, stalls selling souvenirs.

Open every day

One of the larger burial chambers
at the site of the Cave of the
Seven Sleepers, with niches built
into the walls to hold tombs.

The House of the Virgin Mary (Turkish, Meryemana, Mother Mary's House), a Roman Catholic and Muslim shrine, on Mount Koressos (Bülbül Daği, Nightingale Mountain), 6 km southwest of Ephesus, 9 km from Selçuk.

According to legend, the Virgin Mary came to Ephesus from Israel with Saint John and spent her last years in this house. There is no evidence that the Virgin Mary was ever here, but it has become an official shrine for several Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church. It is often crowded with pilgrims, and is really only of interest to the faithful and those curious about such religious phenomena.

There are restaurants, souvenir shops, toilets, a large car/bus park and a post office (PTT) bank with ATMs at the entrance to the site.

If you do not have a vehicle, you can either take a bus tour or a taxi from Selçuk (30 TL).

Open every day

Summer (April-October): 08:00 - 19:00
Winter (November-March) 08:30 - 18:00
Admission charge: 15 TL

There is also a 25 TL charge for vehicles!

See further information about the Ephesus Museum
on Sightseeing in Selçuk and Selçuk gallery 2.

The major renovation and expansion work on the museum has finally been completed (see Museum Boom part 1 at The Cheshire Cat Blog), and it was reopened in 2015.

Ephesus Archaeological Museum

(Turkish, Efes Müzesi)

Atatürk Mahallesi, Uğur Mumcu Sevgi Yolu, Selçuk.

The museum is in the centre of Selçuk, across the main Atatürk Caddesi (D550) highway from the Otogar (bus station), about 15 minutes walk from the railway station and 3 km from the Ephesus archaeological site.

See photos and more information about the museum
and its exhibits in Selçuk photo gallery 2.

Open every day

The museum is open 365 day a year.

Summer (April - October) 8.00 – 19.00

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