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| My Favourite Planet > English > Middle East > Turkey > Ephesus |
| Ephesus, Turkey |
How to get to and around Ephesus |
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page 5 |
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The turn-off for Ephesus archaeological site on the road west from Selçuk to the Izmir-Kuşadası highway. |
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The archaeological site of Ephesus is 3 km (2 miles)
southwest of the town of Selçuk which has its own guide
with practical information and a photo gallery, including
photos of the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, Selçuk. |
For information about the Temple of Artemis,
see Selçuk gallery 1, pages 3-4. |
Detailed information about Ephesus' sights can be found
with the photos in our Ephesus photo gallery. |
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For opening times and admission charges for sites and sights
see Page 4: Sightseeing in Ephesus |
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The archaeological site of Ephesus is 3 kilometres southwest of the town of Selçuk. The nearest airport is Izmir (75 km) from where Selçuk can be reached by regular bus and train services. See:
How to get to Selçuk which includes a train timetable
The site is 18 kilometres northeast of the seaside resort Kuşadası. See:
How to get to Kuşadası.
You can get to Ephesus from both places by dolmuş (minibus) or taxi.
The Ephesus archaeological site has two entrances, upper and lower. The lower entrance is easier to get to, and that is where the minibuses and most tour coaches stop.
Walking to/from Selçuk
You can walk the 3 km from Selçuk to the lower entrance. Following the wide pedestrian area, sheltered by mulberry trees, along the right side of the main road towards Kuşadası, which starts near the Selçuk Ephesus Museum and bus station.
After 100 metres you pass the remains of the Temple of Artemis (see Selçuk gallery 1, pages 3-4) on the right.
Continuing along the road for around 1 km, a large sign indicates a turn-off left (see photo at the top of the page) onto a small country road which leads directly to the lower entrance. From the turn-off it is around 1 kilometre to the entrance.
If you have the time and energy, you can also walk from Selçuk to the upper entrance of the Ephesus Archaeological Site (3 km). The way is more complicated as there are several small roads and paths, one of which leads past the Cave of the Seven Sleepers.
A more direct way to the upper entrance is via the back road between Selçuk and the House of the Virgin Mary (9 km). The road leads right (south) from a roundabout on Ataturk Caddesi, around 200 metres east (direction Aydin) of the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. Once on this road, ignore any immediate signposts for further turnoffs to Ephesus, and head south along the road for 1.5 km, where there should be a signpost to turn right (west) to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. After this turnoff the upper entrance is another 1.5 km uphill (see Ephesus gallery pages 2-3).
If you leave the Ephesus site from the upper entrance, the way is easier (3 km downhill!) and the landmark Ayasuluk Hill citadel, which is usually visible along the route, provides a good target for your way back to Selçuk. This walk can take 30-60 minutes.
Ephesus by fayton
Riding around in a horse-drawn carriage is the most stylish way to get around the sights of Selçuk and Ephesus. The four-seater carriages here are known as faytons, and drivers tout for business at several key places around Selçuk and the archaeological site.
For further details, see How to get to Selçuk. |
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Ephesus
Turkey |
Bus and dolmuş |
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Aboard a typical dolmuş minibus from Ephesus to Selçuk. Dolmuşes
are small and can get pretty cramped when full, but they provide the
cheapest - and arguably the most convenient - way to travel around in Turkey.
You pay the fare to the driver when you get on the bus. If it is full,
the money is passed from hand-to-hand to the driver by other passengers. |
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to/from Selçuk
There is a dolmuş (minibus) every half hour between Selçuk otogar (central bus station) and the lower entrance of Ephesus archaeological site.
Journey time about 5-10 minutes.
to/from Kuşadası
Dolmuşes between Selçuk and Kuşadası also stop near the lower entrance of Ephesus.
Dolmuşes between Selçuk and Kuşadası, the seaside resort town, 15 km southwest of Ephesus, also run every half hour and stop on the main road junction for the lower entrance to Ephesus Archaeological Site.
Journey time around 20 minutes.
Fare 5 Turkish Lira.
Along the coast road between Kuşadası and Ephesus the dolmuşes also stop at hotels and beaches. Drivers will usually stop for you just about anywhere if you wave at them.
Be sure to ask the driver for Ephesus as you get on the bus.
From the bus stop it is a 1.5 km walk to the lower entrance of the archaeological site along a pleasant country road.
Taxi drivers tout for business near the bus stop, offering to take you to the site entrance, or even on a tour including the Cave of the Seven Sleepers and the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana).
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A lonely dolmuş stop
on the road between
Kuşadasi and Ephesus. |
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Ephesus
Turkey |
Taxi |
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In Selçuk taxis can be found easily in front of the railway station and at the bus station (otogar), and at both upper and lower entrances to the Ephesus archaeological site.
Taxis can be an economical and convenient way to travel to places not covered by frequent bus services, particularly for groups of 2-4 people. Many taxi drivers in Izmir, Selçuk and Kuşadası speak either English or German (or both) and even French, and can provide a lot of information about their locality. The best are also entertaining.
Ask the taxi driver the price to your destination before accepting his services, and make sure of the price in Turkish Lira, even if you are paying in another currency.
Watch out for this, especially in Izmir: a driver may demand, say 30 Euro (= 60 Lira), rather than 30 Lira at the end of the journey!
For long distance rides, ask if there are any extra charges, for example road tolls.
Luggage does not cost extra. Tips are always appreciated (10-15%) but not obligatory.
Sightseeing by taxi
Special prices can be negotiated with taxi drivers for day-trips and visits to local places of interest, such as Ephesus, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) and the village of Şirince.
Deals usually include waiting times and lunch breaks at restaurants. |
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Ephesus
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Bicycle |
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Cycling around the beautiful coastal areas, inland countryside and villages of Ionia can be a joy, particularly once you get off the main roads. The topography is varied, with flat river plains and some steep hills.
The area around Selçuk and Ephesus is flattish, with hills rising steeply to the north, south and inland (east). There are some good climbs, for example up to the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) and to Kusadasi.
Naturally, it can get strenuous in high summer when temperatures rise to 40 degrees Celcius. A good sun-blocker and plenty of are water strongly advised.
Parking and leaving bicycles is generally safe in the country and villages, but risky in towns. |
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Ephesus
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Car and motorbike |
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Driving around Selçuk and Ephesus is generally easy-going and the roads are good. There are pay car parks around the town, at the lower entrance to the Ephesus archaeological site, and outside the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana). Parking at the side of the narrow country road near the Cave of the Seven Sleepers is more informal and ad-hoc.
Toll roads
For information about tolls on Turkish motorways and bridges see How to get to Selçuk. |
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Ephesus
Turkey |
Area map |
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Map of north-western Turkey and the Aegean area.
See a larger interactive map of this area. |
Photos, articles and map: © David John,
except where otherwise specified.
Additional photos: © Konstanze Gundudis
All photos and articles are copyright protected.
Images and materials by other authors
have been attributed where applicable.
Please do not use these photos or articles without permission.
If you are interested in using any of the photos for your website,
project or publication, please get in contact.
Higher resolution versions are available on request.
Some of the information and photos in this guide to Ephesus
originally appeared in 2004 on davidjohnberlin.de. |
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