Ephesus

Ephesus is an ancient city ruin on Turkey's Aegean coast, about 3 km southwest of Selçuk, and one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean.

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Ephesus is an ancient city ruin on Turkey's Aegean coast, about 3 km southwest of Selçuk in İzmir Province, and one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean. Attic-Ionian Greek settlers founded it in the 10th century BC on the site of an older town called Apasa. The Romans took control in 129 BC, and under Augustus the city became the capital of the Roman province of Asia. The ruins are spread over about 8 km, and the site drew 2,634,355 visitors in 2024.

The main sights are the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, Harbour Street and the Terrace Houses, six luxury Roman homes with mosaic floors and wall frescoes that now sit under protective roofing. Only one column of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is still visible. Travelers can reach the ruins from Adnan Menderes Airport, about 65.7 km away, or from the resort town of Kuşadası, where the port is about 17.9 km from the site. Selçuk has the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John.

Ephesus in five

Arrive at opening and bring waterThe site opens at 8:00 and closes at 18:00 on the ministry listing, and ticket sales stop at 17:45. There is little shade, and tour groups build up by midmorning, so enter early in warm months.Ephesus ticket and hours
Treat the Terrace Houses as a separate stopThe ministry lists the Terrace Houses as their own site, open daily 9:00 to 17:00 with the ticket office closing at 16:30. Check the e-ticket page for how it is sold, and keep an hour for the mosaics.Terrace Houses page
Add the Ephesus Museum and St John's BasilicaBoth are in Selçuk, not at the ruins. The Ephesus Museum is listed open daily, 8:30 to 17:30, and the Basilica of St John 8:00 to 18:00, which fits a cooler afternoon after the site.
Buy the Aegean pass only if you add sitesThe ministry's Aegean MuseumPass costs €95 for 7 days and covers Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, the museum and St John's Basilica. It only pays off with more sites, such as Bergama, Priene, Miletus or Hierapolis.Aegean pass
Choose Selçuk, Kuşadası or Izmir as your baseSelçuk is closest to the ruins and quiet in the evening. Kuşadası is a resort with more beaches, and Izmir has the airport and big-city dining. Each trade-off is time at the gate against evening life.Where to stay for Ephesus

Things to do in Ephesus

See all attractions in Ephesus

Landmark · EphesusLibrary of CelsusArrive early to avoid the busiest part of the day.

Historic site · EphesusEphesus Ancient Greek TheatreWear shoes with good grip, because the marble floors are slippery.

Shrine · EphesusHouse of Virgin MaryGo early in the day, before the sun and the tour groups arrive. Low season is quieter.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to EphesusPut the places you like in Ephesus on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Izmir Adnan Menderes (ADB), about 1 hour by road
Getting there: Regional train or bus from Izmir to Selçuk; minibus from Kuşadası
Getting around: Taxi or walking between Selçuk and the gates
Best base: Selçuk for early entry, Kuşadası for beaches
Time needed: 1 day; 2 with Şirince and Selçuk

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Mild, wet
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Mild, wet
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Mild
AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, spring
MayClear6 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm, clear
JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh34°Low23°Very hot
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh34°Low23°Very hot
SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot
OctoberClear4 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Warm, calm
NovemberClear9 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Mild
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, wet

Average daily high and low in Selçuk, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Ephesus

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 16°
Humidity: 86%
Wind: 11 km/h
Chance of rain: 95%

Kuşadası

11:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+3

Today19°14°95%Monday: Rain. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 95%.
Tue20°14°83%Tuesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 83%.
Wed17°13°80%Wednesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 80%.
Thu17°11°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri15°10°0%Friday: Clear. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat15°9°0%Saturday: Clear. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun15°7°0%Sunday: Clear. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 08:12 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 49.94 TRY

Amount

Converted to

TRY · Turkish Lira

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Şirinceabout 20 minutes by carA hill village of old stone houses above Selçuk.
Priene, Miletus and Didymaabout 1.5 hours by carThree coastal ancient sites on the ministry's Aegean pass, each listed open daily.
Bergama (Pergamon)about 2 hours by roadA hilltop acropolis and the Asklepion to the north.Read the guide

Before you go to Ephesus

Hotels in Selçuk or KuşadasıPick the base before the dateCheck availability

Guided Ephesus toursTransport, guide and entry in oneCompare day trips

eSIM for EphesusTrain and bus times between townsRead the guide

Insurance for TürkiyeHeat and midday sun at the ruinsRead the guide

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Rules for Ephesus, checked

The ministry lists Ephesus as open every day from 8:00 until 18:00, with the last tickets sold at 17:45; a night-museum program is also listed.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Terrace Houses: open daily, 9:00 to 17:00 (ticket office 16:30). Ephesus Museum 8:30 to 17:30; Basilica of St John 8:00 to 18:00, as listed.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
MuseumPass The Aegean: €95 for 7 days, covers Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, the Ephesus Museum and St John's Basilica. Not valid at night museums.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Ephesus is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

All Ephesus guides

How toEphesus tickets and opening hours: Terrace Houses and passesChecked Oct 2, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay for Ephesus: Selçuk, Kuşadası, Izmir or ŞirinceChecked Oct 2, 2026

Day tripEphesus day trip from Izmir, Kuşadası, Bodrum or IstanbulChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Ephesus

Izmir and Ephesus

The Aegean port and the ruins of Ephesus

Read the guide Ayvalık travel guide

A quieter Aegean town three hours north

Read the guide Kuşadası

The resort base 30 minutes from the ruins

Read the guide All of Türkiye

Cities, coasts and entry basics for a Türkiye trip

Read the guide Pamukkale

Travertines and Hierapolis, about three hours inland

Read the guide

Ephesus FAQ

How long do you need at Ephesus?

Two to three hours for the main street and theater, plus an hour for the Terrace Houses. A full day adds the Ephesus Museum and St John's Basilica in Selçuk.

Is Ephesus worth visiting?

Yes, it is one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the eastern Mediterranean. It is open-air with little shade, so go early and avoid midday in July and August.

Do you need a guide at Ephesus?

Not required, and the ministry lists audio-guide service at the site. A guide helps with context if you want the history of the buildings; choose one by what the tour includes.

Where should I stay for Ephesus?

Selçuk for early entry and quiet evenings, Kuşadası for beaches and nightlife, or Izmir for flights and city dining. Pick by how early you want to be at the gate.

When is the best time to visit Ephesus?

April, May, September and October for warm days and manageable crowds. July and August are very hot, so go at opening and plan indoor stops in the afternoon.