Ephesus

Last update October 2, 2026

The town of Ephesus is located near Selçuk, close to Kuşadası on the central Aegean coast, and it is one of the best preserved ancient cities in the whole Mediterranean area. If you walk along Curetes Street—the marble road which runs from Hercules Gate to the Library of Celsus—you will be following the route that Roman citizens took some two thousand years ago. The site tends to get very crowded, particularly because of the cruise groups who arrive from the port at Kuşadası, so it’s a good idea to go early if you want to see the marble streets without having hundreds of other people in each of your photos.

The Library of Celsus is the image that comes to mind before one gets there; it was finished in 110 AD and originally contained over twelve thousand scrolls, which made it the third-largest library in the ancient world. There is more than enough reason to make the journey just on the basis of its facade. Next to it, the Great Theatre could accommodate twenty-five thousand spectators when it was at its peak and was cut into the hillside during the Hellenistic period before being extended under Roman rule; it is said that the Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians in this theatre, giving the site an importance that goes beyond its architectural features. Allow between four and five hours to see the Library, the Terrace Houses and the theatre properly, and wear shoes suitable for walking on uneven marble since the site was not constructed with comfort in mind.

Pilgrims and tourists alike come to the House of the Virgin Mary a few kilometers outside the main ruins. It is traditionally believed that Mary spent her last years at this place, and the site is important to both Christian and Muslim visitors, even though there is some disagreement as to whether the small chapel is worth the separate entrance charge. When combined with the ruins of the Temple of Artemis which, in ancient times was one of the Seven Wonders of the World, one must note that today all that remains is a single reconstructed column rather than anything like its previous size.

If you want to see Ephesus without having to cope with the large number of cruise ship visitors, it is better to stay in Selçuk than in Kuşadası, and you should allow yourself a full day rather than a half-day tour. The Ephesus Archaeological Museum in the town has items which help make the ruins easier to understand after you have seen them in their actual setting, so it is worthwhile spending an hour either before or after the site. There are few locations in Turkey where you can walk through so much unaltered history in one afternoon.