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Top 10 Things to See in Selçuk, Türkiye: Attractions in the City of Ephesus

Discover the best attractions to see in Selçuk including the famous ruins of Ephesus. Go beyond the well-known archaeological site with this guide to the main attractions in this corner of Turkey.

Top 10 Things to See in Selçuk, Türkiye: Attractions in the City of Ephesus
Top 10 Things to See in Selçuk, Türkiye: Attractions in the City of Ephesus

As we mentioned in our guide to Ephesus, the Izmir region is one of the best places to visit in Turkey, and Ephesus itself is one of the country’s top destinations. Its ancient ruins attract more than two million visitors a year. Although a visit to Ephesus is a must in this Turkish region, there is much more to see in Selçuk. This article will provide all the practical information you need to make the most of your trip, including where to stay, the best tours, the most important sights to see in Selçuk, and much more.

Selçuk, Turkey - Things to see
Selçuk, Turkey – Things to see

Although most tourists use Selçuk as a base for visiting the nearby site of Ephesus, Selçuk is a historically important city that, despite its size, offers a multitude of exceptional sites. The main attractions to see in Selçuk include, in addition to the ancient city of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Seljuk Artworks. According to some, the 6th-century Basilica of St. John the Apostle is home to the Apostle’s tomb and is also located in the town.




What to see in Selçuk, Türkiye

1. Ephesus Archaeological Site

Ephesus was one of the largest and most important Ionian cities. Capital of the Roman province of Asia since 129 BC, it was founded in the 10th century BC by Greek settlers in an area previously inhabited by the Hittites, an ancient Anatolian people.

The library of Celsus is the most representative building of Ephesus.
The library of Celsus is the most representative building of Ephesus.

The southwestern area and central core of ancient Ephesus is today a great open-air museum, where it is possible to walk among millenary ruins, some of which are in an excellent state of preservation, such as the Library of Celsus and the majestic Ancient Theater. Many other structures have not yet come to light. Excavations to uncover other wonders of Ephesus are still continuing.

At the height of its splendor, Ephesus had some 250,000 inhabitants and buildings of beauty and majesty almost comparable to those of Rome.

The archaeological site can be accessed from two different entrances (north and south), just over 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the center of Selçuk. It can be easily reached by public transport or even on foot.


2. Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis, sometimes referred to as Artemisium, was a huge place of worship built around 550 BC in the wealthy port city of Ephesus.

Ruins of the Artemison or Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, Turkey.
Ruins of the Artemison or Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, Turkey.

When the beautiful monument burned down in 356 BC, the Temple of Artemis was rebuilt once more, just as large but with even more intricate decoration. This second version of the Temple of Artemis received a place among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus | Crédito: Zee Prime at cs.Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Temple of Artemis was destroyed again in 262 A.D. when the Goths invaded Ephesus, but it was not rebuilt the second time.

Although the temple was almost completely lost (except for some remains and an important deposit in the foundations, where coins and cult statuettes have been found), its fame has survived over the centuries.


3. Ephesus Museum in Selçuk

Ephesus Museum in Selçuk - Entrance Fee
Ephesus Museum in Selçuk – Entrance Fee
Fertility amulet - Ephesus Museum
Fertility amulet – Ephesus Museum
Statue of Dionysus in the Selçuk Museum
Statue of Dionysus in the Selçuk Museum

The Ephesus Museum is one of the most important museums in Turkey. It is located in the heart of Selçuk, on Atatürk Mah, about three kilometers from the archaeological site.

This small great museum preserves important artifacts from the Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods excavated in and around the city of Ephesus.

Since the Ephesus Museum exhibits mainly works from the ancient city, its collection was organized according to place of provenance rather than a chronological or typological display.

Sculptures in Ephesus Museum - Selçuk
Sculptures in Ephesus Museum – Selçuk

Accordingly, the halls were organized under titles such as “Terraced Houses,” “Coin and Treasure Section,” “Hall of Tomb Artifacts,” “Hall of Artemis of Ephesus,” and “Hall of Emperor’s Cults.” Undoubtedly, the most impressive collection in the museum is from the Temple of Artemis and its nearly intact marble statues of Artemis.

Usually, the goddess Artemis is depicted as a hunter. However, the Lady of Ephesus is adorned with multiple breasts (although some theorize that they are bovine testicles), symbolizing fertility. The statue’s chest is adorned with delicate reliefs of the signs of the horoscope, and her headdress and robe feature sculptures of animals and female bodies. At her feet are two deer and two honeycombs.

Archaeological Museum of Selçuk - Statue of the goddess Artemis found in the ruins of her temple in Ephesus
Archaeological Museum of Selçuk – Statue of the goddess Artemis found in the ruins of her temple in Ephesus

Although most sculptures and reliefs from Ephesus were excavated and stolen taken to places like the British Museum in the late 19th century, the Ephesus Artemis figures were carefully buried at the base of their temple to be discovered in the 1950s, which also explains their perfect state of preservation.

Ephesus Museum Gardens
Ephesus Museum Gardens

In addition to the themed rooms, the museum also has gardens in which architectural elements and sculptures are exhibited.

Travel Tip

It is best to visit the Selçuk Museum before going to the ruins of Ephesus or the Temple of Artemis. This way, you’ll get a sense of the true magnitude of the ancient city thanks to the models, interactive exhibits, artifacts, and artwork on display.


4. St. John’s Basilica

The Basilica of St. John the Baptist takes the form of a walled citadel that once spanned the entire width of a hill. It was ranked, along with Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, as one of the largest churches of the Byzantine Empire.

Basilica of St. John of Ephesus with Selçuk castle in the background
Basilica of St. John of Ephesus with Selçuk castle in the background
Ruins of the Basilica of John the Baptist at Ephesus
Ruins of the Basilica of John the Baptist at Ephesus

According to tradition, the tomb of St. John is located beneath the church. Originally, it was a simple mausoleum with a vaulted ceiling supported by four columns above the burial, but Emperor Justinian replaced the simple monument with a three-nave Latin-cross basilica with six vaults.

Model of the Basilica of John of Ephesus in the 7th century AD
Model of the Basilica of John of Ephesus in the 7th century AD

Including the narthex at the western end and the porticoed courtyard, the basilica was 130 meters long by 40 meters wide (425 by 130 ft.).

After the Seljuks captured Ephesus in 1130, the church became a mosque and also served as a bazaar until an earthquake finally destroyed it.

Today, although it is only partially restored, the remaining ruins of the basilica give you a pretty good idea of the impressive size of the original building.



5. Ayasuluk Fortress (Selçuk Castle)

The fortress of Ayasuluk is located on the hill above the Basilica of St. John and can be accessed by a path that ascends from behind the ruins of the church.

Selçuk Castle
Selçuk Castle
Ayasuluk Fortress - Interior
Ayasuluk Fortress – Interior

The hilltop site had been inhabited since Neolithic times, but the fortress dates back to the Byzantine era, and the Seljuks expanded the fortifications.

View of Ayasuluk Fortress from St. John's Basilica
View of Ayasuluk Fortress from St. John’s Basilica

The fortress area was closed for years due to archaeological excavations but has now been opened to visitors. Currently, its interior is in ruins.


6. Isa Bey Mosque

This Seljuk-era mosque is a beautiful example of fourteenth-century architecture. Its high exterior walls enclose a large arcaded courtyard leading to a double-domed prayer hall. The large black granite columns used in the construction were recycled from the Roman baths of Ephesus.

Isa Bey Mosque - Main Gate
Isa Bey Mosque – Main Gate
Selçuk Mosque - Inner Courtyard
Selçuk Mosque – Inner Courtyard

Above the richly decorated main entrance is an elaborate calligraphic inscription. Dated January 10, 1375, it identifies Ali, son of Mushimish al-Damishki, as the architect.

Isa Bey Mosque of Selçuk - Interior
Isa Bey Mosque of Selçuk – Interior

Visitors may visit the interior outside of prayer times. To enter, make sure you are dressed appropriately, with shoulders and knees covered. Female visitors must wear a headscarf.


7. Gate of Persecution

The “Gate of Persecution,” which gives access to the Basilica of St. John, was built in the 6th century AD with material taken from the Greek stadium of ancient Ephesus.

Gate of Persecution - Attractions to see in Selçuk
Gate of Persecution – Attractions to see in Selçuk

The history of the gate’s name is unknown, but it may well be associated with the history and legends of the early Christian martyrs of Ephesus. Another version says that the name is taken from an ancient Greek relief known as “The Pursuit of Hector by Achilles,” which adorned the top of the arch on the outer side of the gate.

Section of the Persecution Gate frieze
Section of the Persecution Gate frieze

A copy of this relief can now be seen in its place. It is not known when this stone frieze was created, and it seems unlikely that it was added in the 6th century when the emperors feared the wrath of iconoclasts, who abhorred any kind of pictorial representation in religious art.


8. House of the Virgin Mary

The Meryemana (house of the Virgin) is an important Christian pilgrimage place with a curious history. Tradition has it that the Virgin Mary traveled to Ephesus with St. John and is said to have died here.

The main building actually dates from Byzantine times (6th century), but its link with the Virgin began in the 19th century, following the visions of the German nun Katharina Emmerich, who accurately described the location and appearance of a house in Ephesus in which she claims that the Virgin lived and died.

In 1891, based on this story, a French priest discovered the ruins of a small church, which evidently had belonged to a monastery and is now venerated as the House of the Virgin.

Note that the chapel is small, and the site is often crowded with tour bus groups.

There is a small wishing well where it is customary to tie a piece of cloth and make a wish.


9. Selçuk Aqueduct

Crossing the center of Selçuk is the still-standing arcade of this Byzantine aqueduct, which, besides being a fascinating piece of ancient engineering and architecture, is known for the huge stork nests that crown some of its arches.

Byzantine Acuducto - Things to see in Selçuk, Turkey
Byzantine Acuducto – Things to see in Selçuk, Turkey

The best remainder of the aqueduct is located near Inönü Caddesi, right in the center of town, opposite the train station. There is another section on the street leading to St. John’s Basilica.

After nightfall, the remains of the aqueduct are illuminated.


10. Selçuk City Center

If you visit the ruins of Ephesus, you will most likely spend at least one night (though we recommend at least two) in the town of Selçuk.

A replica of the Artemis of Ephesus guards the entrance to the center of the village.
A replica of the Artemis of Ephesus guards the entrance to the center of the village.
Downtown shopping street of Selçuk, Izmir, Turkey
Shopping street in Selçuk, Izmir, Turkey

Although the center of town has no fascinating attractions, its grid streets offer a multitude of stores, traditional tea shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Downtown Selçuk also offers a glimpse into the local atmosphere and the daily life of the population of this small town.


Where is Selçuk?

Selcuk is a small resort town located about 50 km (30 mi.) south of Izmir and close to Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. Selcuk is also very well connected by bus and train to other major destinations and is, therefore, a convenient base for exploring the region.


How to get to Selçuk

Getting to Selçuk from Istanbul or Izmir is quite easy. You can get to Selçuk by car, bus, plane or tour. These are your main options:

By car

The distance from Izmir to Selçuk is 80 km and takes about an hour (depending on traffic). Note that the fastest route, via the E87 road, is a toll road.

By train

Starting your journey at Basmane Izmir train station, you can take one of the frequent services on the Izmir-Denizli route (usually departing every hour). The train journey from Izmir to Selçuk (Efes) takes about 80 minutes. Alternatively, there is a bus service and a direct commuter train from Izmir airport to Selçuk.

By bus

Getting from Izmir to Selçuk by bus means you will start your journey at the busy Izmir bus station. The trip takes more than 2 hours due to stops in villages along the way.


Where to stay in Selçuk

During my visit to Ephesus, I stayed at the Akanthus Hotel Ephesus, an excellent family-run boutique-style hotel in the historic center of Selçuk.

My recommended hotel in Selçuk is the Akanthus Hotel Ephesus
My recommended hotel in Selçuk is the Akanthus Hotel Ephesus

This hotel is perfectly located for exploring Selçuk and is not far from the Ephesus site (which you can reach by cab or on foot). The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The room was beautiful and offered views of the old town. The beds were comfortable, and everything was spotlessly clean.

View from the room of the Akanthus Hotel Ephesus
View from the room of the Akanthus Hotel Ephesus

Check rates and availability on Booking.com >>

These are other accommodation options in Selçuk with excellent ratings on Booking.com:

Akanthus Hotel Ephesus
Best boutique hotel
Akanthus Hotel Ephesus

Akanthus Hotel Ephesus is located in Selcuk, 3 km from Ephesus Grand Theater, and offers express check-in and check-out, hypoallergenic rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, free WiFi throughout, and a bar.

EPHESUS CENTRUM
Best midrange hotel
EPHESUS CENTRUM

EPHESUS CENTRUM is located in Selcuk, 3.5 km from Ephesus Grand Theater, and offers express check-in and check-out, non-smoking rooms, a bar, free WiFi, and a shared lounge.

ENA Serenity Boutique Hotel
Best budget hotel
ENA Serenity Boutique Hotel

ENA Serenity Boutique Hotel offers a terrace in Selcuk, 3 km from Ephesus Grand Theatre. Guests can enjoy a shared lounge and a bar;

Anz Guest House
Best B&B
Anz Guest House

Anz Guest House is located in the historic center of Selcuk, just 3 km from the ancient city of Ephesus and 7 km from the Aegean coast. It offers a garden and a rooftop terrace with views of the surrounding villages.