Ancient City of Ephesus
Selcuk is the modern name of Ephesus. A small agricultural town, having a population of 35000 people. Due to the close proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus, some travellers prefer to stay in Selcuk town. Selcuk has many small hotels. For travelers who will overnight in Selcuk town, we recommend to visit farmers market on saturdays.
Selcuk is accesible by trains from Izmir or Denizli (Pamukkale). Modern trains are operating between İzmir – Izmir Airport – Selcuk – Denizli. Its a comfortable and cheap way to travel on this route. For more information about the trains schedules to Selcuk, please visit the following link:
Izmir, Izmir Airport - Selcuk Town (Ephesus) Train Schedules
Selcuk is accesible by trains from Izmir or Denizli (Pamukkale). Modern trains are operating between İzmir – Izmir Airport – Selcuk – Denizli. Its a comfortable and cheap way to travel on this route. For more information about the trains schedules to Selcuk, please visit the following link:
Izmir, Izmir Airport - Selcuk Town (Ephesus) Train Schedules
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Recommended hotels to stay in Selcuk
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For travelers who stay in Selcuk town or travel to Selcuk by train, we offer private airport transfers from Izmir airport and private Ephesus tours. For travelers who travel with rent a car, we also provide tour guide only services where our tour guide meets you in your hotel in Selcuk or in front of Basilica of St. John or Selcuk Bus Station or Selcuk Train Station. Cost of tour guide only services is 80 Euros (whatever your group size is)
Suggested Tour Programs from Selcuk are as follows:
SELCUK - No:1
HalfDay (4 hours) Temple of Artemis + Ephesus + House of Mary
After meeting your guide drive through the fertile lands. Your first stop will be the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards proceed to the mountain where Virgin Mary is believed to spent her 9 years. The house is approximately 1000 feet above sea level and running as an active chapel. Roman Catholics believe that Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint. John 5 years after the crucification. At the age of 63 she is assumed to heaven. Altough there is no fact that Virgin Mary lived here approximately 1.5 million people visit the site each year. After 30 minutes visit to the House of Mary, drive to ancient city of Ephesus. You will be dropped at the upper gate of Ephesus with your tour guide. Start exploring the city. You will be walking down the hill approximately 1.5hrs. You will see the Odeon, the basilica, domitian square, fountain of Trajan, Celcus library, Terrace Houses (optional), Marble street, the Grand Theater of Ephesus and the Harbour Street. You will be endng your tour at the bottom gate. Your tour guide will take you to another site or drop you at the desired location.
SELCUK - No:2
Fullday (6 hours) Tour of Ephesus - Christian Ephesus
Meet with your guide in Selcuk. Drive to the country. Your first stop on this fascinating tour is at the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY. Then, you will continue on to visit ancient EPHESUS, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Odeion, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath,Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theater with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. Afterwards visit the BASILICA OF ST. JOHNand see the TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS, one of the wonders of the ancient world.
SELCUK - No:3
Fullday (7 hours) Ephesus & Villages
Meet with your guide in Selcuk. Drive to one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world:TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS. After seeing Temple of Artemis drive to the magnificent ancient site of EPHESUS. Ephesus is the best preserved of the Greek/Roman cities in Anatolia and while you are visiting the ancient ruins of this magnificent site, your tour guide will bring them alive. You will see the beautiful Celsus Library, restored and reconstructed according to its original form by the architect Friedmund Hueber in the 1970's. The most spectacular building of Ephesus is the Grand Theater, built during the Hellenistic age to hold 25,000 spectators. It is there that St. Paul preached. Opposite theTemple of Hadrian are the Terrace Houses, homes of Ephesus' wealthy citizens. The city was also the hometown of great philosopher Heraclitus. After a visit to Ephesus Antique Site, you will arrive at SIRINCE VILLAGE. This old Orthodox Village, 10 km from Selcuk, was once "Cirkince"(ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it "Sirince" (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920's; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have chance of seeing the local life at a village and purchasing some small local souvenirs and handicrafts. The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. Your last stop will be the visit to the ISA BEY MOSQUE, a delicate masterpiece of Turkish architecture from the fourteenth century.
Suggested Tour Programs from Selcuk are as follows:
SELCUK - No:1
HalfDay (4 hours) Temple of Artemis + Ephesus + House of Mary
After meeting your guide drive through the fertile lands. Your first stop will be the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards proceed to the mountain where Virgin Mary is believed to spent her 9 years. The house is approximately 1000 feet above sea level and running as an active chapel. Roman Catholics believe that Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint. John 5 years after the crucification. At the age of 63 she is assumed to heaven. Altough there is no fact that Virgin Mary lived here approximately 1.5 million people visit the site each year. After 30 minutes visit to the House of Mary, drive to ancient city of Ephesus. You will be dropped at the upper gate of Ephesus with your tour guide. Start exploring the city. You will be walking down the hill approximately 1.5hrs. You will see the Odeon, the basilica, domitian square, fountain of Trajan, Celcus library, Terrace Houses (optional), Marble street, the Grand Theater of Ephesus and the Harbour Street. You will be endng your tour at the bottom gate. Your tour guide will take you to another site or drop you at the desired location.
SELCUK - No:2
Fullday (6 hours) Tour of Ephesus - Christian Ephesus
Meet with your guide in Selcuk. Drive to the country. Your first stop on this fascinating tour is at the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY. Then, you will continue on to visit ancient EPHESUS, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Odeion, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath,Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theater with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. Afterwards visit the BASILICA OF ST. JOHNand see the TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS, one of the wonders of the ancient world.
SELCUK - No:3
Fullday (7 hours) Ephesus & Villages
Meet with your guide in Selcuk. Drive to one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world:TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS. After seeing Temple of Artemis drive to the magnificent ancient site of EPHESUS. Ephesus is the best preserved of the Greek/Roman cities in Anatolia and while you are visiting the ancient ruins of this magnificent site, your tour guide will bring them alive. You will see the beautiful Celsus Library, restored and reconstructed according to its original form by the architect Friedmund Hueber in the 1970's. The most spectacular building of Ephesus is the Grand Theater, built during the Hellenistic age to hold 25,000 spectators. It is there that St. Paul preached. Opposite theTemple of Hadrian are the Terrace Houses, homes of Ephesus' wealthy citizens. The city was also the hometown of great philosopher Heraclitus. After a visit to Ephesus Antique Site, you will arrive at SIRINCE VILLAGE. This old Orthodox Village, 10 km from Selcuk, was once "Cirkince"(ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it "Sirince" (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920's; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have chance of seeing the local life at a village and purchasing some small local souvenirs and handicrafts. The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. Your last stop will be the visit to the ISA BEY MOSQUE, a delicate masterpiece of Turkish architecture from the fourteenth century.
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SELCUK- No:4
Fullday (7 hours) Temple of Artemis + Ephesus + Kirazli Village Your first stop will be the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Continue to Ephesus where you start at the Magnesia Gate and walk downhill through the city.Your tour guide will point out the sights, bringing the history of Ephesus to life as you pause at the Odeon, Upper Agora, Town Hall, Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian and Domitianus, Memmius Memorial, Roman Baths,Terrace Houses and the extraordinary Library of Celsus. At the end of the marble street leading from the library, gaze up at the impressive theater, built to seat 24.000 people. Here St. Paul preached to Ephesians. Afterwards proceed to the quaint Village of Kirazli. Meet with locals, witness the unspoiled local life. See real Turkey ! For more information, contact us. |
* For travellers who will be staying at hotels in Basmane district in Izmir, we recommend them to take the 9.00am train from Basmane train station which will arrive to Selcuk at 10.15am. Our tour guide and vehicle can meet you at Selcuk train startion. After the tour you will be dropped back to Selcuk train station for your return journey. Return train will leave Selcuk at 6.06pm and arrive Izmir Basmane Train station at 7.15pm.
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