Ephesus was one of the most important cities of the ancient world: capital of the Roman province of Asia, centre of the cult of Artemis (whose temple was one of the Seven Wonders) and a city where the apostle Paul preached. Today its ruins are among the best preserved in the Mediterranean.
A short history of Ephesus
Founded by Greek settlers in the 10th century BC, Ephesus grew into a metropolis of up to 250,000 people in Roman times. It was the most important port of the eastern Aegean and a commercial, cultural and religious centre. Its decline came as the harbour silted up and a series of earthquakes struck.
What to see in Ephesus
Library of Celsus
The icon of Ephesus: a majestic two-storey façade for a library that held 12,000 papyrus scrolls. Built around AD 117 as both a tomb and a library, it was the third-largest library of the ancient world, after Alexandria and Pergamon.
Great Theatre
With room for 25,000 spectators, this is where the apostle Paul addressed the Ephesians. The acoustics are astonishing: a whisper on the stage can be heard in the back row.
Terrace Houses
The “houses of the rich”, with mosaics, frescoes and underfloor heating. They need a separate ticket but are absolutely worth it: nowhere else in the world is Roman domestic life so well preserved.
Temple of Artemis
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only a single column stands today, but picturing a temple four times the size of the Parthenon helps you grasp how grand it was.
House of the Virgin Mary
On the mountain above Ephesus, this small chapel marks the spot where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary spent her last years. It is a place of pilgrimage for both Christians and Muslims.
Practical information
- Opening hours: 08:00–18:30 (summer), 08:00–17:00 (winter).
- Tickets: around €30 for the main site and around €10 extra for the Terrace Houses at the time of writing (2026). Prices are revised often, so check the official Turkish museums website (muze.gov.tr) before you go.
- Time needed: 2–3 hours (you get far more out of it with a guide).
- Getting there: from Selçuk (3 km) or Kuşadası (17 km). The nearest airport is Izmir Adnan Menderes (ADB), about an hour’s drive away.
Şirince: the bonus village
Eight kilometres from Ephesus, this former Greek village has stone houses, cobbled lanes and cellars selling fruit wines (peach, apple, blackberry). The perfect lunch stop after Ephesus.
Ephesus comes alive with a guide who can tell you its story. Book a private tour of Ephesus with an English-speaking guide.