Things to do in Selçuk

Q: What are the top things to do in Selçuk?

The top things to do in Selçuk are: Ephesus (Efes) House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi) Temple of Artemis (Artemision) Ephesus Terrace Houses Cave of the Seven Sleepers

Q: What are the top activities in Selçuk?

Top activities in Selçuk include: SKIP THE LINES:Best Seller Ephesus PRIVATE TOUR For Cruise Guests BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR: Mary's House and Ephesus Ruins PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR: Skip-the-Line & Guaranteed ON-TIME Return to Boat FOR CRUISE GUESTS:BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR/Skip The Lines FOR CRUISERS: Private Ephesus Tour (Skip-the-Line & Guaranteed On-Time Return)

Q: What are the top things to do near Selçuk?

Check out things to do near Selçuk: Aegean Coast Kusadasi Izmir Bodrum Kos

Gateway to ancient Ephesus

Selcuk is a town in the Aegean region of western Turkey located close to the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. The town itself contains ancient ruins, layers of history, and tree-lined avenues, and serves as a jumping-off point for Ephesus as well as the nearby village of Sirince, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the beach resort town of Kusadasi, among other things to do. Selcuk is easily reached from Izmir and the Izmir Airport.

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Top 15 attractions in Selçuk

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Ephesus (Efes)

17,452

Ephesus (Efes) is one of the greatest ancient sites in the Mediterranean. During its heyday in the first century BC, it was the second-largest city in the world, with only Rome commanding more power. Many reconstructed structures and ruins, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, can be seen here.More

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House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi)

12,948

St. Mary’s House in Ephesus is believed by many to be the place where the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, spent her final days, and has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and pilgrims seeking the healing properties of the spring that runs beneath the stone home since its discovery in the 19th-century.More

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Temple of Artemis (Artemision)

14,303

One of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the marble Temple of Artemis (Artemision or Artemisium at Ephesus once spanned more than 63,000 square feet (around 5,850 square meters. Today all that remains of 127 original columns plus countless frescoes and statues is a teetering pillar and some foundation fragments.More

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Ephesus Terrace Houses

7,789

A cluster of ancient 2-story homes spread across three tiers, the Ephesus Terrace Houses reveal how wealthy Romans lived during the city’s glory days. Glass floors let you admire geometric mosaics and still-colorful frescoes gleaming on the walls—it’s a small wonder some compare the site to Pompeii.More

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Cave of the Seven Sleepers

According to a third-century story of the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, several Christian men in Ephesus (present-day Selcuk, Turkey) sought sanctuary in a nearby cave to escape persecution by the Roman Emperor Trajan Decius. They fell asleep, waking some 250 years later and discovering that Christianity had become widely accepted in Ephesus. After natural deaths, the “seven sleepers” were buried in the same cave, which quickly became a pilgrimage site.More

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Basilica of St. John

3,814

In Christian tradition, St. John the Apostle came to Ephesus after St. Paul and ministered to the Ephesians. The vast Basilica of St. John, built by the sixth-century emperor Justinian, houses a fourth-century tomb that drew pilgrims from across Europe in search of miracles. It is still one of the world’s largest cathedrals today.More

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Library of Celsus

544

A grand two-story facade adorned with statues of the four Virtues makes the Library of Celsus the most photographed and best-known monument in the Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in AD 110 to honor Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, it once held 12,000 scrolls, making it one of the largest libraries in the ancient world.More

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Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus

513

The Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus is one of the highlights of the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye). It was built around 118 AD and is actually more of a monument to Hadrian, Artemis, and the people of Ephesus. Hadrian's temple is small, but there is a beautiful arch on the outside, a porch, and a small main hall. The porch is supported by pillars and Corinthian columns. A statue of Hadrian once stood on a podium in the temple, but it has been lost. On the front of the porch are bases with the names of Galerius, Maximianus, Diocletianus, and Constantius Chlorus inscribed on them, indicating that the bases might have once held statues of these emperors.Panel reliefs on the inside depict Medusa warding off the bad spirits, the mythological foundation of Ephesus, and various religious scenes. The reliefs seen today are plaster replicas, while the originals are protected in the Ephesus Museum.More

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Isa Bey Mosque (Isa Bey Camii)

673

Isa Bey Mosque (İsa Bey Camii) was built in 1375 near the ancient city of Ephesus in what is today Selçuk, Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye). Parts of the mosque were built using stones and columns from the ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. It was designed asymmetrically instead of a more traditional symmetric layout and includes a large courtyard. The mosque uses a Selcuk style of architecture rather than the Ottoman style that was used more often in later years.Visitors can admire the facade on the western side which is covered in marble and carved with geometric designs and calligraphy inscriptions. You can all see the brick minaret that has survived over the centuries on the north side of the mosque and two domes in the center. The mosque sits below the citadel near the Basilica of St. John. From the mosque, you can look up at the impressive ruins of the citadel and the basilica. The view from the hill where the basilica sits gives an impressive perspective of the mosque as well.More

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#10

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Part of the Ephesus Archaeological Complex, the Ephesian public latrine offers a glimpse into the daily life of the city's inhabitants. This well-preserved ruin served as a communal toilet during the Roman period, providing a unique perspective on the city's history. While landmarks such as the Library of Celsus showcase Ephesus' grandeur, this intact facility humanizes the ancient city.More

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#14

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Baths of Varius

187

The Baths of Varius was a bathhouse built in the 2nd century AD in Ephesus in present-day Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye). The north and east walls of the original building were carved from natural outcroppings of rock. Several renovations over a few centuries gave the building a unique look, including the addition of a hallway that was 130 feet long and covered in mosaics from the 5th century. The baths covered a large area and had several different rooms, including separate rooms for cold, warm, and hot water. There were also private rooms for a few wealthy citizens of Ephesus. It is believed one section functioned as a gymnasium.The Romans place a high value on personal cleanliness, so the Baths of Varius would have been an important building in ancient Ephesus. Most but not all sections of the baths have been excavated, and no restoration work has been done yet. Some sections are in decent shape, but it might take some creativity to imagine what other sections once looked like.More

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#15

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Fountain of Trajan

One of Ephesus’ most important fountains, the Fountain of Trajan (Nymphaeum Traiani) stands proud on Curetes Street. Built sometime between 102–114 AD to honor Emperor Trajan, it once stood more than 30 feet (9.5 meters) high and featured around 15 statues, including a vast sculpture of Trajan, of which only one foot remains.More

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SKIP THE LINES:Best Seller Ephesus PRIVATE TOUR For Cruise Guests

2661

4 to 6 hours
Free Cancellation

From

$59.00

Price varies by group size

BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR: Mary's House and Ephesus Ruins

4 to 6 hours
Free Cancellation

From

$49.00

Price varies by group size

PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR: Skip-the-Line & Guaranteed ON-TIME Return to Boat

1235

4 to 6 hours
Free Cancellation

From

$49.00

Price varies by group size

FOR CRUISE GUESTS:BEST SELLER EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR/Skip The Lines

5 to 6 hours
Free Cancellation

From

$59.00

Price varies by group size

Kusadasi Shore Excursion : Ephesus Private Tour ONLY FOR CRUISE GUESTS

5 to 7 hours
Free Cancellation

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$59.00

Price varies by group size

Skip-The-Line: Best of Ephesus Tour w/LUNCH

6 hours
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$25.00

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Ephesus Small Group - Semi Private Shore Excursion

4 to 6 hours
Free Cancellation

From

$37.00

Skip The Line:Private Ephesus Tour & Guaranteed ON-TIME Return

4 to 7 hours
Free Cancellation

From

$25.00

Price varies by group size

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All about Selçuk

When to visit

Selcuk is worth a visit at any time of the year. Spring and autumn (April-May and September-October) have the most optimal weather when the forecast is warm but not overly hot. Winters are mild and crisp, while summers are sweltering and sunny. If you’re visiting Ephesus, consider that summers might be too hot and bright if you’re not prepared for abundant sunshine.

Getting around

Getting to Selcuk from Izmir Airport is easily done by train, bus, or taxi. Getting around Selcuk is easiest in a car, taxi, or bus. Minibusses, shared cabs, and private taxis all depart regularly for Ephesus, which is only one mile from Selcuk. Other minibusses regularly go to Kusadasi and Sirince and other places in the area.

Traveler tips

The early months of the year are a great time to visit Selcuk. The oranges are ripening on the trees, the air is cool but not too cold, and the crowds at Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and other popular sites will be less busy. Travel from the airport on the local train, which is a fast and easy way to reach Selcuk.

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Things to do in Selçuk

Gateway to ancient Ephesus

Top 15 attractions in Selçuk

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Top activities in Selçuk

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