Extensively restored during the 1970s, the Library of Celsus pays tribute to Ephesus’ status as a center of learning. The recessed windows and stepped podium impress even today—although the graceful sculptures are copies of originals now held in a museum.
No visit to Ephesus would be complete without admiring the library; although it’s not possible to go inside or enter the crypt where Celsus lies in his marble tomb. Most travelers visit from the nearby cruise port and resort town of Kusadasi, or other resorts on Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) Aegean coast, but Ephesus is also a staple of multi-day Turkey tours.
The Library of Celsus sits in the heart of ancient Ephesus, close to the Agora. Ephesus is just outside the little town of Selcuk, about a 12-mile (20-kilometer) drive northeast of Kusadasi. The nearest airport is Izmir, about a 37-mile (60-kilometer) drive north.
Ephesus is open throughout the week, but usually closes in the early evening during the summer season (April–October) and late afternoon in winter. During the high season (June–August), arrive early in the day or towards evening to beat the cruise ship crowds.
An epicenter of early Christianity and an important city in both ancient Greek and classical Roman times, Ephesus spans around 1,030 acres (415 hectares). Don’t miss the Public Latrine at Ephesus, a communal bathroom with marble stalls; the Ephesus Terrace Houses, family homes with gorgeous murals and mosaics; and the Temple of Hadrian, with its graceful arches. The Agora (marketplace), Odeon (theater), and Baths of Varius were important public spaces.
