Ephesus & Selcuk Tour

Ephesus ancient city

Ephesus was founded by Ionian Greeks and grew into one of the greatest cities of the Roman world, the capital of the province of Asia and a busy port where trade from Anatolia met the Aegean. Its harbour later silted up and the city was abandoned, which is why so much survived: marble streets, temples, fountains, baths and houses lie spread across a green valley between two hills. Ephesus was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015.

Few places let you walk through a whole city rather than a single monument. Ephesus opening hours run daily from early morning until early evening in summer and late afternoon in winter. Entrance fees are not included in this tour and are paid at the gate. Is Ephesus worth visiting from Marmaris? For anyone curious about the ancient world, it is the highlight of the south-west coast.

Curetes Street and the Library of Celsus

The guided visit usually starts at the upper gate and follows Curetes Street downhill, a marble avenue lined with statue bases, public fountains, the Odeon, a small elegant temple and the public latrines that guests always remember. On the slope above the street are the Terrace Houses, Roman homes with frescoes and mosaics protected under a modern roof; they need a separate ticket.

At the foot of the street stands the Library of Celsus, the most photographed building in Ephesus. Built in the second century as a library and monumental tomb, its two-storey façade with columns and statues of the virtues glows golden in the morning light. Your guide explains how scrolls were stored in its walls and how the façade was rebuilt from fallen blocks.

The Great Theatre and Harbour Street

From the library, Marble Street leads to the Great Theatre, carved into the slope of Panayır Hill and one of the largest theatres of the ancient world. It hosted plays, assemblies and later gladiator shows, and its upper rows give a sweeping view down the valley. Standing in the orchestra, you can test the acoustics that still carry a voice to the top seats.

In front of the theatre, a long colonnaded avenue once ran straight to the harbour, lit at night and lined with shops. Today the sea lies several kilometres away, a reminder of how the river changed the coastline. This is usually where the two-hour guided visit ends before lunch; bring water and a hat, as there is little shade.

Selçuk and the Temple of Artemis

Selçuk is the small, friendly town at the foot of Ayasuluk Hill, a few minutes from Ephesus. On its edge, in a marshy field, a single re-erected column marks the Temple of Artemis, once listed among the Wonders of the Ancient World and larger than the Parthenon. Storks often nest on top, and the quiet site helps you imagine the vast marble temple that pilgrims crossed the sea to see.

During the free time after lunch you can visit the temple site, walk to the Ephesus Museum, which displays statues and finds from the ancient city, or simply relax in a café on the main street. Your guide gives tips on what to see, but the choice is yours. A day trip to Ephesus from Marmaris is long, so this break is welcome.

Ayasuluk Hill and the Isa Bey Mosque

Ayasuluk Hill rises above Selçuk, crowned by a Byzantine and Ottoman-era fortress whose walls you can see from across the town. Below the citadel, the Isa Bey Mosque, built in the fourteenth century, is one of the oldest Anatolian mosques with a courtyard plan, its tall gate and reused ancient columns showing how each civilisation built on the last.

If you prefer a quieter part of the free time, a walk around the foot of the hill and the mosque's courtyard is a peaceful contrast to the crowds of Ephesus. The best time to visit Ephesus is spring or autumn, when the stones are not too hot; in summer, the early start of this tour helps you see the ancient city before the strongest heat.