Ephesus Turkey: Ancient City Guide, History, Map & What to See

Ephesus is one of the most important ancient cities in Turkey. It is located near Selcuk in Izmir Province on the Aegean coast. The city became a major political, commercial and cultural centre during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

It was also an important place in the early history of Christianity. Today, visitors can walk through streets that once connected temples, public buildings, homes, markets and one of the largest theatres of the ancient world.

The Library of Celsus, Terrace Houses, Temple of Hadrian and Great Theatre are among the best known monuments in Ephesus. The archaeological site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

Visitors staying in the region can see Ephesus on a day trip. Cruise passengers can also join an Ephesus tour from Kusadasi with private transport and a licensed guide. Our Ephesus tours can also include nearby historical and religious sites such as the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis.

Ephesus was an ancient city on the western coast of Anatolia. The area has a long history of human settlement. The monumental city that visitors see today largely developed after Lysimachos, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, established a new city here around 300 BCE.

Ephesus later became part of the Roman Empire. It was made the capital of the Roman province of Asia and developed into an important port city. Its location connected trade routes between the Aegean coast and the interior of Anatolia.

The city continued to play an important role during the early Christian and Byzantine periods. Churches, religious councils and Christian pilgrimage became part of its later history.

Ephesus is in western Turkey, close to the modern town of Selcuk in Izmir Province. The archaeological site is about 3 kilometres from the centre of Selcuk.

The ancient city was once much closer to the sea. Ephesus had a harbour that helped it become an important commercial centre during the Roman period. Over time, sediment carried by the river changed the coastline and the harbour gradually lost its connection with the sea.

Ephesus is often visited from Selcuk, Izmir and Kusadasi. Kusadasi is especially important for cruise passengers who want to visit the ancient city during a day in port.

Ephesus is in modern day Turkey.

The city had strong Greek cultural roots and was one of the Ionian cities of ancient Anatolia. It later became one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire in Asia Minor.

This history sometimes causes people to search for Ephesus in Greece. The archaeological site itself is in Selcuk, in the Izmir Province of Turkey.

The history of the Ephesus area goes back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows settlement in the region long before the Greek and Roman city developed.

Ephesus became an important Ionian city in the ancient Greek world. The city that forms the main archaeological site today took shape under Lysimachos around 300 BCE.

A major change came when western Anatolia became part of the Roman Empire. Ephesus became the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Its harbour, roads and location helped the city grow into a major centre for trade and administration.

Many of the monuments that visitors see today belong to the Roman Imperial period. These include the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Terrace Houses and the Great Theatre.

Ephesus also became important to Christianity. The city had an important Christian community and later became a major pilgrimage centre. The Church of Mary and the Basilica of St John are important reminders of this period.

Over the centuries, changes to the coastline reduced the importance of the ancient harbour. Settlement gradually moved towards Ayasuluk Hill and the area that later became modern Selcuk.

Ephesus covers a large archaeological area. Several monuments stand out because of their architecture, history and state of preservation.

Library of Celsus

The Library of Celsus is the most recognisable building in Ephesus. It was constructed during the Roman period in memory of Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus.

Its restored facade has become one of the main symbols of the ancient city. The building also contained the tomb of Celsus.

You can read more about its history on our Library of Celsus guide.

Great Theatre of Ephesus

The Great Theatre is one of the largest structures in the ancient city. It developed from an earlier Hellenistic theatre and was expanded during the Roman period.

The theatre was used for performances and public gatherings. It also has an important place in the Christian history of Ephesus because events connected with St Paul are associated with this area.

Curetes Street

Curetes Street runs through one of the most impressive parts of Ephesus.

Visitors walking along the street pass several important monuments. These include fountains, temples and public buildings. The street also leads towards the Library of Celsus.

Walking through this part of Ephesus gives a good idea of how carefully the Roman city was planned.

Temple of Hadrian

The Temple of Hadrian stands along Curetes Street. It was built during the Roman period and is one of the most recognisable smaller monuments at Ephesus.

Its entrance, columns and decorative reliefs make it an important stop when walking through the ancient city.

Terrace Houses

The Terrace Houses were the homes of wealthy residents of Roman Ephesus.

The houses contain mosaics, marble decoration and wall paintings. They give visitors a different view of the city because they show how wealthy families lived rather than how public buildings were used.

The Terrace Houses require more time to visit, but they are worth including if you are interested in daily life during the Roman period.

Harbor Street

The ancient harbour was one of the main reasons for the growth of Ephesus.

A broad street connected the harbour area with the Great Theatre and the centre of the city. Ships, merchants and visitors once entered Ephesus through this part of the city.

The sea is now much farther away because the coastline changed over the centuries.

The Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The sanctuary of Artemis was one of the most important religious centres in ancient Ephesus. Pilgrims travelled from different parts of the Mediterranean to visit it.

Only a small part of the temple survives today. Its historical importance is much greater than the amount of architecture that remains.

The Temple of Artemis is outside the main archaeological walking route, but it can easily be added to a visit to Ephesus.

Ephesus is now one of the major archaeological sites in Turkey.

The ancient harbour no longer exists as an active port and the centre of modern life has moved to nearby Selcuk. The remains of the ancient city are protected as an archaeological site.

Ephesus was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015. The World Heritage property includes archaeological areas that show the long history of settlement and religion in the region.

Excavation, research and conservation work have been carried out at Ephesus for more than a century.

An Ephesus map is useful before visiting because the archaeological site contains monuments from different periods.

The central walking route connects many of the best known Roman buildings. Visitors normally pass areas such as Curetes Street, the Temple of Hadrian, the Terrace Houses, the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre.

Other important places are located outside the main archaeological walking route. The Temple of Artemis, Basilica of St John and House of the Virgin Mary should be considered separate stops when planning your day.

This is one reason why a private guide can be useful. You can decide which sites are most important to you instead of trying to visit every location in the area.

Kusadasi is one of the most convenient starting points for visiting Ephesus. It is also an important cruise port on the Aegean coast.

A private Kusadasi to Ephesus tour can start directly from the cruise port or your hotel. The itinerary can focus on Ephesus Ancient City or combine it with nearby sites.

Popular combinations include Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis.

Cruise passengers should also consider the departure time of their ship when planning the day. A private tour makes it easier to adjust the itinerary to the available time.

See our private Ephesus tours from Kusadasi for itinerary details.

Ephesus can also be visited from Istanbul.

The closest major airports are in Izmir and the surrounding region. A visit from Istanbul normally requires a domestic flight and road transport to Ephesus.

Travellers with more time can include Ephesus as part of a longer Turkey itinerary with Istanbul, Cappadocia and other destinations.

For a first visit, we recommend allowing at least two hours inside the main archaeological site.

Visitors who want to see the Terrace Houses, take photographs and spend more time -around 5 hours- with a guide may prefer a longer visit.

A full regional tour can also include the House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis or other sites around Selcuk.

Ephesus is an open archaeological site with large areas exposed to the sun.

Morning visits are usually more comfortable during warmer months. Comfortable shoes are important because much of the route follows ancient stone and marble streets.

Opening hours can change during the year.

Ephesus can be visited from Kusadasi, Izmir or Istanbul. Choose a private tour based on your starting point and available time.