Around Ephesus
Selcuk, the Town Beside Ephesus
Key answer
Selcuk is the modern town beside Ephesus, in Izmir Province. The archaeological site is on its edge, and several of the area's other major places — the Ephesus Museum, the Ayasuluk hill with the Basilica of St John, the Isa Bey Mosque and the Artemision — are in or immediately around the town.
Where Selcuk sits
Selcuk lies inland from the Aegean coast in Izmir Province, on the plain where the ancient harbour of Ephesus once opened to the sea. Cruise guests arrive from Kusadasi and independent travellers usually from Izmir; both approaches are by road.
Because the town is next to the site, it is where visitors eat, stay overnight, or wait between a site visit and a departure.
What is in and around the town
The Ephesus Museum in Selcuk holds finds excavated from the city and its surroundings, including sculpture from the sanctuary of Artemis. Above the town, the Ayasuluk hill carries the Basilica of St John and its fortifications, with the Isa Bey Mosque on the slope below.
The remaining columns and foundations of the Temple of Artemis stand on the plain between the town and the archaeological site.
- Ephesus Museum, Selcuk — finds from the city and the Artemision.
- Ayasuluk hill — Basilica of St John and the fortress walls.
- Isa Bey Mosque — on the slope below the hill.
- Temple of Artemis (Artemision) — on the plain nearby.
Fitting Selcuk into a visit
Each of these is a separate site with its own access arrangements, and they are not covered by the Ephesus entrance. Current opening times and ticketing are published by the Turkish Museums portal, which is the only reliable place to check before you travel.
What can realistically be combined depends on your own arrival and departure times, which is why nothing on this page states a duration or an itinerary.
Common questions
No. Selcuk is the modern town beside the archaeological site. Ephesus is the ancient city on its edge, entered through its own gates.
In Selcuk town, not inside the archaeological site. It holds material excavated at Ephesus and around it, and has its own entrance and hours.