Things to see and do on a trip to Ephesus

Turkey is a unique country to see in the world, a country that is home to beautiful natural landscapes and hidden places where ancient history lingers, enlightening us about times long past that shaped the course of the world we know today. One such site is the archaeological site of Ephesus, where the wonders of the ancient world of the Mediterranean persist.

This architectural complex was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site years ago. And with good reason. Among its streets, you’ll find monuments such as the timeless Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre of Ephesus, with unique elements of the Greco-Roman influence that was so prevalent millennia ago. Read on, and we’ll tell you more about mystical Ephesus.

What are the best places to see in Ephesus?

1. The Great Theatre of Ephesus

For us, one of the most iconic sights to see in Ephesus that couldn’t wait for a second place on our list of monuments to visit is the impressive and timeless Great Theatre of Ephesus. An architectural gem that has stood the test of time over the centuries.

Standing on Mount Pion, this Roman theatre was built in the 1st century and was (and is) truly enormous, especially for the period in which it was built. The marble details carved into the stage have faded away as time has left its evident mark on the entire site.

Though today it is no longer the centre of artistic, entertainment and social activity that it once was, it remains a perfect reminder of the historical heritage of the city and the country. As well as one of the best sights to see on your visit to Ephesus.

2. The Library of Celsus

In Ephesus, you can feel the essence of history. It is in places like the Library of Celsus that you are able to transport yourself back in time and hear the echoes of millennia ago speaking to you. Without a doubt, this historic library is one of the things to add to your list of things to see on your Ephesus tour.

After a great feat of reconstruction and care by archaeologists and history enthusiasts, the Library of Celsus has managed to retain much of the splendour befitting such a monument. Its façade shows this with great precision, displaying a multitude of period details and engravings.

The truth is that this monument is actually of funerary origin, since one of the high officials of Ephesus wanted to build a mausoleum for his deceased father. To do so, he had to justify such a large-scale construction in the centre of the city by giving it another use. As a result, the library has served as a meeting place and a place for the transmission of knowledge over the decades.

3. The Arcadian Way of Ephesus

Another of the most impressive and monumental sites you can see in Ephesus is none other than the Arcadian Way, a set of monuments, buildings and archaeological complexes that have a lot of history behind them. It is one of the most important points of the city. And it is worth spending at least a few hours to appreciate all that it has to offer.

Many years ago (in fact, about two thousand years ago) the Arcadian Way served a very different purpose than it does today, for this was the main thoroughfare into the city for all the ships that docked in the city, full of visitors and eager merchants who came to earn their bread and butter among the streets of Ephesus.

The Via Arcadiana is more than 500 metres long, which is made up of a succession of sculptures, white and stony columns, which are interspersed with the porticoes that used to house the various shops typical of this important area of economic activity in the city. It is definitely a must-see in Ephesus.

4. Curetes Street

To put the finishing touch to our list of unforgettable sites and things to see in Ephesus, we could not fail to mention the Curetes Street. One of the city’s main thoroughfares that served to connect the two parts of the city: the Lower City and the Upper City.

The beginning of this street is noteworthy, where the House of Pleasures is located. It has been repeatedly remodelled and serves as an excellent starting point for our route along the Curetes Street in Ephesus. Its engravings are very famous, depicting a variety of characters, including a woman, which indicates that the city’s female workers used to meet here.

Today, the ruins take over the entire length of the street, with various structures including the terraced houses typical of Ephesus, as well as the courtyards that the inhabitants used to gather and share their experiences.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Ephesus, Turkey?

The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus

Of all the cultural and historical heritage that Ephesus can boast, one of the most iconic sights to see in Ephesus can be found on the outskirts of the ancient city. It is the historic Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

A mere three kilometres from all the ruins and monuments that make up the Ephesus site, is this enclave, now quite affected by the passage of time and the various historical events that have taken place here. In the vicinity of Selçuk is the unforgettable Temple of Artemis.

Despite the fact that not much more than one of the temple’s main columns remains today, it’s a place where you can feel the history of the place, as well as enjoy fantastic views across Selçuk and the ruins of Ephesus, making it a great place to see Ephesus.

What to see in Ephesus in 1 day?

The archaeological remains of Ephesus are one of those architectural complexes that you have to visit at least once a day. For this reason, we have prepared a list of recommendations on what to see in Ephesus in 1 day, which is more than enough time to see all the ruins.

In order to visit, it is important to remember that the opening hours are from 8am to 7pm almost all year round, with the exception of the winter months, when it is reduced to 8:30am and closes at 6pm. It is therefore important to get up early and prepare yourself for an intense visit, which we recommend you start on the Via Arcadiana in Ephesus.

After that, visit the thermal baths and the palestra of the harbour, then head to the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre of Ephesus and finish your visit by strolling along the Street of the Curetes. If you have more time, you should visit the Temple of Artemis and the town of Selçuk.

Where to stay in Ephesus?

Sometimes planning everything that goes into a trip is tiring and chaotic, so to make your stay much more enjoyable, we’ve put together a list of some accommodation for your days in Ephesus:

• Casa Callinos:  A few kilometres from the main tourist attractions of Ephesus, you will find Casa Callinos, an austere accommodation with all the comforts for your trip at a modest price of €25 per night.
• Anz Guest House:A cosy atmosphere, with comfortable rooms and enviable views. The price for two people for a weekend is around €90.
• Akanthus House Ephesus: If you want to enjoy a luxurious stay and de-stress by a gigantic pool, the Akanthus is your choice. A dream hotel priced from €216 for a weekend stay for two people.

Where and what to eat in Ephesus?

Turkish cuisine is world-renowned and is undoubtedly one of the main attractions of travelling to Turkey. That’s why we’ve prepared a recommendation of some places where you can enjoy it on your visit to Ephesus.

• Agora Restaurant: One of the most outstanding gastronomic offerings of Mediterranean and Turkish food can be found at Agora Restaurant. Undoubtedly one of the best options in Selçul and Ephesus
• Ejder: The highlight of the Ejder is its wide variety of Halal dishes and delicious Turkish specialities. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit, as you can eat for as little as €13.
• Efes Restaurant: One of the most affordable and delicious options for enjoying local cuisine in Ephesus. You can eat for less than €5 and the restaurant is less than three kilometres from the Ephesus archaeological complex.

What should I consider before travelling to Ephesus?

• The official currency of Turkey is the Turkish Lira.
• The best time to travel to Turkey is in spring or autumn, when the weather is milder. In the summer, it is very hot.
• In small towns, it’s not as common for credit cards to be accepted as in the cities.
• It’s best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as prices are high.
• The tap water is not safe to drink.
• From Spain it is not necessary to have a visa if you are travelling for less than 90 days, but you must have a valid passport and be able to justify with your hotel reservations that the trip is for tourism.
• Get your travel insurance for possible medical emergencies.
• The country is generally very safe, but just in case, be careful with your belongings and be careful at the Syrian border.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Ephesus?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post).
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Ephesus in Turkey

If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Ephesus