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Last updated: 28 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Jeremy Seal

With its cobbled streets, spectacular surviving villa interiors and painstakingly restored facades, Turkey’s best-known ancient site stunningly evokes Roman-era life in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. It’s rare to experience a city quite so rich in architectural detailing, not least inscriptions, statuary and restored facades.

Wandering Ephesus’ main street, past a wealth of buildings including bathhouses, temples and the exceptional Library of Celsus, is an unmissable experience for anybody with the least fascination for the past.

Price from: £7
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The southern gate, the recommended entrance, delivers visitors to the top of the original ‘main drag’. Guides and audio guides are available for hire, though those who prefer to wander at leisure will have little trouble finding their way through the well-signed site’s straightforward topography, especially with the hand-out maps.

The site is served by taxis while some of the pansiyons at Selcuk, the nearest accommodation base, shuttle their guests to Ephesus. By foot, it’s about a half-hour walk from Selcuk.

There are restaurants outside the entrance turnstiles, but nothing on the site. Bring snacks and water.

When to do it

The site is open all year round, seven days a week. Ideally be there for opening time – which is the best time to avoid the heat and the crowds.

September and June are the best months to go. The site offers little shade and in July and August, when the weather is hot, even at 8am. The site is always crowded in high summer – often with cruise groups who flood the ancient streets.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Ephesus Day Trip from Istanbul

Istanbul

Ephesus Day Trip from Istanbul
If you are in Istanbul and would like to visit Ephesus we can arrange a day trip to Ephesus from Istanbul with direct flights to Izmir from Istanbul during the day at discounted prices.

Price: €315

Min age: 0

Rating 4.82 / 5 [17 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Ephesus Trip from Istanbul

Selçuk

Ephesus Trip from Istanbul
This full-day excursion covers the most exciting sites of the region, including the BASILICA OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, it is believed that where the Apostle John spent his last years and was buried. And the ANCIENT CITY OF EPHESUS, the most important archaeological site in Turkey. EPHESUS ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM where you can see the findings from the excavations of Ephesus City. And, will also see the Artemis Temple and İsabey Mosque, as well as have a chance to explore the local handicrafts of the region... • Starts with picking up from your Istanbul Hotel and ends with dropping off at your Istanbul Hotel • Return Flights, Airport Transfers, Entrance Fees, Lunch, and Licensed Tour Guide Included • Even you have a chance to explore local handicrafts besides visiting historical & cultural destinations • Small-group tour limited to 15 people ensures a more personalized experience and have a chance to UPGRADE PRIVATE • Explore the Local Life not the touristic-designed places

Price: $372

Min age: 0

Rating 4.93 / 5 [115 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Ancient Ephesus Tour from/to Istanbul

Istanbul

Ancient Ephesus Tour from/to Istanbul
This is a customized full-day small-group tour with an expert local guide. Visit Ancient Ephesus; The best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean, Temple of Artemis; was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, House of Virgin Mary where she spent her last days. Airport transfers, Economic class domestic flight tickets, Guided full-day Ephesus tour provided. Do not miss your lifetime experience.

Price: $385

Min age: 0

Rating 4.87 / 5 [32 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Day Trip from Istanbul to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary

Istanbul

Private Day Trip from Istanbul to Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary
A Private Day Trip to 'must' to visit places: Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary. Enjoy this excellent tour and receive a Red Carpet Treatment by a Private Tour Guide and luxurious Mercedes-Benz Vehicles.

Price: $549

Min age: 0

Rating 4.88 / 5 [18 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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4 Day Turkey Tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale by Plane

Istanbul

4 Day Turkey Tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale by Plane
4 Days Turkey Tour by Plane See the highlights of Turkey’s North Aegean province and Cappadocia on this astounding 4-day Turkey tour from Istanbul. Discover what life was like for the Turks under Roman rule as you visit ancient cities like Ephesus and Hierapolis, and see travertine rock terraces at the Pamukkale archeological site. In Cappadocia, where your tour ends, explore unforgettable sites like Göreme, Uchisar, Çavusin and more! With two domestic flights included ( Istanbul to Izmir, Kayseri to Istanbul), plus airport transfers and three nights of accommodation, this tour enables you to see Turkey with ease. Numbers are limited to 14 on this small-group tour ensuring you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide.

Price: €800

Min age: 0

Rating 4.70 / 5 [31 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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4 Days Turkey Tour: Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus

Istanbul

4 Days Turkey Tour: Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus
Book your 4 Days Turkey tour package to experience the unique opportunity to visit all major destinations after Istanbul with TripAdvisor's one of the Top Rated travel agencies. This tour includes Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale. You travel by public night buses for maximum cost saving. Starting the trip with Cappadocia, famous with its distinctive “fairy chimneys” - tall, cone-shaped rock formations. Moving further with Ephesus, an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia. Finally ending in Pamukkale, in other words, "Cotton Castle", is a hot spring with calcium-coated cliffs and inland pools.

Price: $963

Min age: 0

Rating 4.89 / 5 [19 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Turkey's Wonders - Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia Travel from-to Istanbul

Istanbul

Turkey's Wonders - Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia Travel from-to Istanbul
Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia !!! Three beauties of Turkey. If you would like discover those amazing destinations, this travel package is one of the best Turkey travel itineraries. The connection between the destinations (Istanbul-Pamukkale & Izmir-Cappadocia & Cappadocia to Istanbul) will be with the domestic flights and those flights are included.

Price: €999

Min age: 0

Rating 4.5 / 5 [12 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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7-Day Turkey Classics Tour from Istanbul: Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Ankara

Istanbul

7-Day Turkey Classics Tour from Istanbul: Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Ankara
Tick through Turkey’s classic sights on this spellbinding 7-day tour that starts and finishes in Istanbul. Traveling by air-conditioned coach with an expert guide, explore the emotive World War I battle sites of Gallipoli, the breathtaking Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus, and the fairy-tale landscapes of Cappadocia. In-between, ogle the white rock terraces of Pamukkale, swim in the hot springs at Hierapolis, view the ruins of Troy and much, much more. The tour includes six nights’ accommodation plus breakfast and dinner on each day.

Price: €1,010

Min age: 8

Rating 4.73 / 5 [145 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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4 Day Turkey Tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale

Istanbul

4 Day Turkey Tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale
4 Day Turkey tour all by flight. If you would like to visit most famous places in Turkey, this tour is exactly for you: including Cappadocia, with its valley, canyon, cave hotels, balloon rides(Balloon ride is Extra Cost Optional), hills and unusual rock formation; Ephesus, one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire and Pamukkale, the city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.

Price: €1,100

Min age: 0

Rating 4.78 / 5 [65 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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6 Days Turkey Tour Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon

Istanbul

6 Days Turkey Tour Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon
Experience all of the must sees of Cappadocia. Watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon as you float above the fairy chimneys that dot the landscape. Stay in one of the charming cave hotels built into the volcanic rocks of Göreme. Tour the famous sites of the region such as the underground city of Derinkuyu, Uçhisar Castle, Göreme Open Air Museum, Selime Monastery and the Ihlara Valley. Discover what remains of one of the 7 ancient wonders of the world, the Temple of Artemis. Take a fully guided tour of the ruins of Ephesus. See the last dwelling place and tomb of the Virgin Mary. Walk in the famous white travertines heated by thermal waters. Learn about the ANZAC and Ottoman forces that fought during WWI. Tour the battlefields and memorials. See the remains of ancient Pergamon and Troy. Climb inside a replica of the Trojan horse.Have an adventure you’ll never forget on 5 Nights in Turkey.

Price: €1,450

Min age: 0

Rating 4.82 / 5 [39 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Turkey Best 8-Day Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus

Istanbul

Turkey Best 8-Day Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus
Turkey has so much to offer the traveller, during their vacation, with its breathtaking natural beauty, unique historical sites and the famous Turkish hospitality. You discover as you step foot on the soil that holds intact remains from the Hittites to the Ottomans and more classical Hellenistic sites than Greece! On this small group Turkey tour, we will visit Cappadocia region with famous fairy chimneys and underground city, ruins of Hierapolis, the Temple of Apollo, Necropolis, and stroll over the magnificent white calcium terraces of Pamukkale, and absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis.

Price: €1,450

Min age: 0

Rating 4.91 / 5 [12 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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7 Days Turkey Tour Package: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale - by Flight

Istanbul

7 Days Turkey Tour Package: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale - by Flight
Experience Turkey with one top the TOP RATED agencies on TripAdvisor. This 7 days Turkey package tour includes all the major destinations: Istanbul, one of the greatest cities in the world, at the crosroads of civilization, then Cappadocia, a place where nature and history integrates, moving further to Ephesus, the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor and lastly Pamukkale, a traveller's delight and a geological phenomenon. It is a town in western Turkey best known for its mineral-rich thermal waters. You will have fun when discovering Turkey and have memorable moments throughout your life.

Price: $1,490

Min age: 0

Rating 4.92 / 5 [13 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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4 Days - Ephesus and Cappadocia Tours Flights & Accommodations Included

Istanbul

4 Days - Ephesus and Cappadocia Tours Flights & Accommodations Included
Explore the most popular destinations with this 4 Days package that begins and ends in Istanbul. Ephesus Ruins; one of the most well-preserved ancient cities. And explore the Cappadocia; the most famous and unique destination of Turkey. Have a chance to take Hot Air Balloon Ride with this package. Don't waste a minute with planning as 3 nights' of accommodation, most meals, museum entry fees, transportation, and domestic flights are all included in this package.  Simply sit back and enjoy the exploring most famous destinations of Turkey. •The flights from/to Istanbul generally we use, are listed below. However, this may vary due to the availability; -From Istanbul - Departure around 06:30 - 07:30 am and arrive to Izmir around 07:30 - 08:30 am -From Cappadocia - Departure around 19:00 - 22:00 and arrive to Istanbul around 20:30 - 23:30. •We do not operate big bus tours with 40 people in one bus. We operate Small-Group Tours for up to 15 people.

Price: $1,500

Min age: 0

Rating 4.95 / 5 [24 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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8-Days Wonders of Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia

Istanbul

8-Days Wonders of Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia
This is a trip for those looking to really see as many of the different parts of Turkey as possible over a short space of time. The whole tour is spread over 8 days and visits five of the major tourist centers, which brings so many people to Turkey. From the architectural splendor of Istanbul, through the historical remains of Ephesus and Pergamon to the geological wonder that is Pamukkale and Cappadocia. For your comfort we have included internal flights and 7 nights’ hotel accommodation.

Price: $1,600

Min age: 0

Rating 4.95 / 5 [21 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Our writer’s recommended tour operators to book with

Peter Sommer Travels

Peter Sommer Travels

Monmouth, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)

Highly-regarded, multi-award-winning cultural tour and upscale gulet cruise expert operating a fleet of boats in Turkey, Croatia, Greece. There’s a range of expert-led themed tours available including foodie, archaeology, hiking and special family tours for small groups or private land-based tours or gulet charters.

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