THE ULTIMATE EPHESUS GUIDE, INCLUDING AN EPHESUS MAP

Included in the popular Turkey Triangle Tour, which also visits Istanbul, Pamukkale, and Cappadocia, is Ephesus, also known as Efes. Currently the most extensive historic metropolis in Turkey and Europe, it served as the capital of Roman Asia Minor.

To put it briefly, when in Turkey, make sure to visit Ephesus. You may make the most of your trip to Efes by using our guide to help you avoid the crowds, escape the heat, take the greatest pictures, and don’t miss any of the must-see attractions. We’ve got you covered; an illustrated map of Ephesus is also supplied.

Whether you go self-guided or on a tour, pay extra to visit the Terrace Houses. You won’t find this on any other antique site.

Library Seen From Commercial Agora

EPHESUS: THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

This site is massive, both in terms of its size and the volume of impressions you are handling at once. Everywhere you turn, it seems like there is something to see. The mix of the heat, tour guides trying to deliver (or even yell) their stories, and crowds can be overwhelming, especially during peak hours. For this reason, we suggest avoiding “rush hour.”

Making sure you are prepared is the other thing you need to check. This guide is just what you need! ? First things first: choose whether to enter through the lower or upper gate to begin your visit.

Hadrian Temple Frontal View

WHICH ENTRANCE TO TAKE? UPPER GATE? OR LOWER GATE?

Ephesus had two gates at its entryway. The Lower Gate, which has a sizable parking area where all of the tour buses wait for the day trippers, is the one closest to Selçuk village. The Upper Gate is located along the road leading to the House of the Virgin Mary and does not have parking available. This gate still serves as the starting point for most organised bus excursions when visiting the site, despite the scarcity of parking spaces. The explanation is simple: from this entrance, it’s a short stroll down to the exit.

To be honest, the climb isn’t that difficult if you choose to begin from the Lower Gate. You may have the advantage of having to cope with large groups of people crossing your path for a short while if you follow our advice and arrive early or late in the day. You can get out at either location, regardless of the path you choose. Taxis and horse-drawn carriages are ready to transport you back to the other end if you arrive by automobile.

You might, of course, follow our example and return the same way you arrived. A second run would be more than welcome, there’s so much to take in! On a self-guided tour, be aware that if you want more background information, paid audio guides are available at both gates.

North Gate Entrance Lane

MAIN SIGHTS: GO THERE FIRST, OR LAST!

If you are visiting Ephesus early in the morning, try to see the big attractions first, unless you are there during peak hours. It is better to wait until most people have left to see the main attractions when coming in the late afternoon. Of course, you can just disregard this advice and proceed from one entrance to the next if you enjoy being in large crowds. However, our strategy will be your best bet if you’d rather have the Hadrian Temple, the Celsus Library, and the Curetes Street view all to yourself from the Hercules Gate!

The Library Through Mazaeus Mithridates Gate

THE PERFECT EPHESUS ITINERARY & EPHESUS MAP

Claiming that we have found the perfect Ephesus itinerary for you would be a rather bold statement. After all, we can’t predict at what gate you will start, nor at what time of the day you will arrive in Efes.

Hover over the numbers on the right-hand side of the map to discover Ephesus’ landmarks.

Still, this doesn’t mean we haven’t tried to find a way to help you decide what would be the perfect approach for you at any moment in time or place. We will serve you a bitesize discovery of Ephesus, including a map of Ephesus today with pictures and information on all major sights and places. This way, you can decide for yourself which approach works best for you.

CHURCH OF MARY

Originally, this building served as a centre for culture and education. It was not until Christianity was established as the official religion of Rome that the structure was converted into the first basilica and church honouring the Virgin Mary. The longest building in Asia Minor at 260 metres is home to the best-preserved baptistry.

Pillars At The Church Of Mary

THE ARCADIANE

The theatre and the old harbour are connected by this collonaded marble road. This street was built in the Hellenistic era to impress everyone arriving in the city from the port. Fifty lighting illuminated the colonnades along the 530m roadway that was flanked by galleries and businesses. These days, it has a mysterious glow at dusk, which makes for an ideal photo opportunity!

The Arcadiane In Sunset

THE THEATRE

The theatre, which can accommodate 24,000 people, is a remarkable landmark in Ephesus. After being restored, the ancient Hellenistic theatre was converted into a Roman theatre. Not only was it used for amusement, but St. Paul also used it as a site for preaching. When it comes to theatres, this one is certainly magnificent, but the best-preserved ancient theatre in the world is the one in Aspendos.

The Theatre At Sunset

MARBLE ROAD

The theatre and the Celsus Library are connected by the Marble Road, which also leads to Hadrian’s Gate. This is where you can find what is said to be the world’s oldest advertising. It’s also certainly no surprise that the oldest profession was marketing. ? It alludes to the Private House, a brothel that is both hidden and not so secret. A unique representation of a foot may be seen in the marble carvings, along with representations of a woman, a crucifix, a heart, a purse, a library, and a hole in the rock.

Of course, there are differing opinions, but generally speaking, scholars concur that it must be like this: at the intersection on the left, you can buy women’s love. The test to see if you could purchase their love was the footprint and the hole. You could proceed if your foot measured at least the same as the one etched into the marble and you had enough coins to cover the hole. If not, the library offered more stimulating entertainment options.

THE PRIVATE HOUSE

The Private House stands opposite the Agora. a section of the Scholastica complex, which is also home to the Baths and Latrines. Many people think this property was a brothel, which is what the euphemism moniker “Private House” refers to. The discovery of a Priapus statue with a massive phallus here is likely evidence in favour of the theory. These days, hardly much of it remains. It begs the question of whether those posing atop the pillars are aware of the purpose of the location.

Pillars At The Private House

CELSUS LIBRAY

I think this is the most iconic image of Ephesus. Almost every Turkish holiday brochure features it, making it well-known worldwide. With a capacity of 12.000 scrolls, the Celsus Library was the third biggest library in the ancient world. The sarcophagus of Celsus is still under the structure of the crypt. The library was constructed in honour of Celsus, who served as the proconsul of the province of Asia, according to his son.

The originals of the statues in the niches, which are located in Vienna, stand for the qualities of Celsus: courage, wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence. There was an auditorium in the area between Marble Road and the library.

Special Library Perspective

MAZAEUS – MITHRIDATES GATE

You will often see this gate in pictures of the Celsus Library as it lies right next to it. It is the triple-vaulted passage to the Agora, the commercial heart of the city. The gate got its name from the two freed slaves that built it.

COMMERCIAL AGORA

At the Commercial Agora or market square of Ephesus, the shops behind the stoae traded in various goods and slaves, such as beautiful girls brought in by sea. The sheer size of the square shows how vital the trading place must have been. The Commercial Agora dates back to the Hellenistic Period and is surrounded by collonaded porticoes.

Commercial Agora

HADRIAN’S GATE

This gate marks Marble Street’s end; after that, you take Curetes Street towards the Hercules Gate. The Terrace Houses are right next to Hadrian’s Gate. Their exit at the top level goes towards a staircase that leads back to the gate.

Celsus Library & Marble Road View From Hadrian’s Gate

THE SCHOLASTICA BATHS

The  Scholastica Baths built in the 1st century got their name from the Christian lady named Scholastica, who provided the funds for their restoration in the 4th century. The baths are part of a larger complex that also includes the Latrines and the Private House.

The Vast Scholastica Baths Complex

THE TERRACE HOUSES – NOT TO BE MISSED!

Your Ephesus entry ticket does not grant access to the Terraced Houses. To be honest, not even the majority of formal excursions stop at the Terraced Houses. Because the Terrace Houses are concealed beneath a protective roof, most people are unaware of what they are missing out on and it is their method of keeping the price low. The benefit of this is that, even during busy times, you will essentially have the place to yourself. We promise you that seeing the Terrace Houses will provide you with a more authentic experience of living in Ephesus than just snapping a selfie for your bucket list.

You can have a new perspective on the interior design of wealthy people’s homes if you combine it with a visit to the Ephesus Museum located in Selçuk’s centre, ideally after touring the mansions. The oldest of the Terrace Houses dates to the first century BC, and they were constructed throughout the Roman era. Excavations did not begin until 1960, but they were occupied as a dwelling until the seventh century AD. The six apartments, which were arranged across three terraces, had mosaic floors and elaborate decorations. The homes had access to both hot and cold water, as well as a heating system that used clay pipes to distribute hot air throughout the dwellings, even back then.

Luxurious Terrace Houses

THE LATRINES

The public Latrines at Ephesus date back to the 1st century and are part of the Scholastica complex, together with the Baths and the Private House. The toilets that are aligned along the walls have a drainage system under them. People had to pay to use them.

HADRIAN TEMPLE

One of the most striking structures on Curetes Street is the Hadrian Temple. The facade features a relief of Tyche, the goddess of luck, and is supported by four Corinthian columns and a curved arch. Numerous replicas of friezes depicting the history of the city’s founding may be found inside the temple. The Ephesus Museum in Selçuk has the original items on exhibit.

NYMPHAEUM OF TRAJAN

The Fountain of Trajan featured a pool of 20×10 meters, surrounded by columns and statues of the family of the Emperor, Dionysus, Satyr, and Aphrodite.

Nymphaeum Of Trajan Fountain

Nymphaeum Of Trajan And Curetes Street

HERCULES GATE

Hercules Gate gets its name from the relief of Hercules wearing a lion’s skin that is on it. The gate is purposely narrowing down access to Curetes Street to turn it into a pedestrian area.

MEMMIUS MONUMENT

This monument with four facades had a square fountain on the northwest facade. It was built in a memorial of Memmius in the 4th century A.D.

Memmius Monument

THE POLIO FOUNTAIN

The Polio Fountain is located next to the Domitian Temple, south of the State Agora. Water for the fountain was supplied by baked clay pipes that were part of a branching system that the aqueducts served. The Ephesus Museum in Selçuk currently has on exhibit the statue of Zeus’ head that was discovered at the fountain. This fountain’s arched façade is its primary feature. We are sorry, but we are unable to provide you with a photo of this area as it was closed off for repair.

THE DOMITIAN TEMPLE

The Domitian Temple is the first structure in Ephesus said to be dedicated to an emperor. It was built on a terrace with vaulted foundations and had eight columns on one side and thirteen columns on the other. Its u-shaped altar has been moved to the museum in Izmir.

The Domitian Temple

THE TEMPLES OF DEA ROMA & DIVUS JULIUS, AND THE PRYTANEION

The Imperial Cult included the Temples of Divus Julius and Dea Roma to unite people. They were in front of the Prytaneion, or City Hall, and next to the Odeon. The state archives were housed at the Prytaneion, which also had dining halls, assembly halls, and administrative spaces. The renowned Artemis statues were found by archaeologists while working at the Prytaneion. The Ephesus Museum in Selçuk has a special exhibition room where you can view them.

Gate From The Odeon To The Temples Of Dea Roma & Divus Julius

THE ODEON

The Odeon was both used as a theatre and as a Senate-House or Bouleterion. It is where the cities’ advisory council or Boule gathered with a capacity of 1.500 people.

Odeon With View Towards State Agora

Pillared Lane Next To State Agora

THE STATE AGORA

The State Agora opposite the Odeon was a public square. People gathered there for any number of reasons or occasions. The State Agora had stoae on three sides and measures 160×73 meters. It had a temple dedicated to either Isis or Augustus, depending on the source.

WHAT EPHESUS LOOKED LIKE IN ITS GLORY DAYS

If you want to know what Ephesus looked like in its glory days, take a look at this visualization of Ephesus’s rise and fall made by the University of Darmstadt, sponsored by the Ephesus Foundation.

BEST TIME TO VISIT EPHESUS

If you are trying to avoid the crowds, the best time to visit Ephesus is early morning or late afternoon. This way, you either arrive before the cruise boat passengers or after the bus tours. This tactic’s bonus is that you won’t have to worry about finding protection against the searing heat. Ephesus is open every day, with opening times varying between 8 am and 6:30 pm from mid-April until the end of September, and 8:30 am and 6 pm during the winter months. (Check out the link under practical tips for current opening times and ticket prices)

Visiting Efes during spring gives you the advantage of longer days, more moderate temperatures, and fewer people than during the high season. If you are unlucky, you may hit a rainy day in springtime. In that case, wear appropriate shoes as the white marble streets tend to get slippery.

HOW TO GET TO EPHESUS?

This is a difficult question to answer since you may be making your way to the site from all over Turkey. In short, if you are staying in Selçuk, the town closest to the site, your best option is to take a taxi. Their fee to take you to the upper gate is slightly higher, but depending on where you want to start your visit, this shouldn’t be a drawback.

Coming from the seaside resort of Kuşadası, taking the dolmuş (the little local buses) is your best option. If you fly into Izmir, take the train to Selçuk, and then a taxi or a dolmuş to the archaeological site.

The beauty of visiting Ephesus is that Efes is not an antique site in the middle of nowhere. You can easily extend your stay to visit its interesting surroundings, such as Selçuk Castle, Isa Bey Mosque, the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk, the Basilica of St.-John, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, and Sirince (or Şirince in Turkish). You can read all about the top sights around Ephesus in this post.

MORE PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR AN EPHESUS VISIT

Click on the link below for Ephesus’ current ticket prices and opening times.

• Ephesus

The nearest airport is Izmir, with easy connections with Istanbul airports if required. 

Remember that making the most of your visit to Ephesus (or Efes) has a lot to do with preparing your trip and the right timing. Take a closer look at the pictures in this Ephesus guide.; they clearly show the difference between having the place almost to yourself early in the morning or towards sunset compared to having to share it with busloads of people at other times of the day.

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