Town centre
First-timersNear the aqueduct and station.
Selçuk town guide
Things To Do In Selçuk
A small, friendly town right next to Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the Mediterranean, with a Roman aqueduct full of storks, a hilltop basilica and a wine village above it.
10
Hostels in the city
9.1
Average, from 3,170 reviews
3 km
To Ephesus
1
Column left of the Temple of Artemis
2015
Ephesus joins UNESCO
The base for Ephesus
Ephesus was one of the greatest cities of the Roman world, a port of a quarter of a million people, and its marble streets, theatre and the facade of the Library of Celsus make it the best-preserved classical city in the Mediterranean. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Selçuk is the small town three kilometres away, and it is the best place to stay: you can be at the gates when they open, before the cruise-ship groups arrive. The town has its own sights, including the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Two days is right, with Şirince and the coast close by.
Where to stay
Selçuk is small. Stay in the town centre, near the aqueduct.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Selçuk
Go to Ephesus at opening time, before the tour buses; walk down the marble Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Entry is priced in euros and is one of the most expensive in Turkey; the Terrace Houses, with Roman mosaics and frescoes, need a separate ticket and are worth it.
In town, the Basilica of St John, built over the apostle's tomb, sits on the hill below a fortress. A single column marks the Temple of Artemis. The Ephesus Museum holds the finds.
Şirince, a hillside village of old Greek houses known for its fruit wines, is fifteen minutes away. The House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site, is on the mountain above Ephesus.
Free things
Free things to do in Selçuk
The town, the aqueduct with its storks and the Temple of Artemis site are free.
The Saturday market fills the town.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Selçuk
Selçuk has simple, cheap restaurants and a big Saturday market. Çöp şiş, small lamb skewers, are the local speciality.
A meal is €5 to €9.
Nightlife
Going out in Selçuk
Selçuk is quiet at night. Kuşadası, twenty minutes away, has the resort nightlife.
A beer is €3.50 to €5.
Getting around
Getting around Selçuk
Selçuk is walkable, and Ephesus is a short taxi, dolmuş or walk away.
The İzBAN and regional trains run to Izmir in about an hour and a quarter. Dolmuş minibuses run to Kuşadası and Şirince. Buses and trains reach Pamukkale in about three hours.
Costs
What Selçuk costs
Selçuk is cheap. Dorms start around €12. A careful day is €35 to €50, plus the Ephesus ticket.
The currency is the Turkish lira, and prices change quickly with inflation; these are euro equivalents. Cards work widely, bank ATMs are best, and always pay in lira rather than accepting a conversion.
Safety
Staying safe in Selçuk
Selçuk is very safe.
Ephesus has no shade; bring water and a hat, and go early in summer.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Selçuk
The Aegean and its ancient cities.
Ephesus
The great Roman city.
Şirince
A hillside village of fruit wines.
Pamukkale
White travertine terraces and Hierapolis.
Kuşadası
Beaches and a resort town.
Hostels
Where to stay in Selçuk
The top-rated places to stay in Selçuk right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
April to June and September to October. Summers are very hot at Ephesus.
Jan
Quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Storks arrive
May
Excellent
Jun
Busy
Jul
Very hot
Aug
Very hot
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Good
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are euro equivalents and move quickly with lira inflation. Excludes Ephesus entry.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Selçuk travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Why stay in Selçuk for Ephesus?
It is three kilometres away, so you can arrive at opening before the tour buses.
How much is Ephesus?
It is priced in euros and is one of Turkey's most expensive entries; the Terrace Houses are extra.
How do I get to Selçuk?
By train from Izmir, about an hour and a quarter.
Can I visit Pamukkale from Selçuk?
Yes, about three hours away; better with an overnight stay.
What is Şirince?
A hillside village known for fruit wines.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October.
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