National park · Türkiye (Turkey)
EphesusEfes
Enter at the upper gate before 8:30 or after 16:00 to walk downhill with the crowds thinned; budget 90 min–2.5 h plus 30 min for the Terrace Houses, and add the 4 km Selçuk walk or a dolmuş if you want a hike.Enter at the upper gate before 8:30 AM or after 4:00 PM to walk downhill with the crowds thinned; budget 90 min–2.5 h plus 30 min for the Terrace Houses, and add the 4 km Selçuk walk or a dolmuş if you want a hike.Enter at the upper gate before 8:30 or after 16:00 to walk downhill with the crowds thinned; budget 90 min–2.5 h plus 30 min for the Terrace Houses, and add the 2.5 mi Selçuk walk or a dolmuş if you want a hike.Enter at the upper gate before 8:30 AM or after 4:00 PM to walk downhill with the crowds thinned; budget 90 min–2.5 h plus 30 min for the Terrace Houses, and add the 2.5 mi Selçuk walk or a dolmuş if you want a hike.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3 km²1 sq mi
approximate
Established
1895
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 5
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Check whether your passport is visa-exempt; if it is not, apply only at evisa.gov.tr — lookalike sites charge extra and some sell nothing.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗At mosques cover shoulders and knees, take shoes off at the door, and women carry a headscarf; stay out during prayer times.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Taxis must run the taximeter; refuse flat quotes, or book through BiTaksi or Uber so the ride is logged.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Carry lira in small notes for tea, markets, tips and toilets; prices move with inflation, so treat every printed price as dated.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Do not take stones, coins or tiles from ancient sites, and export no antiques without a museum certificate; travellers have been detained at airport customs.
At a glance
- Country
- Türkiye (Turkey)
- Area
- 3 km²1 sq mi
- The ticketed archaeological zone is a compact walled site of roughly 2–3 km²; the ancient city's territory was far larger (check).
- Established
- 1895
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Ephesus is not a national park but the ticket-gated archaeological site of a Roman port city, 4 km west of Selçuk in the Central Aegean. Almost everything visible dates from roughly 100 BC to 260 AD: Curetes Street, the reconstructed Library of Celsus facade, the 24,000-seat Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses. The site is compact, paved and walked in 90 min–2.5 h, downhill from the upper (south) gate to the lower (north) gate. There is no trail network; the nearest thing to a hike is the 4 km road walk from Selçuk, which passes the Cave of the Seven Sleepers. July and August push noon temperatures towards 36–37°C with almost no shade, so April, May, September and October are the months to aim for, starting at opening or after 16:00.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1895.
Size and age
3 km²1 sq mi · national park since 1895
The ticketed archaeological zone is a compact walled site of roughly 2–3 km²; the ancient city's territory was far larger (check).
Why go
- The most complete Roman city street plan in the eastern Mediterranean: Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus facade and the 24,000-seat Great Theatre in one walk.
- The Terrace Houses add the only extra-fee interior at Ephesus: sloped Roman apartments under a canopy, with mosaics and wall painting.
- You can do it car-free: dolmuş from Selçuk to the lower gate, or a 4 km walk that passes the Cave of the Seven Sleepers.You can do it car-free: dolmuş from Selçuk to the lower gate, or a 2.5 mi walk that passes the Cave of the Seven Sleepers.
- Early Christian history on site: the Church of Mary, likely venue of the 431 AD council, sits by the lower gate.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanMild, wet; quiet
- FebRain; few visitors
- MarMild; some showers
- AprWarm, green; busy at midday
- MayWarm and dry; long days
- JunHot; little shade
- JulNoon heat near 36–37°CNoon heat near 97–99°F
- AugHottest, driest, most crowded
- SepCooling; still dry
- OctMild; good light
- NovCooler; rain returns
- DecWet, quiet, short days
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storks and wetland birds over the silted harbour plainMar–May, Sep–Oct · Best from the higher ground near Arcadiane. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Lizards and tortoises on the ruin wallsApr–Sep | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Mosquitoes near the lower gate in wet monthsApr–May, Oct–Nov | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Selçuk
Dolmuş from Selçuk Otogarı to the lower gate, or taxi to the upper gate; 4 km on foot if you prefer.Dolmuş from Selçuk Otogarı to the lower gate, or taxi to the upper gate; 2.5 mi on foot if you prefer.
10–15 min
From Kuşadası
Dolmuş or taxi along the D515; 19 km.Dolmuş or taxi along the D515; 12 mi.
25–35 min
From İzmir
IZBAN train to Selçuk, then dolmuş or taxi to the gates.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Central Aegean plan
Where Ephesus fits with Selçuk, Kuşadası and Pergamon.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Upper (south) gate | Agora, Baths of Varius, Odeon, Prytaneion and the start of Curetes Street. | Ticket; most tours start here and walk downhill. |
| Curetes Street and Terrace Houses | The main boulevard: Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, Scholastikia Baths, latrines and the sloped Roman apartments. | Ticket; Terrace Houses need the extra ticket. |
| Library of Celsus and Commercial Market | The reconstructed facade, the Tetragonos Agora and Marble Street. | Ticket; the busiest 200 m of the site. |
| Great Theatre and Arcadiane | The 24,000-seat theatre and the top end of Harbour Street. | Ticket; only the upper end of Arcadiane is open. |
| Lower (north) gate and Church of Mary | Exit gate, Church of Mary and the road to the ancient harbour. | Ticket; dolmuş stop outside. |
Sketch map
- 1Upper (south) gate · Gate≈37.936, 27.346Map ↗
- 2Terrace Houses · Trail≈37.938, 27.342Map ↗
- 3Library of Celsus · Viewpoint≈37.939, 27.341Map ↗
- 4Great Theatre · Viewpoint≈37.941, 27.341Map ↗
- 5Lower (north) gate · Gate≈37.944, 27.341Map ↗
- 6Cave of the Seven Sleepers · Cave≈37.944, 27.354Map ↗
- 7Selçuk · Town≈37.950, 27.370Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephesus entry ticket | Free | person | Price changes often; check the official muze.gov.tr page or the gate before you travel (check). |
| Terrace Houses add-on | Free | person | The only part of Ephesus with a separate admission fee; sold at the gate (check). |
| Dolmuş Selçuk – lower gate | Free | person | Small fare, paid in cash; runs every 10–30 min by season (check). |
| Taxi Selçuk – upper gate | Free | car | Short 4 km hop; agree the price first (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Entry ticket permit or guide
Terrace Houses permit or guide
Drone or professional filming permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay off the ruins
- No climbing on walls, columns or the theatre seating; barriers and ongoing excavations are not shortcuts.
- No fake antiquities
- Never buy 'Roman coins' offered around the gates; they are fake and customs may hold you while they confirm it.
- Drones
- Not allowed without written permission from the museum authority (check).check
- Guides and tours
- Ignore free or very cheap tours; they trade hours in a souvenir shop for a rushed walk.
- Water and litter
- Carry water out with you; bins are limited inside the ticketed area.
Where to stay
Near the park
Selçuk
The closest base, 4 km east; pensions and small hotels, plus the Ephesus Museum.The closest base, 2.5 mi east; pensions and small hotels, plus the Ephesus Museum.
Near the park
Kuşadası
Beach resort 19 km southwest; more hotels and cruise-ship traffic.Beach resort 12 mi southwest; more hotels and cruise-ship traffic.
Safety
Heat and sun on open paving high
Slippery marble after rain medium
Crowds and pinchpoints at the Library of Celsus medium
Earth tremors and closed sections low
Accessibility
- The main avenue from the upper gate is paved and usable by wheelchair or stroller, with lumpy sections and potholes around works.
- The Terrace Houses involve steps and raised walkways; not suitable for limited mobility.
- Both gates have parking and taxis; only the lower gate has dolmuş service.
Visiting lightly
- Take the dolmuş or train rather than a car day-trip; Selçuk is on the IZBAN line from İzmir.
- Buy in Selçuk rather than at the gate shops, where value is poor even after haggling.
- Do not touch or pocket fragments; the site's stonework was already stripped once over the centuries.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Ephesus?
The entry ticket price changes often, so treat any figure you read online as out of date and check the official muze.gov.tr page or the gate on the day. The Terrace Houses inside the site carry a separate admission fee, also bought at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Ephesus?
There is no long trail network: the site itself is a 90 min–2.5 h walk, downhill from the upper gate to the lower one. The nearest thing to a hike is the 4 km road walk from Selçuk, which passes the Cave of the Seven Sleepers; ride the dolmuş back from the lower gate.
When is the best time to visit Ephesus?
April, May, September and October: warm, mostly dry and manageable. July and August push noon temperatures towards 36–37°C with almost no shade, so start at opening or come after 16:00. Winter is mild and wet but quiet.
Which gate should I start from?
Most people enter at the upper (south) gate and walk downhill, which is easier and is what tour coaches do. Entering at the lower (north) gate means a gentle climb but you walk against the flow and get clearer views of the Library of Celsus.
Can I visit Ephesus without a car?
Yes. Dolmuşes run from Selçuk Otogarı to the lower gate every 10–30 min by season, and Selçuk is on the IZBAN suburban railway from İzmir. There is no dolmuş to the upper gate, so use a taxi if you want to start there.
How long do I need at Ephesus?
Allow 90 min–2.5 h for the main route and another 30 min for the Terrace Houses. Add the walk or ride from Selçuk, and more if you stop at the Church of Mary or the Cave of the Seven Sleepers.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go