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Major city · Türkiye (Turkey)

Selçuk

Stay 2 nights: one full day for Ephesus, one morning for the museum, basilica and İsa Bey Mosque. Base here, not in Kuşadası.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Selçuk is the town that serves the Roman ruins of Ephesus, 4 km west, and it holds enough of its own sights to justify sleeping here rather than commuting from İzmir or the coast. Two nights covers Ephesus properly plus the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, the St John Basilica and citadel on Ayasuluk hill, the İsa Bey Mosque and the single standing column of the Temple of Artemis. Trains and dolmuşes run to the ruins and to İzmir, so you do not need a car.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
TRY
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (mid-30s °C and crowded ruins), winter rain
Airport
ADB
Nights
2
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Selçuk112 ▾
  • All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Selçuk, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café₺60–120 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Street or quick mealKebab or pide plate₺250–450 (≈ US$7–11)
  • BeerDraught Efes beer₺120–200 (≈ US$3–5)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₺300–600 (≈ US$8–15)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum and basilica entry₺300–500 (≈ US$8–13) each (check)
  • Budget bedPension or guesthouse double, a night, per room₺1,200 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedPension or guesthouse double, a night, per room₺2,200 (≈ US$55)
  • High-end bedPension or guesthouse double, a night, per room₺4,000 (≈ US$100)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₺1,200 (≈ US$30) · Mid ₺2,400 (≈ US$60) · High ₺4,500 (≈ US$110)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ephesus, 4 km westEphesus Archaeological MuseumSt John Basilica and Ayasuluk citadelİsa Bey MosqueTemple of Artemis column
Airports
ADB İzmir Adnan Menderes (55 km (34 mi) north; on the İZBAN suburban line, so you change at Tepeköy rather than going into central İzmir)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  5. May

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    31°C (88°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (34°C (93°F)), coolest Jan (5°C (41°F) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Selçuk: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

13°C (55°F)

5°C (41°F)

12 rd

Feb

14°C (57°F)

5°C (41°F)

11 rd

Mar

17°C (63°F)

7°C (45°F)

9 rd

Apr

21°C (70°F)

10°C (50°F)

8 rd

May

26°C (79°F)

14°C (57°F)

5 rd

Jun

31°C (88°F)

18°C (64°F)

3 rd

Jul

34°C (93°F)

21°C (70°F)

1 rd

Aug

33°C (91°F)

21°C (70°F)

1 rd

Sep

29°C (84°F)

17°C (63°F)

3 rd

Oct

24°C (75°F)

13°C (55°F)

6 rd

Nov

18°C (64°F)

9°C (48°F)

9 rd

Dec

14°C (57°F)

6°C (43°F)

12 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town centre is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. For Ephesus, dolmuşes heading to Kuşadası pass the lower gate, and tours or taxis cover the upper gate and the House of the Virgin Mary. İZBAN trains run from Selçuk station north to the airport and İzmir, changing at Tepeköy. ESHOT bus 770 links Selçuk with Belevi and Torbalı on weekdays and is cashless, so you need an İzmirim Kart.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Ephesus

go

Door to door: 15–25 min

Dolmuş towards Kuşadası to the lower gate, or a tour/taxi to the upper gate

Go at opening; the site is hot and exposed by midday.

Şirince

go

Door to door: 20–30 min

Dolmuş or taxi from the centre, 9 km (5.6 mi) east into the hills

Half a day; village of old houses and fruit wine.

Kuşadası

caution

Door to door: 30–40 min

Dolmuş west on the D515

Beach resort strip; go for the sea, not for quiet.

İzmir

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

İZBAN from Selçuk station, change at Tepeköy

A full day for Kemeraltı bazaar and the waterfront.

Pamukkale and Denizli

overnight

Door to door: 4–5 h

Regional train from Selçuk towards Denizli, then a dolmuş up to the terraces

Too far for a return day; sleep in Pamukkale or Denizli.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Around the museum and St Jean Cd

Pensions and small hotels within a few minutes' walk of the museum, basilica and mosque; best for a short stay without a car.

Near the railway station and otogar

Central, walkable to the eating strip west of the station; convenient if you arrive or leave by train or bus.

East of the centre

Quieter streets with citadel views; 10–15 min walk to the sights.

Pamucak and the D550 edge

Beach and resort hotels 5–8 km (3.1–5 mi) west; you need a car, taxi or dolmuş for everything.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₺1,200–2,000 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
Mid
₺2,000–3,500 (≈ US$50–90) excl. bed
High
₺3,500 (≈ US$90)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Pension or guesthouse double1 × 2 nights × ₺2,200₺4,400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₺2,400₺9,600
Ephesus entry, one adult2 × ₺1,500 · check₺3,000
Ephesus Archaeological Museum entry, one adult2 × ₺400 · check₺800
Dolmuş to Ephesus, one way2 × ₺60 · check₺120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₺400₺800
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₺1,870
Trip total≈ ₺5,150 per person per day, bed included₺20,590≈ US$550

2026 estimate in lira; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café₺60–120 (≈ US$2–3)
Kebab or pide plate₺250–450 (≈ US$7–11)
Gözleme or a light lunch₺120–250 (≈ US$3–7)
Draught Efes beer₺120–200 (≈ US$3–5)
Dolmuş ride in town or to Ephesus₺40–80 (≈ US$1–2) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₺300–600 (≈ US$8–15)
Museum and basilica entry₺300–500 (≈ US$8–13) each (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Selçuk is a small, calm town and the usual Aegean precautions apply: heat on the exposed ruins, uneven marble at Ephesus, and shop touts near the museum. Keep to lit streets at night and use licensed taxis.
  • Ephesus has two gates; entering at the upper gate and walking downhill to the lower gate is easier than the reverse.
  • The House of the Virgin Mary is up in the hills with no useful public transport: go by tour or taxi.
  • Temple of Artemis is one column in open ground; do not plan a half-day for it.
  • Cittantica Ephesus Park, a photo-set replica, was closed in 2022: check before going.
  • Carpet and souvenir shops near the museum work on commission; agree a price before anything is unrolled.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SelçukSelçuk

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Bu adrese, lütfenTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies112

Embassy

No embassies in Selçuk; consulates-general are in İzmir, embassies in Ankara. The US consulate-general is in İzmir (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Dolmuş Selçuk → Ephesus lower gate: about ₺60 (≈ US$2), 15–20 min (check)
  • İZBAN Selçuk → ADB airport: change at Tepeköy; about 1 h 15 min (check)
  • Taxi Selçuk → Ephesus upper gate: ₺300–500 (≈ US$8–13) (check)

Say or show

  • Merhaba — Hello (mer-hah-BAH)
  • Teşekkürler — Thank you (teh-shek-kewr-LER)
  • Ne kadar? — How much is it? (neh kah-DAR)
  • Hesap, lütfen — The bill, please (heh-SAP, lewt-FEN)
  • Tuvalet nerede? — Where is the toilet? (too-vah-LET neh-reh-DEH)
  • Kartla ödeyebilir miyim? — Can I pay by card? (KART-lah ur-deh-yeh-bee-LEER mee-yim)

Ephesus entry is a separate ticket from the museum and basilica; buy online or at the gate and keep the card.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Selçuk. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (mid-30s °C and crowded ruins), winter rain · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ADB: İZBAN times from Tepeköy, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: museum and St Jean Cd, the station and otogar, Ayasuluk hill, the Ephesus gates.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Ephesus, museum, basilica, İsa Bey Mosque) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ephesus gate and shuttle fixtures so the two-gate walk can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Türkiye (Turkey)

Sources