Ephesus Ancient City (Efes)

The easiest way to see Ephesus is downhill. The ruins stretch for roughly 1.5 km through a valley between two hills, from the Upper Gate at the top end to the Harbour Gate at the bottom. Begin at the top and the main marble street carries you down to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre with little effort. Foreign visitors pay €40 for the main ticket in 2026.

Key details

Background

Ephesus was founded by Greek settlers on the coast in about the 10th century BC, and the city shifted location several times as silt filled its harbour. Its Temple of Artemis counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; today one reassembled column stands near Selcuk. In Roman times Ephesus served as capital of the province of Asia and grew into one of the empire's biggest cities. St Paul spent around three years here, and the city is named in the New Testament. Silt kept choking the harbour, the city went into decline, and by the Middle Ages nobody lived there. Digging started in the 1860s and still goes on. UNESCO added Ephesus to its World Heritage list in 2015.

What to see, from the top down

• State Agora and Odeon, the latter a small theatre where the council met, close to the Upper Gate.
• Curetes Street, a marble avenue with statues and fountains along it, running down to the library.
• Temple of Hadrian, known for its carved arch and friezes.
• Public latrines, a line of marble seats that catches every visitor off guard.
• Terrace Houses, sheltered under a roof, with the wall paintings and mosaic floors of rich Roman households. They need an extra ticket, and most people afterwards call them the best part.
• Library of Celsus, put up in the early 2nd century AD to serve as both library and tomb; its two-storey front has been restored.
• Great Theatre, cut into the hillside with room for about 24,000, scene of the silversmiths' riot against St Paul.
• Harbour Street (Arcadian Way), a colonnaded road that used to run to the sea.

When to go

Arrive for the 08:00 opening. Cruise ships tie up in Kusadasi early, and between about 09:30 and 13:00 tour groups pack the main street. July and August are very hot, and shade is scarce; after 15:30 it is cooler and calmer. Spring and autumn suit a visit best. On some evenings the site opens after dark with special lighting, so check before building a plan around it.

Our Private Ephesus Highlights Tour with Skip-the-Line Access is a full day with an expert guide, starting in Kusadasi or Izmir and covering everything from the Library of Celsus to the House of the Virgin Mary, from US$300. If you are in Istanbul, the Ephesus Day Trip from Istanbul with Flights flies you to Izmir and back the same day. For cooler temperatures and smaller crowds, the Private Ephesus Night Tour with Transfers takes in the Experience Museum and the softly lit ancient city.

Practical tips

• Go in through the Upper (South) Gate and leave by the Lower (North) Gate. Your driver or guide will meet you at the far end.
• The marble paving has been worn slippery. Choose shoes with good grip.
• In summer carry a litre of water or more for each person; the kiosks at the gates charge high prices.
• The roofed Terrace Houses stay cooler, which makes them a good refuge during the hottest hour.
• Leave time in Selcuk for the Ephesus Museum, the Basilica of St John and the site of the Temple of Artemis.
• The ruins are full of cats. They are tame, but please do not feed them among the ruins.

For more sights on the Aegean, see our Ephesus and Kusadasi destination page.

Common questions