Where to Stay Near Ephesus: Hotels in Kusadasi, Selcuk, Sirince

Ephesus lies roughly 19 km from Kuşadası, which means a drive of 20 to 30 minutes, and the hotels we list in the town range from Hotel Ilayda on the seafront to all-inclusive resorts set on the hills and around the bays. Selçuk, about 3 km away, is nearer if the ruins are all that matter to you; Kuşadası suits you better if you also want a beach and evening restaurants.

Each hotel sets its room rates through its own booking engine. They change every day, depend on the season, the board and the room type, and are usually at their highest in July and August. To see tonight's rate and an availability calendar, open the hotel's page, or contact us.

The hotels we offer around Ephesus

Kuşadası: a base in a beach town

Kuşadası is a holiday town where the marina, a long seaside promenade and the cruise terminal (Ege Port) all sit in the centre. You can spend the morning at Ephesus and be at the beach or eating by the sea that same afternoon. On the other hand, it gets noisy at the height of summer, and you need transport to reach the ruins rather than walking there.

Hotel Ilayda stands right on the seafront near the marina, with direct access to the beach. On the promenade, Ilayda Avantgarde offers a pool and a rooftop terrace. Families who prefer to have everything in one place choose between the all-inclusive resorts: Ramada Resort, up on the hills with rooms facing the sea, and Kuştur Club, which has a bay to itself.

Selçuk: the nearest base to the ruins

The small town of Selçuk lies about 3 km from Ephesus and has the Temple of Artemis, the Ephesus Museum and the Basilica of St John within it. Starting early is simple, and you can be at the site ahead of the cruise groups. The town is calmer than Kuşadası, but it has no beach. Selçuk is also included in our private 5-day tour of the Seven Churches of Revelation, which takes in Ephesus and the Basilica of St John.

Ayasoluk Hotel is a stone-built boutique hotel set on Ayasuluk Hill and only minutes on foot from the Basilica of St John, and makes a peaceful place to stay in Selçuk. In the town centre, Akanthus Hotel has a garden and a pool. Selçuk has a train station too, and the ride from İzmir Airport lasts about 1 hour 5 minutes.

Şirince or Pamucak: village on a hill, or resort on the beach

Şirince, some 8 km to the east of Selçuk, is a hillside village of old stone houses. Güllü Konakları consists of mansions over a hundred years old, with balconies looking across the village and breakfast served in the garden; Ephesus is around 15 minutes away. Once the day-trippers have gone, evenings are calm.

Between Ephesus and Kuşadası on the coast, Aqua Fantasy, a beach resort run on an all-inclusive basis, comes with its own aquapark. It works well for families with children who plan a single morning at Ephesus and several days by the pool.

How to get there

From İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport it is roughly 80 km to Kuşadası, a motorway drive of 60 to 75 minutes, and Selçuk is nearer. Cruise ships tie up at Ege Port in central Kuşadası. Our full list of hotels in the region, including İzmir and Çeşme, is on the page of hotels in Ephesus and Kuşadası; hotels in İzmir city are around an hour's drive from Ephesus.

Ephesus tours starting at your hotel

Our Ephesus highlights tour with a private guide begins in İzmir or Kuşadası and lasts 6 to 8 hours, using a private van and a local guide, from $300. The price changes with the season, the group size and the inclusions, so contact us for the current rate. If you want to avoid the heat, the private evening tour of Ephesus takes 5 to 7 hours. Coming in on a cruise ship? Our shore excursions from Kuşadası bring you back in time for departure. If you plan to fly in from Istanbul for a day, the options are compared on our page about Ephesus trips from Istanbul.

Frequently Asked Questions