Ancient Ruins of Ephesus on the Aegean Coast of Turkey

The ancient ruins of Ephesus are by far one of the most visited attractions in Turkey. The country itself has a wealth of historical sites of which most will completely amaze you, including Ephesus

These ancient ruins are on the Aegean coast and visited by tourists from all over the world, especially those who want to extend their city break in Istanbul. Very often cruise ships will also dock in at the nearby port of Kusadasi and transport their guests to there for the day.

I have been three times  and each time, it never fails to impress. The long and cobbled main street surrounded on both sides by temples, houses and public buildings eventually brings you to the library and large amphitheatre.

When Ephesus was at it’s prime, it was the second largest Roman city in the world. Rome was the first. It was also a major trading port until the sea started edging away.  Excavations  actually started in the 1970’s however Ephesus was that big that you will still see work being carried out today.

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned the village of Sirince which was started by slaves who had escaped from Ephesus. Apparently  Roman rules stated that if a slave worked for thirty years, they could gain freedom so I am hazarding a guess that the slaves did not want to wait thirty years.

Guided Tours of the Ancient ruins of Ephesus

My top tip, is to go around on a guided tour. I am not normally in favor of  them in Turkey however the city really does come to life when there is a guide explaining the layout, the history, the connection to St John and the Virgin Mary, as well as how it would have looked in Roman times.

Celsius Library

You won’t actually walk around ancient ruins of Ephesus because the route starts at one end and ends at another. Along the way, you will see houses where people used to live, the local toilets where men used to gather and chat, also the Celsius library which is one of the most photographed places in the world.

Celsius Library

Amphitheatre

You will also see the amazing amphitheatre which used to seat 25,000 people. It is quite easy to imagine this amphitheatre alive with warriors fighting it out to the cheers of the crowd.

Ephesus Amphitheatre

In the 90’s  the amphitheatre was used for concerts as the acoustics were that fine, you could hear a pin drop if you were sitting on the back row. Tom Jones and Pavorotti both played here. Unfortunately it was stopped as historical associations said the concerts were damaging the foundations.

How to get to the ancient ruins of Ephesus

Head to the nearby town of Selcuk and from there, it is well sign posted.  Alternatively go on a guided tour. If you decide not to go on a tour,  be sure to buy one of the walk round audio guides from the entrance. The ancient ruins of Ephesus are more impressive when you learn the history and life of the people who used to live there.

Alternatively, you can also make an extended trip. Stay in a hotel in the nearby town of Selcuk and visit other attractions as well including…
–    The town of Sirince
–    The Ephesus museum
–    The virgin Mary’s house
–    The nearby resort of Kusadasi.

Many thanks to my friend Gareth Kerr for letting me steal his pictures off him!

Top tip is to take bottles of water with you. It is a long walk  and under the mid day sun, you will get very hot, especially in August and September so I also advise wearing a cap

Did you know?

The bible mentions the ancient ruins of  Ephesus, several times.  Read the Book of Revelation and you will find it is refereed to as one of the seven churches of Asia. The seven churches are all along the Aegean coastal line of Turkey.