MUST-SEE RUINS IN TURKEY
I recently visited the ancient city of Ephesus (Efes) in Turkey from the coastal resort of Kusadasi and spent several hours wandering the historic site and learning its fascinating history.
I was super-impressed with the enormous size of the archaeological park and the amount of structures and monuments restored here. There is so much to see in this magnificent open-air museum.
Now a popular tourist destination and one of the most important historical sites in Turkey, Ephesus should be on your travel itinerary.
If you don’t know much about it, this in depth guide will furnish you with all you need to plan a visit.
The ancient city of Ephesus was once a grand, thriving port city, very important in east-west trade throughout the Mediterranean.
The Ephesus we see today is from the Hellenistic period and Ancient Roman times. But most of the ruins date back to the Roman period, showcasing remarkable examples of ancient Roman architecture and artistry.
It was also a place of religious significance for the emerging Christianity and is still a religious pilgrimage destination for many today.
Ephesus Facts
- Ephesus is located near Selcuk, on the Aegean Coast.
- The city dates from the 10th Century BC.
- Ephesus endured multiple attacks throughout its long history and was conquered many times by various rulers.
- In 129 BC Ephesus went from being an ancient Greek city to being part of the Roman Empire.
- It become the seat of the regional Roman governor in Asia Minor in 27 BC, hence the second most important city in the Roman Empire.
- It also became one of the largest cities in the world.
- The population consisted of a mix of Greeks, Romans, Jews and others.
- The reforms of Caesar Augustus (27 BC to 14 AD) brought Ephesus into its most prosperous era.
- The whole site spans 550 acres.
- Excavations have been ongoing here since 1863, by a team of Europeans.
- It is the largest excavated area in the world.
- Most of the ruins were originally built or rebuilt by the Romans during the period of 27 BC to 37 AD.
- Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is located here, the Temple of Artemis (circa 550 BC) which was the world’s largest temple, destroyed and rebuilt several times, until finally torn down by a Christian mob in 401 AD. Today only one column remains.
What Happened to Ephesus?
The ancient city of Ephesus deteriorated over the centuries, due to the accumulating silt in the harbour which destroyed operations in the port. Today, the coastline is about 5km away from the site of Ephesus.
Various raids and invasions further destroyed the city over the centuries. Some buildings were rebuilt, others were not.
Earthquakes and flooding throughout the years played a part in its demise also.
Christianity contributed to its downfall too, as the new religion took hold and spread throughout the Roman Empire. All buildings with pagan connections were abandoned.
The city was finally deserted in the 15th century, left in the hands of the Ottoman Empire.
Sadly, Ephesus was forgotten and lay buried under layers of soil and debris for centuries.
It wasn’t until 1869 that excavations began on the site and are still ongoing today.
However, only 15% of the city has been reclaimed. Many treasures have yet to be unearthed.
Visiting Ephesus
You can reach Ephesus by bus, train, taxi, rental car or with a tour group:
- 4km from the nearby town of Selcuk.
- 20km from Kusadasi and its port.
- 80km from Izmir.
- Alternatively, you can visit as a day trip from Istanbul by plane.
Ephesus is open everyday.
Entry tickets are available at the entrance, if you wish to see it on your own.
Entry tickets with an expert tour guide are available online.
Signs are located at all significant landmarks, giving information about the monuments.
Walking paths with uneven surfaces throughout the site and the marble pavements can be slippery when wet.
There is no shade, so it gets very hot in the Summer.
You can visit at night and see the ruins illuminated.
Shops selling food, drinks and souvenirs are at the site, as well as bathrooms.
SNAZZY TIP
Allow at least 2 to 3 hours to explore this amazing city, but you can easily spend longer here.
Walking around the excavated site and reconstructed monuments you can imagine the lives of the wealthy and influential citizens going about their business in this major trade and cultural hub.
You can see where the streets, library, temples, theatres, terraced houses, public toilets and aqueducts all were.
From the grandeur of marble streets lined with huge columns to the intricate details of ancient carvings and mosaics, you will be enthralled.
The most impressive monuments here, in my opinion, are:
- the magnificent façade of the Library of Celsus, which stored over 12,000 scrolls, and
- the Grand Theatre which was able to seat 25,000 people.
Both have been well preserved and reconstructed and attract a multitude of tourists.
There is a plethora of other interesting structures here to appreciate, as you navigate the site.
Additional sites to see here, at an extra cost are:
- Terrace houses
- House of Virgin Mary, and
- Basilica of St John.
Below is a copy of the visitors’ map which shows the layout of the ruins and the streets, with the location of the ancient harbour in blue, and the Temple of Artemis at the far right.
Photos of Ephesus
Below are some of the most important monuments to admire at Ephesus. The restoration and preservation of these historic structures allows us to imagine the glory of the city back in its hey-day.
The city was well planned and streets lined with some very impressive buildings showcasing amazing architecture, artistry and innovation of the ancient civilisations.
Finally
Ephesus is one of the world’s most well preserved Greco-Roman cities and a must-see when visiting Turkey.
You can tour the site on your own, or with a local guide, which I strongly recommend. Either way, it will be an unforgettable experience.
I hope my outline of Ephesus encourages you to put it on your travel itinerary. This ancient city is well worth the visit, hence why 1.5 million tourists visit annually.
Located nearby is the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selcuk, if you wish to see artefacts from the excavations at the site. Its most popular statue is the Greek Goddess Artemis discovered at the temple of the goddess in Ephesus. Approximately 64 thousand pieces are exhibited in the Ephesus Museum.
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16 Comments
I love stuff like this, I’ll definitely have to add it to my list!
We always enjoy visiting Roman Ruins on our travels. Thanks for the insight into a visit to Ephesus, hoping we’ll be able to visit.
I visited Istanbul but unfortunately didn’t have time to visit other places in Turkey. I really want to return one day to visit places like this! So much history to explore.
We like to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites when we travel and try to seek them out. Great post about Ephesus!
My husband has visited Ephesus 26 years ago and says it was awesome. Your photos look amazing.
The pictures from your trip are stunning. So much to learn and absorb on these trips!
I think Turkey would be very interesting if I had a guide to fill me in with more of the history of the places I’m visiting as I don’t know a lot about it.
A someone who loves learning about history, walking around here would be incredible! Thanks for putting together such a great guide to this area.
I was actually here a couple years back but I think I arrived a little late and just didn’t have the time required to enjoy it as it should (and it was FREAKINGGGGG hot). Your pics are LOVELY, it definitely made me realise what I missed!
We love Turkey, such an incredible place full of so much history , never looked into it as we’ve always had the small
Children with us .
I would love to see Ephesus in person one day. It’s such a huge part of history, and its story is so fascinating!
Ephesus looks like an unforgettable destination! The blend of history and culture must have been incredible to experience firsthand.
This is incredibly fascinating. I’ve heard of the Ephesus dig site and some of its history, but I had no idea it literally went so deep!
I love visiting ancient cities and historical places so Ephesus looks like my kind of place to visit. Bookmarking your post for when I visit Turkey as it has been on my travel list for a while now.
omg all this history and culture. Turkey is gorgeous…I’ve been before but didn’t get the chance to explore Ephesus…stunning…
It sounds like there is a lot of beautiful history in Ephesus! Thank you for sharing a neat itinerary of what to do.