Ephesus was one of the most important cities and trade ports of ancient times. The city, which dates back to 1000 BC, is now famous for its well-preserved Roman heritage. In this article, we have provided tips on where to stay in Ephesus, one of the most important tourist attractions in Turkey.
The most important things to do in Ephesus are the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world, and the Library of Celsus, built in honor of a Roman governor. However, apart from this, there is also a considerable early Christian heritage in Ephesus.
Around the ancient city of Ephesus, there are many important places that are on the pilgrimage route of Christians such as House of Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John and Grotto of Seven Sleepers.
Those who want to see the ruins of Ephesus are looking for accommodation options near the ancient city. In this article you can find information about best places to stay near Ephesus.
Where to Stay near Ephesus 2023
In the following lines, we answered the question of where to stay in Ephesus in 2023 under 4 headings. Of course, the closest options to Ephesus ruins will be Selcuk town or Kusadasi where cruise ships dock.
However, close to Ephesus, there is also a village like Sirince with a unique view. In addition, the city of Izmir, which stands out with its numerous accommodation options and nightlife, is among the options.
Considering the resort towns of Izmir, the number of options increases. For example, you can choose popular holiday destinations in Turkey such as Foca, Urla, Alacati. I will mention them again in the conclusion part of the article.
1. Kusadasi
Kusadasi is a small tourist town located just a few miles from Ephesus on the Aegean coast. Although it doesn’t quite have the excitement of Marmaris of the natural beauty of, say, Bodrum, it does offer convenient access to Ephesus. Kusadasi is particularly popular with package tour operators and features dozens of hotels which provide everything from dinner to evening entertainment.
The destination is around 50 km from Izmir, so getting to it from the airport is relatively quick and easy. Although not particularly large, Kusadasi still has a range of bars, discos, cafes and pubs to keep you entertained in the evenings. There’s also a large harbour for mooring boats and daily ferries to the nearby Greek island of Samos.
The Charisma De Luxe is one of the most popular and best value for money resorts in the town, coming with its own swimming pool and views overlooking the bay. The hotel serves free breakfast and has more than 133 rooms.
There is another article on our blog where we discuss the accommodation options in Kusadasi in a comprehensive way. If you want to dig deeper on that subject, I suggest you read the best hotels to stay in Kusadasi article as well.
2. Selcuk
Selcuk is the best place to stay to visit Ephesus. Sitting below the castle on Ayasuluk Hill. Selcuk provides a convenient range of amenities for visitors to explore during the evenings. The town also offers excellent transport links to Izmir and local tourist hotspots, providing flexibility and the ability to plan your own schedule.
Aside from the main Ephesus archaeological site, Selcuk is home to many other points of interest, including the Ephesus Museum where you can find out more about the twisting history of the region and why it holds such importance to researchers. There’s also St John’s Basilica, the Citadel (the castle on the hill visible in the picture above) and the Isa Bey Mosque from 14th Century.
Selcuk is home to some high-quality resorts, including the Nilya Hotel, a small 12-room hotel that surrounds a stunning, interior courtyard with its own fountain. Hotel Bella is close to the Nilya but overlooks the basilica as a bonus.
The important advantage of staying in Selcuk is to be very close to Ephesus Ruins. However, it should be added that it is a little weaker in terms of nightlife and entertainment compared to the other options on our list.
3. Sirince
Sirince is a small village of around 600 people located near to the ruins of Ephesus. It’s not ideal for people who want easy access to a diverse selection of amenities and attractions during their stay, but it does offer isolation, peace and quiet, and easy access to the ruins.
Settlers built the village in the 15th century, but many of the original buildings are long gone. The original inhabitants of this town left the area during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey after World War I. The modern town comprises mainly 19th-century buildings.
Although Sirince is a small place, it offers a range of resorts and hotels, including the family-run Ephesus Cottages and the Nisanyan Hotel which overlooks the village from a nearby hilltop and features a marble pool. If it’s relaxation that you want (rather than excitement), then Sirince, near to Selcuk, is the destination for you.
The most important thing Sirince village offers to its visitors is the wide variety of fruit wines. Winemaking in Sirince is a tradition coming from history. Therefore, even though Sirince is a small village, there are wine houses that will give you a good time.
Sirince is the best place to stay in Ephesus in 2023 due to its proximity to Ephesus and the unique atmosphere it offers.
4. Izmir
Izmir is by far the largest area in the region near Ephesus and the third largest in Turkey, offering practically every service and amenity that you could imagine. What’s more, it also happens to be the location of the nearby airport, helping to make transfers easier. Thanks to its capable transport network, the city provides regular buses, coaches and trains to the Ephesus region, allowing tourists easy access.
It takes around an hour to travel the 50-mile journey from Izmir to the ruins, so if you want to visit Ephesus on a daily basis, then there may be more time-efficient destinations, such as Selcuk and Sirince. Also, if you want quiet, Izmir is not the place to be. It’s a large, sprawling, bustling city of more than 5 million people with heavy traffic around the clock.
As you might imagine, Izmir is home to some stunning hotels. The Piano Hotel located in the heart of the tourist quarter offers great breakfasts and clean rooms. The Wyndham Grand Izmir Ozdilek hotel provides guests with a prime location, and access to things like a minibar and five star amenities. Not only is it close to transport links, but also the nearby military museum.
There is a rail transportation system in Izmir called IZBAN. Thanks to the extension of this transportation system to Selcuk, it is now very easy to reach Ephesus from the city. For this reason, Izmir stands out among places to stay close to Ephesus in 2023 with its lively nightlife and delicious restaurant options.
Conclusion
If we want to briefly summarize the question of where to stay in Ephesus. Selcuk, which is closest to Ephesus and promises a quiet night, comes first. As Kusadasi is a cruise port, it is an eventful place with many tourist facilities.
Sirince stands out with its natural beauty and wine and is a must-see place. Izmir, on the other hand, is one of the most important metropolitan cities of Turkey, therefore it offers many options in every field.
In the title above, we talked about the city center of Izmir. However, Izmir also has holiday destinations such as Foca (the cozy town in the picture above), Urla and Alacati (the popular and expensive holiday town of recent years), located in the most beautiful bays of the Aegean.
You will not be disappointed in whichever place you stay. However, it is also important to choose the one that best suits your travel style. If it were me, I would choose Selcuk, which is the closest place to Ephesus. Later, I would enjoy the sea in one of the popular holiday towns.
By the way, if you would want to arrange a private guided tour in Ephesus, you can write us from CONTACT page. BarefootPlus (Reborn Travel) has been organizing guided tours from Istanbul and Kusadasi to Ephesus since 2004.
Finally, I would like to recommend a comprehensive article about Ephesus. You may be interested in the things to do around Ephesus blog post, which introduces both the ruins of Ephesus and other historical artifacts to see around it.
Written by Serhat Engul
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