Where to Stay Near Ephesus

For a first visit without a car, stay in Selçuk. That's our answer for most people, and the rest of this page is really about when to pick somewhere else.

Selçuk

A small, ordinary Turkish town about 3 km from the ruins, with the train and bus stations, the Ephesus Museum, the Temple of Artemis and the Basilica of St. John all within walking distance. It isn't pretty, and the evenings are quiet. But it's cheap, it's convenient, and the family-run guesthouses here are often lovely, many with rooftop terraces looking up at the castle. Make sure your room has air conditioning if you're coming between June and September.

Şirince

If you've got a car and want somewhere with atmosphere, spend at least a night up in Şirince. Several of the old stone houses are now small boutique hotels, and after dark the village is completely different from the busy daytime version. The trade-off is the drive down to Ephesus each morning and steep, narrow lanes with limited parking.

Kuşadası

This is a beach resort first and a base for Ephesus second. Big hotels, a marina, beaches, bars, and a lot of traffic in summer. If you're after a seaside holiday with one day of history, it makes sense. If history is the main reason you're coming, Selçuk is better and cheaper.

Pamucak

A long, open beach between Selçuk and Kuşadası with a few large resort hotels. Close to the site and quieter than Kuşadası, but there's almost nothing else around, so you'll be eating at your hotel most nights.

Our one-day plan works from all four.