Ephesus is located on the way to The Virgin Mary’s House. It is 3 km west of Selcuk and 15 km north from Kusadasi.

Over the centuries the great ancient city of Ephesus, located on Turkey’s western coast, has been ruled by a succession of empires including Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Yet, no matter how many times it changed hands, the city remained one of the most vibrant cities of the ancient world.

Ephesus dates as far back as 10th Century BC and as legend suggests, was founded on the place where the oracle of Delphi became a reality.

It is believed the population of Ephesus was over 300,000 during its height making it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean.

Ephesus was a large trading and shipping hub, ferrying goods from Asia to Greece, Italy and beyond. However when the harbour silted and dried, it was the start of the demise of Ephesus. An estimated 20% of the ancient city is said to have been excavated, however the main sites contained within, enable visitors to appreciate its magnificence.

Ephesus‘s greatest claim to fame was its temple to the goddess Artemis. One of the “seven wonders” of the ancient world, it was almost four times larger than the Parthenon in Athens.

If you are planning to go to Ephesus, you can see our Daily Ephesus Tour.