Basilica of St. John
The ruins of a 6th-century basilica on Ayasuluk Hill in Selcuk, believed to be built over the tomb of the Apostle John. Offers sweeping views over the plain where the Temple of Artemis once stood.
City in Turkey
Kusadasi
12 things to see
An Aegean resort and cruise port town that serves as the gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus. Budget travelers use Kusadasi as a base for visiting Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis, and the nearby village of Sirince, with affordable accommodation and town beaches that cost nothing. The seafront promenade and the harbor area are free to stroll, and local dolmus minibuses keep transport to the ruins cheap. It pairs naturally with Izmir up the coast or a side trip toward Bodrum. Shoulder months in spring and autumn bring lower room rates and gentler heat for walking the ruins.
What to see
Things to do in Kusadasi
What each one costs, where the cost is known.
Ancient City of Ephesus
One of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean, featuring the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, and marble-paved streets. A short drive from Kusadasi.
Great Theatre of Ephesus
A massive Hellenistic-Roman theatre carved into the hillside at Ephesus, once seating 25,000 spectators. The acoustics and the view down Arcadian Street to where the ancient harbour once stood are remarkable.
Hercules Gate
A narrow gateway at the top of Curetes Street in Ephesus, decorated with reliefs of Hercules draped in a lion skin. The gate once restricted wheeled traffic from the upper city.
House of the Virgin Mary
A small stone chapel on a forested hillside above Ephesus, believed by Catholic tradition to be where the Virgin Mary spent her last years. A pilgrimage site with a modest entry fee.
Isa Bey Mosque
A 14th-century Beylik-era mosque at the foot of Ayasuluk Hill in Selcuk, blending Seljuk and early Ottoman architectural styles. Free entry and often overlooked by visitors rushing to Ephesus.
Library of Celsus
The reconstructed facade of a 2nd-century Roman library inside the Ephesus archaeological site. One of the most photographed ancient structures in Turkey.
Odeon of Ephesus
Small 1,400-seat theater used for council meetings in ancient Ephesus, included in the Ephesus site ticket. Easy to overlook but one of the best-preserved structures on the upper terrace.
Sirince Village
A hillside Greek-heritage village east of Selcuk, known for its stone houses, fruit wines, and small artisan shops. Free to wander.
Temple of Artemis
The site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, now reduced to a single reconstructed column in a marshy field near Selcuk. Free to visit and worth a short stop for the historical weight, even if little remains above ground.
Temple of Hadrian
A small but finely decorated Roman temple along Curetes Street in Ephesus, with an arched entrance featuring a relief of Medusa. Included in the Ephesus site entry.
Terrace Houses of Ephesus
Excavated Roman residential villas on the slope above Curetes Street in Ephesus, with remarkably preserved mosaics, frescoes, and heating systems. Requires a separate ticket on top of the Ephesus entry, but the interior detail rivals anything in Pompeii.
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