Ephesus, Archaeological site in Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey
Ephesus is a sprawling archaeological site in Selçuk featuring remains of temples, residences, public buildings, and a large theater from Greek and Roman antiquity. The ruins spread across gentle hills and reveal paved streets, rows of columns, and facades that have been partly reconstructed.
The city was founded in the 10th century BC as a Greek colony and later developed under Roman rule into a major trade hub in the eastern Mediterranean. In the 3rd century AD, decline began due to harbor silting and economic shifts.
Visitors experience here the remains of an ancient metropolis where Greek and Roman ways of life blended over centuries. The monumental buildings and streets convey today an impression of urban daily life from the past, even if only through ruins and archaeological reconstruction.
The site is expansive and requires several hours to explore the main areas, so comfortable footwear and sufficient water are recommended. Paths lead over uneven terrain with some slopes, which can be tiring in hot weather.
The city's harbour was slowly silted up by the Küçükmenderes River, which cut Ephesus off from the sea and ended its role as a port. The silting is why the ruins now lie inland, several kilometres from the present coastline.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,153 contributors worldwide.
