EASY ACCESS

Ephesus is an hour drive to İzmir. From the International Adnan Menderes Airport, it is easy to get to Ephesus by highway or the rail system, IZBAN or TCDD trains.

Whether you’re travelling from abroad or within Turkey, visiting Ephesus and surroundings is not a challenge in terms of transportation. The geographical advantage of Selçuk Ephesus enables visitors from all around the world to reach it via sea, railways or highways.

İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport is a busy hub where you can fly direct to 86 destinations in 34 countries. Also, through many connecting flights from Istanbul which is an hour flight from İzmir, you can fly in from almost every country in the world.

The location of Selçuk is just a few hours’ drive away from many wonderful holiday spots in the Aegean Area like Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Pamukkale, Kuşadası and Ayvalık.

It is another option to take a ferry from the Greek island Samos to Selçuk.

As can be seen, with so many options available to reach here, Selçuk is a holiday gem for you to discover.

Train Schedule (updated March 2018)

IZBAN (Fast rail system)

Izban has been available for a year between Adnan Menderes International Airport and Selçuk. For the time being there would be an interchange at Tepeköy station.

Via Izban Selçuk, it is easy to travel to İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport, Alsancak and Basmane Train Station where you can transfer onto other public transport systems to go to Karşıyaka, Çiğli, Menemen and Aliağa

METRO(IZBAN) SCHEDULE (Updates in March 2018)

FOLLOW HISTORY’S PATH

• One of the world’s 7 wonders, the Artemis Temple used to be in Ephesus. The temple was the most important temple of its time.
• Ephesus is one of the first seven churches mentioned in the Bible
• The Virgin Mary House was declared as a pilgrimage spot by Vatican in 1961 and has been visited by Pope VI Paul (1967), Pope II Jean Paul (1979) and Pope 16. Benedictus (2006)

The excavations in Selçuk Ephesus still continue and a new piece of information is unearthed every day. Ephesus is a place to read, listen and learn about, a must-see city of the glorious past

A HISTORICAL TOWN OF POWERFUL WOMEN

An interesting fact is that Ephesus have always been commemorated with women.

The 9 thousand year old figurine, the Amazons, the Ephesus Artemis who is basically the continuation of the Anatolian Mother Goddess Kybele and Virgin Mary are the powerful women of this city in history. The strong characters of these women have been engraved to the city’s culture. From Şirince to Ephesus Ancient City, from Virgin Mary’s House to Çukuriçi Höyük, the mystic energy of all these women can be felt in Selçuk’s atmosphere.

The 9 thousand year old figurine, the Amazons, the Ephesus Artemis who is basically the continuation of the Anatolian Mother Goddess Kybele and Virgin Mary are the powerful women of this city in history. The strong characters of these women have been engraved to the city’s culture. From Şirince to Ephesus Ancient City, from Virgin Mary’s House to Çukuriçi Höyük, the mystic energy of all these women can be felt in Selçuk’s atmosphere.

HARMONY OF TASTES

With its extraordinary history of housing many civilizations and cultures, Selçuk cuisine is a wonderful blend of Crete, Greek, Balkan and Turkish cuisines.

Here, the most precious ingredient of Mediterranean and Aegean dishes, olive oil has been used for more than 4000 years. Specifically, the olive oil from the trees in Değirmenboğazı region close to Şirince is known to have the aroma of thousands of wild herbs and it is very precious.

The main ingredients of the region’s cuisine are the fruit, vegetables, wild greens and herbs that grow on the fertile land watered by Menderes river under the warm breeze of the Aegean sea. Wild greens are either boiled or roasted with olive oil. Salads and mezes made with these greens are believed to have healing powers. The town is known to be the homeland of Çöp Şiş (a special shish kebab). Stuffed zucchini blossoms and milk thistle dishes are the region’s specialties. The most important agricultural products of Selçuk Ephesus are peaches, mandarins, pomegranates and quinces, they all have distinctive aromas and sold in the markets with the region’s name. Şirince is famous for its fruit wines, people from around the country and the world have been visiting Şirince for wine tasting for decades. Gökçealan village is famous with its Osmancık grapes, the vineyards around this village have won many awards with their wine.

The food, the mezes and the salads of this town are sources of health as well having incredible tastes.

WORTH DISCOVERING

(-Şirince, Gökçealan, Çamlık Train Museum, Çetin Village Culture Museum, Belevi Mosoleum, Zeytinköy Gebekirse Village, Bird Heaven, St John, Aquapark)

Selçuk Ephesus surprises you with different and unique sites even outside the UNESCO heritage area.

SET YOOURSELF FREE (EPHESUS SKYDIVING)

If you really want to be free, leave the plane!

Parachuting School, with its professional team, has transformed the airport in Selçuk/ Ephesus into a drop zone to draw masses to the joy of parachuting throughout the year. The climate of Ephesus is perfect for this activity and the tourist attractions in the vicinity, like the ancient city of Ephesus, Virgin Mary’s House, Şirince, Artemis Temple, Kuşadası, Seven Sleepers and more, are promises of an unforgettable experience.

Parachuting School trans students in many branches aside from the starters course: Target, style, formation skydiving, canopy formation, sky surf, freestyle, wingsuit and such.

TANDEM DIVE

Tandem dive starts with a 15 minutes briefing. Under the supervision of highly experienced tandem pilots, at 4000 meters, the dive starts and for 45 seconds, a free fall is experienced with almost 20 km/hr. Then the two-person parachute opens and an unforgettable experience of floating above the ancient city of Ephesus begins accompanied by the bright sun and vast sea views. Everything is recorded from the jump to the landing so that you can share this wonderful memory with your friends and family. Under normal conditions the dive lasts for an hour but in tourism season and according to weather conditions you might have to wait between 1 to three hours.

Don’t forget your sneakers.

In order to feel the joy of skydiving you should wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. Sandals, boots or high heels are not recommended.

Before the tandem dive, every diver has to sign a form that states that they have no medical conditions physically or mentally.

There is no age limitation for tandem dive however, for those below the age 18, their guardians have to sign a permit. Other conditions for tandem dive are having a body weight between 45-90 kilograms and be of maximum 1.90 metres tall.

www.skydiveefes.com THK Gökçen Aviation Ephesus Skydiving and flight center, Selçuk/ İzmir

tel: +90 232 892 6447

mobile: +90 505 5452193

e-mail: info@skydiveefes.com

COME VISIT THE INTERSECTION OF CIVILIZATIONS
(THE TOWN MEMORY)

Selçuk was founded in different locations in the region after the initial settlers. In the course of time it was referred to as Ephesus, Ayasuluk and Selçuk and it has always been a town of immigration that has witnessed many civilizations.

Ephesus Selçuk has always been the intersection point of different civilizations and cultures. In order to witness its transformation over the ages, we recommend that you visit the Town Memory Museum.

The building was first constructed as a tobacco warehouse then used to store weapons and ammunition during WW1. After a detailed re-construction, it was opened as the Selçuk Ephesus Town Memory Museum in 2012. The museum’s principle is to show Selçuk Ephesus as a whole with its economic, political, societal and cultural evolution by the help of its nature, population, historical and geographical sites, historical artefacts, memories and documents. Walking through the museum, you will experience the chronology of a region which will make you feel as if you’re travelling through time.

Web: https://www.facebook.com/SelcukEfesKentBellegi/

Tel: +90 232 892 60 30/ 103 -+90 506 224 37 84

Address: Isabey Mh. Namık Kemal cad. No: 13 Selçuk/ İzmir/Turkey

PAMUCAK BEACH WITH ITS BRIGHT SUN, TURQUOISE SEA, LONG SHORE AND ENDEMIC LILIES (EPHESUS BEACH)

Pamucak Beach with its almost five kilometers length lies 9 km north of Selçuk and 6 km north of Ephesus ancient city. The width of the sandy shore reaches up to 80 meters in some places. You can enjoy the sun and sand from May to October on Ephesus beach, the area is sunny for almost 300 days of the year. The beach has been certified with blue flag, meaning that it is amongst the cleanest shores. The temperature of the water rises up to 25-26 C⁰ in the hottest months, July and August.

If you’re in search of a peaceful, quiet beach experience, this place is perfect for you.

As you enjoy the serenity of the environment, the endemic plants of this shore, the sand lilies might whisper in your ears how the Great Alexander once walked on this sand or how great kings and queens bathed in that beautiful blue waters.

The shore is a conservation area therefore it remains pristine and peaceful. The only buildings you can see are the retreat and camping sites of the municipality where you have access to showers, toilets, umbrellas, beach beds, snacks and all kinds of drinks. If you like physically active holidays, waterparks, jeep, ATV or horseback safaris will be just your kind of entertainment. The facilities take reservations by phone for any kind of activity you’re interested in.

Ephesus Beach is perfect for water sports, camping and trailers. If you’re not the camping type, five-star hotels are pretty close for a comfortable holiday experience. Options are vast and the joy of a holiday on this beach is unforgettable.

FRUIT HEAVEN (PEACHES; MANDARINS; GRAPES; FRUIT WINES)

Selçuk Ephesus is a plentiful region with its Mediterranean climate. The locally grown olives and fruits, especially grapes, mandarins, quinces, pomegranates, peaches and figs are famous. You can see local fruit sellers on both sides of the road to Selçuk/Ephesus, there’s no better refreshment on a car trip.

The mountainous terrain is covered with olive trees. The endemic olive, known as the Memecik is used to produce cold pressed olive oil and especially the olives from Değirmenboğazı and Şirince have distinctive tastes with the fragrances of wild and aromatic herbs grown in the area. The brands Tane and Yaane are local brands of olive oils and they are worth trying.

Şirince is famous for its fruit wines made with locally produced fruits. Walking around Şirince you will see many wine-houses where you can do tasting.

Towards Gökçealan, there are many vines on both sides of the road where you can experience the grape harvest if you happen to be there towards the end of August or the beginning of September. Make sure to watch festivities, buy grapes and taste local wines. We especially recommend Yedibilgeler Vinery and Hotel which is located between Çamlık and Gökçealan. Their wines which are named after mythological characters of philosophers have won international awards. Watching the sunset, sipping awarded wines is an experience you will never forget.

THE NAME OF BOUTIQUE HOLIDAYS

Selçuk Ephesus is famous for its boutique hotels and restaurants where you can find customized service at its best. There is one boutique hotel or restaurant for every budget and almost all of them have pretty high ratings in social or travel sites. Sustainability is the main principle of all the businesses in this region.

The Little Hotels Association is happy to assist you in all your inquiries about shuttle services, gastronomy experiences, destination tips and such.

 

www.facebook.com/selcukefeskucukoteller/

When you’re planning your trip, make sure you take a look at this website.