Top vacation attractions in Ephesus today

Top vacation points of interest in Ephesus? For the travelers who overnight and have time to explore other sites around Ephesus, we recommend to visit the following sites. They are all nearby Ephesus. Some can be added to private Ephesus tour, some can be visited in a day trip from Kusadasi, Selcuk, Sirince or Izmir. All the below sites, are recommended for travelers who have been to Ephesus already. Ephesus is the main highlight of the area. Some of the sites can be combined with Private Ephesus Tours. For tour enquiries and/or questions please do not hesitate to contact us. For the travelers who will be staying in Kusadasi, Sirince or Selcuk, we offer 3 days tour of western Turkey tours. See additional information on Ephesus tours from Kusadasi port.

The ancient city of Ephesus is one of Turkey’s best known historical tourist attractions. Its dazzling marble-columned temples and colonnaded streets are every history buff’s dream, and it’s one of the best places to visit in the world if you want to imagine life in the classical era. Once you’ve finished rambling through the ruins, there are plenty more things to do in the vicinity. Ephesus sits on the edge of the vibrant town of Selçuk, which has long been a favorite stop for independent travelers. During the Roman era, the city continued to dazzle, and it was only after the Goths destroyed the city in 263 CE that its importance began to wane.

Just one lonely column (topped by a stork’s nest) is all that remains of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Excavations carried out by archaeologist JT Wood here showed that the site was originally occupied by a stone platform on which the cult image of the goddess stood, while underneath were rooms where votive offerings were presented. The renowned gigantic marble temple of Seven Wonders fame was built in the 6th century BCE and boasted a staggering 127 columns. Although destroyed by fire and other disasters across the centuries, it was twice restored and rebuilt before finally falling into a state of complete dilapidation in the Byzantine era, when its stones began being used as a quarry for building material. The most famous major Byzantine monument that reused Temple of Artemis stone was the Hagia Sophia, where some of the temple’s columns and marble slabs can still be seen.

Ephesus is now under the protection of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee since 2015. According to UNESCO, the city is remarkably contributing to the overall Outstanding Universal Value within its long historical status. Moreover, the city contains many important places in the context of historical settings. Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the library and the most important place in Ephesus; Temple of Artemis. This temple has been nominated as one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient Worlds. Selcuk, where the ancient city of Ephesus is located, is also one of the most fertile lands in Anatolia. For this reason, many trade routes pass in this direction. However, there is also a port that connects the east and west of the world.

Best Ephesus Tours is one of the most experienced travel agency based in Kusadasi-Ephesus, expert for Private Ephesus Tours and Ephesus tours from Kusadasi Port (Kusadasi Shore Excursions) from Kusadasi, Selcuk, Izmir Airport, Izmir Hotels, Kusadasi Cruise Port, Izmir Cruise Port and Istanbul (Ephesus Day Trip From Istanbul by Flight). The founders of the Best Ephesus Tours are two professional licensed tour guides experienced for more than 10 years especially in Ephesus Shore Excursions and Private Ephesus Tours. See more info on private Ephesus tours.

The street that starts from the Grand Theater and extends to the harbor is 528 meters long and 11 meters wide. It is described as one of the most spacious roads in the ancient world. Columns adorned both sides of the street, and there were many galleries and shops on both sides. There was also a developed sewage system under this spacious road. Since the end of the street leads to the harbor, it was called “Harbor Street”. Kings, emperors, ambassadors, merchants who came to Ephesus by sea were welcomed on this street with an official ceremony. It is also known as “Arkadiane Street” since it was destroyed in the earthquake in the 4th century and repaired by Emperor Arkadius between 395-408. After the adoption of Christianity, the statue of the four apostles of Christ was placed on the street, and these sculptures, unfortunately, do not exist today.