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Ephesus

Turkey travel guide

What to see in Ephesus

One of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean, next to Selçuk.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from April to June and from September to January
  • Typical food: Çöp şiş
Photo: Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ephesus highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Library of Celsus

    The most famous façade in Ephesus.

  2. Great Theatre

    With room for thousands of spectators.

  3. Terrace Houses

    Wealthy Romans’ homes with mosaics and frescoes.

  4. Temple of Artemis

    What remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

  5. House of the Virgin Mary

    A place of pilgrimage on Mount Koressos.

Day trips from Ephesus

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Ephesus

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ephesus are from April to June and from September to January.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February, March

    Ramadan (approximate dates)

    During the day many restaurants close or open less and museum and shop hours change. The evenings, with iftar, are very special.

    What to do: Out of respect, don’t eat or drink in the street during the day; book dinner for after sunset.

  • July, August

    Heat on the coast and at the ruins

    In July and August it’s very hot in Antalya, Pamukkale and Ephesus, and the coast fills up.

    What to do: Visit the ruins first thing; to see them in peace, spring or autumn is better.

Typical food of Ephesus

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Ephesus from your kitchen).

Çöp şiş
Photo: E4024 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Çöp şiş

Thin lamb skewers on wooden sticks, grilled over coals in moments. In Selçuk, the town next to the ruins of Ephesus, they’re served in thin bread with onion and tomato.

  • Serves 4
  • 40 min

Ingredients

  • 800 g leg of lamb, cut into small cubes
  • 1 grated onion (just the juice)
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Cumin, thyme, pepper and salt
  • Pitta or lavash bread
  • Tomato, green pepper and onion with sumac

How to make it at home

  1. Marinate the meat with the onion juice, oil and spices for 1 hour.
  2. Thread the cubes onto thin skewers.
  3. Grill them over coals or on a very hot griddle for 4–5 minutes, turning them.
  4. Grill the tomato and peppers too.
  5. Serve in bread with the sumac onion.

The trick: Small cubes and a fierce heat: they should stay juicy inside.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the lokanta (canteen-style eatery). The dishes you can’t miss are in the Turkey guide.

Frequently asked questions about Ephesus

What to see in Ephesus?

Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, Terrace Houses, Temple of Artemis and House of the Virgin Mary.

What to see in Ephesus in one day?

Don’t miss Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, Terrace Houses, Temple of Artemis and House of the Virgin Mary. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Ephesus?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ephesus are from April to June and from September to January.

What day trips can you take from Ephesus?

Guided tour of Ephesus.

What is the typical food of Ephesus?

Çöp şiş. Thin lamb skewers on wooden sticks, grilled over coals in moments. In Selçuk, the town next to the ruins of Ephesus, they’re served in thin bread with onion and tomato.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.