Selcuk is the central town of Selcuk district, Izmir in Turkey and 1.2 miles northeast of Ephesus. Its original Greek name, Agios Theológos referred to John the Theologian. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Ayasoluk. In 1914, it was renamed Selcuk after the Seljuk Turks who first led incursions into the region in the 12th century.
Throughout its long history, the town has been rebuilt so often and has changed so much that it has lost its very name. The blue and white signpost indicates Selcuk, the yellow and black Ephesus.
Mounts Pion and Koressos, Greco-Roman remains, a Byzantine basilica, and a Seljuk mosque constitute a hodgepodge of history. In the village, on the road to the ruins, is the well-laid-out museum, whose pride are the two splendidly preserved marble statues, once gilded, of Artemis in the likeness of Cybele, patroness of Ephesus, Greek in name but unmistakably Anatolian in appearance. The triple row of breasts lack nipples and have, therefore, often been held to represent eggs, the universal fetility symbol. Only the archaic smile is Greek, while the headgear the signs of the zodiac and a strange assortment of monsters on the garments is purely eastern. There is also the famous Boy on the Dolphin and a beautiful Greek mask made familiar throughout the world through photography and travel posters.
For ancient paganism as for the beginnings of Christianity, Ephesus was an important center, second only to Athens, and later, to Jerusalem. The cult of Artemis changed into the cult of the Virgin Mary, as St. Paul and St. John both preached in the town. Up to the Middle Ages, Ephesus kept its standing, owing in part to its being a well-placed port. The world’s first bank, run on the lines of today’s banks, opened here.
Selcuk is one of the most visited touristic destinations within Turkey, known for its closeness to the Ancient city of Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary , Temple of Artemis, Cave of the Seven Sleepers, and Seljuk works of art. The 6th century Basilica of St. John the Apostle, which, some claim, is built on the site of the Apostle’s tomb, is also inside the town. The old quarter of Selcuk remains generally retaining traditional Turkish culture and locality.
Selcuk / Ephesus
Must See Places in Selcuk-Ephesus
Selcuk is a good starting place for many excursions and visits in the area.
In the city center there are other very interesting spots
A small and sleepy Turkish city in close proximity to some amazing sights, Selçuk is definitely worth a visit. Very walkable, good restaurants and bars and small enough that it doesn’t take long to make some local friends. (Make sure to visit Sky Bar – a simple but friendly establishment – for an Efes; and say hi to Mustafa!) Just 3km from the amazing and musn’t-miss Ephesus, there are also other attractions full of history that are not far away. The Grotto of the Seven Sleepers, Maryemana’s (the Virgin Mary’s) alleged final house, the last pillar standing from the Temple of Artemis, a Byzantine aqueduct and the mountain village of Şirince are among the interesting sights close by. All in all, a very nice slice of quiet Turkish life.
If you think you can do !
A day trip to Şirince (8km out of Selçuk). Nestled in the hills, small little village, narrow winding streets, great wines and lots of small cosy wine bars to try them all out in. Note that most of the wines are overpriced and not made in the region. Beware staying there though as accommodation is very expensive (90euro)?
The best pieces in Ephesus were removed, and are now displayed in this museum.
It’s easy and quick to visit, located in a nice area of the city, being include in the packages from the harbour of Kusadasi when coming from Greece.
The market in Selcuk is a great way to see one. Everything from tomatoes, spices to the kitchen sink can be bought here. People from all over turn up and families make a day of shopping, socializing and being seen.
A glimpse of the real Turkey! The people we met without exception were friendly, helpful and welcoming. There are plenty of restaurants, where the menus were competitively priced and open at all times of the day, some until after midnight.
The Saturday market offered a wide variety of products (don’t forget to barter!), and the town is well placed for visits to Ephesus and Kusadasi.
A couple of internet cafes ensure you can keep in touch with the folks back home, and many of the shop staff and restauranteurs speak English. An unforgettable experience!
Get around in Selcuk, there are mini-buses to Sirince and Ephesus. To go to the House of Mary you may need to take a taxi.Rented motorbikes or scooters can be a fun way to discover the surroundings of Selcuk. If you rent a bike note that both Sirince and the House of Mary are up in the hills.
Selcuk is a town near the much more famous Ephesus. It has the museum where they keep the better finds from that place. It also has a good 14th century mosque, the (sparse) remains of a huge Artemis (or Sybille) temple, a kale or fortress on a hill, the remains of a church dedicated to St. John the apostle, an aqueduct from Roman times, in season quite some storks nests, and is in itself a fine place to stay. From here you have good connections to Izmir, but also to sights in the South like Miletus, Priene and Didyma.
Get around In Selcuk
There are mini-buses (dolmus) to Şirince and Ephesus. To go to the House of Mary you may need to take a taxi.
Rented motorbikes or scooters can be a fun way to discover the surroundings of Selçuk. If you rent a bike note that both Şirince and the House of Mary are up in the hills.
By train
It’s possible to take trains [1] from Izmir’s Basmane Station seven times daily (at 07:45AM, 09:00AM, 11:25AM, 3:40PM, 4:30PM, 6:15PM, and 7:10PM). These stop at the Izmir airport about 20 minutes after they leave Basmane station. The trip from the airport to Selçuk takes about an hour. Note that Selçuk is not their last stop so make sure to listen for it. As of December 2012 the tickets cost 4.5 TL. Note that having a ticket does not guarantee you a seat and sometimes the trains are packed.
By bus
There are also dolmuşes from the city of Izmir itself, as well as buses from Pamukkale, which cost 20 TL and serve drinks and snacks along the way.
The local otogar of Selçuk is located in the center of the village.
It is possible to take an overnight bus that departs from Istanbul at midnight and arrives here at approx. 8 a.m. This service is run by Varan bus lines and costs 70 TL as of the summer of 2011.
By plane
Although there is a small airport in Selçuk, it is only open for private planes. So the nearest option for commercial flights is Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir, which lies 55 km north of Selçuk.
From the airport, you have two options for getting to Selçuk: you can take trains which call at the station directly on the airport grounds (4 TL), and which connect airport with Selçuk and points south six times daily (see “By train” below for a timetable). Be warned that the train can be very packed, though, so be ready for the possibility of not being able to get on.
A quicker but more expensive option is to take a dolmuş, which is more like a big van rather than a bus. They depart from Selçuk – Ephesus Otogar, which lies 2 km away from the airport ride from the airport there costs 10 TL). This otogar is not of the bus station type found in the rest of the country—it’s just a bus stop with some benches. Take the mini van signed Selçuk – Ephesus on its front. Ask around if someone in charge is nearby. From here, a ride to Selçuk costs 7 TL, and takes around an hour. The van will stop in many stops along the way, including some remote areas, and just stay on till the very end.
Atlas Jet which has direct flights ti Izmir from Istanbul and other cities, provides a free shuttle bus service to Selcuk and back.
Selcuk is a small town famous for Ephesus with it is huge pillars and old Roman community, House of the Virgin Mary and the 6th centuryBasilica of St. John the Apostle.
The city centre of Selcuk itself is very small and does not have much to see and do not have any entertainment.
Selcuk is fantastic little town, with plenty of character. It’s a real shame that the big tours don’t stay overnight here. I spent 2 nights here at the Boomerang hostel with friends, and we loved every minute of being here. A quiet and friendly town, with plenty of cafes/restaurants to hang out in, definitely worth an overnight visit.