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Our detailed, interactive city map of Ephesus, plus hand-picked links to the best Ephesus map elsewhere.
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The most important commercial center of the western Anatolia in the 1st century BC. and one of the highlights of Turkey. Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city. Ephesus was biblically very important.
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In ancient times it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but today the Temple of Artemis is represented by a single column standing in a swamp.
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House of Mary discovered in a vision by a bedridden German nun in 1812, this stone building is believed by many Catholics and Muslims to be where the Virgin Mary lived her last years. There is also a healing fountain.
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In ancient times it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but today the Temple of Artemis is represented by a single column standing in a swamp.
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The Basilica of St. John was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century over the traditional tomb of John the Evangelist. The site became a major pilgrimage destination in the Early Middle Ages.
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According to legend, seven Christian boys were locked in this cave by the Romans in c.250 AD, fell asleep, and woke up in the 5th century. It became a place of burial and pilgrimage.
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The Isabey Mosque was built in 1375 at the direction of the Emir of Aydin. It incorporates columns and stones recycled from the ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis.
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The facade of the Library of Celsus is one of the most spectacular sights in Ephesus. Built by a Roman in memory of his father, it faces east so the reading rooms receive the morning light.
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This magnificent classical theater is considered an important biblical site: the probable place where Paul preached to the pagans in Acts. It is still in use and can seat thousands.
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A very important civic building where the sacred fire of Hestia was tended, official visitors were received by civic and religious dignitaries, and where two statues of the Ephesian Artemis were found.
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This attractive Roman imperial temple was constructed in 118 AD and reconstructed in the fifth century. Its tympanum bears an interesting frieze that may depict Medusa.
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Foundations of a basilica-like building that may have been one of several synagogues known to exist in ancient Ephesus. A Jewish lamp was found on the site.
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The brothel and public latrine of ancient Ephesus are located directly across Marble Street from the Library of Celsus. Both date from the 1st century AD.
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Once lined with shops and inns, Curetes Street was a main city street and an important processional route in the cult of Artemis.
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Ephesus terrace houses are located on the hill, opposite the Hadrian Temple, also known as the houses of the rich.
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This was the building located at the beginning of the Harbour Street near the Theatre. The excavation is not completed. Gymnasium had a great number of rooms which were used as classrooms, dormitories and libraries.
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According to an inscription discovered in excavations this gymnasium was built by P. Vedius Antonius from the Vedius who were a well known family of Ephesus and his wife Flavia Papiana.
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The gate faced the Marble Street more than the Curetes Street and provided a passage, besides the Ortygia road, also to another road climbing up towards the Terrace Houses. It had three gateways and three storeys.
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Domitian Square was an important commercial centre. The existence in Ephesus ruins of shops of a density which would not be seen in other old cities is related to the overseas trade of Ephesus
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The gate was named after two reliefs on these lintels which showed Hercules draped in a lion skin. The gate was constructed with two tiers of columns.
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The part of the Sacred road running between the Library of Celsus and the Grand Theatre is called the Marble Street. The street was paved with large blocks of marble and had herring bone slopes.
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The partially repaired fountain on the right side of the Curetes Street was dedicated to the Emperor Trajan at the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The dedicatory inscription is today on the cornice near the structure.
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Basilica of Ephesus is located between the Odeum and the State Agora. It had three naves and a two ridged gable roof. The roof was made of wood and no trace of it has been found.
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The most important places of defense in a city are certainly its walls and gates. Until the period which we call the Roman Peace (Pax Romana) (the 2nd-3rd centuries AD)
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The last monumental tombs found in the district of Ephesus, it belongs to the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries, hence to the period of the Principality of Aydınoğulları. It is not known to whom it belonged.
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In the 6th century a church was built at the corner of the building near the Magnesia Gate so, that corner was already destroyed by then.
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The building following this is a Byzantine fountain conctructed on top of a monumental tomb which lay in the same place. The outer side of the walls of the fountain’s pool have lozenge shaped decorations with crosses in the middle, a most significant element of the Byzantine period.
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On the fragment of the architrave lying today near the building is written “Caius Memmius, the Saviour, son of Caicus, grandson of Cornelius Sulla”. The monument was built in the 1st century AD.
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It is famous for being the first temple built for an emperor in Ephesus. In the Roman period the building of temples for emperors was made a matter of honour among similar cities.
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The Temple of serapis consisting of a naos and a pronaos was in the form of a typical prostyle. It was built of large blocks of marble of which the weight would be 40-50 tons at first sight. This is a most significant particularity of Egyptian religious buildings.
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Harbour of Ephesus which has today turned into a very small lake. In the Hellenistic period and at the beginning of the Roman period the harbour was the best protected mercantile port of the Mediterranean.
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The street constructed in the 1st century BC was repaired and widened by the Eastern Roman Emperor Arcadius (395-408) and made into a true ceremonial street.
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It was constructed together with the buildings around it during the reconstruction of that part of the city under the reign of the Emperor Hadrian (117-138). Next to the Verulanus sports ground was the Harbour Gymnasium.
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The building following the Temple of Hadrian is a house with a peristyle known as the House of Love. The statue of Priapus, called the god Bes, on display in the Museum of Ephesus was found in this house.
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There are two agoras in Ephesus, the State Agora and the Trade Agora. The Trade Agora lies to the west of the city near the Celsus Library.
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This structure lies at the entrance of the city in the Kusadası direction. A good example of the stadiums of the period, it is 230 metres long and 30 metres wide. Its entrance is on the west.
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Standing near the library provided entrance to the Mercantile Agora of Ephesus and was known by the name of Mazeus Mithradates and Mithradates who were slaves under the Emperor Augustus were given their liberty
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The Odeum had the aspect of a small theatre. Its difference from a theatre was that it was once covered. The seating section of the building of which restoration is at present going on, was reached by stepped side streets covered by vaults on two sides
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Scholastikia Baths are one of the important buildings of the Curetes Street, located in the city centre, it must have been a bath where the distinguished famillies of the city, rather than ordinary people, washed and cleaned themselves and then talked about daily matters.
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The vestiges to the east of the Odeum belong to the building called the Varius Baths. The excavation of all the parts of the baths except the cold room has been done, however no restoration has yet been undertaken.
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Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.95 million as of 2010,making the city third most populous in Turkey.
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Sirince was settled when Ephesus was abandoned in the 15th century but most of what one sees today dates from the 19th century.
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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 and Seljuk works of art.
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Kusadası is a resort town on Turkey’s Aegean coast, Kuşadası caters to tourists, arriving by land, and as the port for cruise ship passengers heading to Ephesus.
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Ephesus, 100% based on 28099 ratings 
We enjoyed seeing this theatre but I liked the theatre at Pamukkale more. Good view
We hired a private guide to go to Efes she spoke good English &was organised by the hotel. This was good as we had her full attention & could look at other things not normally on the trip
It is well worth having a look at this city
Situated between Artemis Temple and Basilica of St-John, this mosque dating back to 14th century has been even used as a caravanserai in 19th century. It bears the simplistic Islamic architecture of the time. Especially its marble work is very impressive. The windows surrounding the courtyard are each different and very beautiful. The altar inside is a great chef d'oeuvre…
Spectacular, the historic remains of Ephesus are really a marvel of the ancient world.
Ask to go to the Basilica if it's not part of the tour…it is worth the visit.
The ruins are pretty interesting, and the view from the hill top is quite a sight. Seeing the town of Selcuk from above, loved it.
Harbour Street, Ephesus
In the middle of the first century A.D the city of Ephesus was flourishing. It had been built near the mouth of the river Cayster and had one of the busiest inland harbours of the Aegean coast. The illustration is of Harbour Street which, when originally built, led from the harbour to the theatre which is mentioned by Luke in Acts chapter 19. Harbour Street is 530 metres long and 11 metres wide. The theatre is still there, but the harbour gradually silted up and there are now fields where once there was water. The ruins of Ephesus, which are well worth a visit, are now 7 miles inland.
The building of the theatre was begun in the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius (41-54 A.D.). There was seating for about 25,000 people and one of its uses was the regular meetings of the city assembly.
At Ephesus pagan religions flourished. Here was one of the wonders of the world, the temple of Artemis (Diana). The making of small silver shrines of the goddess was a trade involving many craftsmen. The shrines were sold as souvenirs to visitors to the pagan temple.
Paul made two visits to Ephesus, his second lasting three years. As a result of the preaching of the gospel, many renounced paganism and received Christ. Those whose trades depended on the cult felt their livelihoods threatened by the fall in demand for their silver shrines. Demetrius, an influential member of the guild of smiths, called his colleagues to a mass meeting in the theatre. Many of the general public joined in the demonstration.
“and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel”(Acts 19:29).
Paul was intent on confronting the riotous assembly, but was strongly advised against entering the theatre by his converts and also some influential citizens of the city. It was the town clerk who eventually restored some measure of order and sent them home. No doubt he was concerned that the Roman authorities would take a serious view of the riotous behaviour.
Paul’s work in Ephesus and beyond was a triumph of the gospel over occultism and idolatry. His subsequent letter to the church is a valued part of our spiritual inheritance.
This place is extraordinary ! I recomend it to everyone! Although it was very hot and there aren,t many places where you can hide from the sun everyone should visit it.
We went to the Basilica as part of our trip to Ephesus. As with the other attractions we saw on that day, it was well presented with a great feeling of peace. We were very luck to have a very knowledgeable guide who was able to give us useful information and answer any questions that we had.
This place is truly magical. The priests are just beautiful too. Even if you are not religious this is definitely a place you will just feel like you belong. I was lucky enough to also see the other church which is really old and is used by the priests there not for everyone.