Things to do in Acarlar

The ruins of Ephesus stand in Acarlar, a neighbourhood on the edge of Selçuk in İzmir province. Tours in Acarlar are Ephesus tours. The Greek harbour city silted up, and the sea drew away from it.

Walking the site

UNESCO inscribed Ephesus in 2015. Groups usually start at the upper gate and walk downhill to the lower one. Allow two to three hours; there is almost no shade.

• Curetes Street. The marble main street, past the Gate of Hercules, the Trajan Fountain and the Temple of Hadrian.
• Terrace Houses. Roofed homes of wealthy Ephesians, with mosaics and frescoes. They need a separate ticket.
• Library of Celsus. Its façade was raised again from fallen stones in the 1970s.
• Great Theatre. The last big stop, at the foot of the slope.

Beyond the gates

Several sights sit outside the ruins, in Selçuk and the hills around it. A panoramic tour sticks to them and views the ruins from afar. It suits anyone who cannot walk in the heat.

• Temple of Artemis. Little remains beyond the foundations and a single column.
• St John's Basilica. Sixth-century, on Ayasuluk Hill, over the traditional tomb of the apostle.
• Isa Bey Mosque. Built in 1375, beside the basilica.
• House of the Virgin Mary. A small chapel on Bülbül Hill. Pilgrims come on tradition, not proof.

How the day is built

Most departures are timed to a cruise ship. Kuşadası is the usual berth, with pickups also from Bodrum port and İzmir. A day trip from Istanbul flies both ways, just over an hour each leg.

Tours run private or in a small group. Add Pamukkale and the day stretches to thirteen or fourteen hours. Longer versions link Ephesus with Pamukkale, Antalya or Cappadocia by plane.

Practical

• Weather. Summer afternoons reach about 33C, and the marble throws the heat back. January runs near 13C by day, and most rain falls between November and March.
• Timing. The gates open at eight. Ships put crowds on the street from mid-morning, so the first hour is the quiet one.
• Tickets. The ruins, the Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary are ticketed separately. Some tours bundle them; others leave them out.
• Shoes. Polished marble is slippery when wet. Wear closed shoes with grip, and bring water and a hat.
• Getting here. Selçuk is about 20 km from Kuşadası and under an hour from İzmir airport.
• Tipping. Around ten per cent in restaurants, and a note for a guide or driver.