# Ancient Ephesus from Bodrum > Ephesus is a Roman city near Selçuk, about 175 km north of Bodrum — a full-day outing, not an afternoon in town. The drive takes 2.5–3 hours each way; allow 2–3 hours on site. Entry is around €40, plus about €15 for the Terrace Houses. Open daily, currently 8:00–18:00. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/ephesus - City: [Bodrum](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum), Turkey - YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: ≈ €40, Terrace Houses ≈ €15 - With kids: Fine with kids - Entrance fee: About €40 for foreign visitors - Terrace Houses: Separate ticket, about €15 - Children: Young children free with ID (under 7 or 8 — sources differ) - Museum Pass: Museum Pass Türkiye accepted at the gate; Terrace Houses — sources differ - Opening hours: Daily 8:00–18:00, last entry 17:30 - Terrace Houses hours: 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30 - Closed: Never — open every day - Müzekart: Turkish citizens only - Night visits: Summer only; in 2026 Ephesus ran them until 15 October - From Bodrum: ≈ 175 km, 2.5–3 hours by car via Milas and Söke - Address: Efes Harabeleri, 35920 Selçuk/İzmir - Coordinates: 37.94058, 27.33939 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 175 km** — by road from Bodrum via Milas and Söke — a full day there and back (source: himmera distance calculator (176 km); theephesus.com guide (about 175 km, roughly 2.5 hours)) - **2nd century AD** — the Library of Celsus was built; its façade was re-erected in the 1970s (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus; Russian Wikipedia, Ephesus (city)) - **2015** — Ephesus became a UNESCO World Heritage Site (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus (UNESCO site no. 1018); Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism) - **≈ 25,000** — spectators fitted into the Great Theatre (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus; Russian Wikipedia, Ephesus (city)) - **1 column** — is all that stands of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus; Russian Wikipedia, Ephesus (city)) - **10th century BC** — Ionian Greeks founded the city (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus; Russian Wikipedia, Ephesus (city)) - **27 BC** — Augustus made Ephesus capital of the Roman province of Asia (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus) - **≈ 12,000** — scrolls were once kept in the Library of Celsus (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus) - **431** — the Third Ecumenical Council met here (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus) - **≈ 1,500** — seats in the Odeon, a small hall for concerts and meetings (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus) - **1895** — Austrian excavations began — and still continue (source: English Wikipedia, Ephesus) - **≈ 4 km** — from central Selçuk to the ruins (source: Wikivoyage, Selçuk and Ephesus) > **Ephesus is not in Bodrum — budget a whole day** The ruins are outside Selçuk in İzmir province, roughly 175 km from Bodrum. With the drive, the visit and lunch, the outing takes 10–12 hours. Leave early: the marble streets have almost no shade, and the last entry is at 17:30. ## Ephesus day trip from Bodrum: what to expect The easiest option is a **full-day tour with hotel pick-up**. You leave early, travel by coach or minibus, get 2–3 hours with a guide on site, stop for lunch and are back in the evening. Check whether the entrance fee is included — many tours quote it separately. Most itineraries add a stop or two: the lone column of the Temple of Artemis in Selçuk, the House of the Virgin Mary on the hill above, or the wine village of Şirince. Each extra stop costs time at Ephesus itself, so pick a tour that gives the ruins at least two hours. A private tour costs more but lets you set the start time and arrive at opening, before the cruise-ship groups come up from Kuşadası. ## Bodrum to Ephesus: distance and drive time It is about **175 km** by road. Driving takes 2.5–3 hours each way: the D330 to Milas, then north through Söke to Selçuk. Route planners say about two and a half hours, but in high season allow three for stops and traffic leaving Bodrum. There is no direct local bus to the ruins. Intercity coaches with a change in Söke or Selçuk take four hours or more each way, which leaves very little time on site. That is why most people go by tour or hire car. ## Ephesus entrance fee and tickets Entry to the ancient city is **around €40** for foreign visitors, and it includes the digital Ephesus Experience Museum (Efes Deneyim Müzesi). The Terrace Houses need a separate ticket of about €15. Young children go free with ID, though guides disagree on the cut-off — under 7 or 8 and under. The ministry page does not publish prices, so we matched them across several guides from this season and mark them as “verifying”. Müzekart is valid for Turkish citizens only. Guides agree that the Museum Pass Türkiye gets you into Ephesus, but they contradict each other on the Terrace Houses, so be ready to buy that ticket separately. The price is set in euros and charged in lira at the till, so paying by card is simplest. Parking at either gate is charged separately. ## Ephesus opening hours and night visits According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ephesus is currently open **every day from 8:00 to 18:00**, with the ticket office closing at 17:30. The Terrace Houses open 9:00–17:00. Hours shift with the seasons: an undated ministry brochure lists later closing in summer and earlier in winter, so check muze.gov.tr before you set off. In summer Ephesus also opens after dark as part of the ministry’s night museum programme, with the ruins lit up and ticket booths working at the Lower Gate. In 2026 the programme started on 1 June and was extended at Ephesus until 15 October, so there are no evening visits in late autumn and winter. Evening tours from Bodrum exist too — check that night opening runs on your dates before you pay. ## How to get to Ephesus from Bodrum 1. Easiest: a tour with hotel pick-up, or a hire car. By car from central Bodrum, take the D330 to Milas, then head north through Söke to Selçuk — 2.5–3 hours. 2. Ephesus has two gates: the Upper (South, Magnesia) Gate and the Lower (North, Harbour) Gate. Park at the upper one so the whole walk is downhill. 3. Without a car: from the castle and harbourfront, walk up to the old bus station by the bazaar — now for local services only — and take a dolmuş to the new intercity terminal (Yeni Otogar) at Torba, about 5 km out. Long-distance coaches leave only from there. 4. Take a coach to Söke and change to a dolmuş for Selçuk. One guide also mentions through coaches that stop in Selçuk, about 3 hours — ask at the terminal ticket desks. 5. From Selçuk bus station, a dolmuş towards Kuşadası drops you within minutes at the turn-off for the Lower Gate, then it is about a 10-minute walk; on foot the whole way is about 4 km. Check the last coach back to Bodrum in the morning — it leaves early. > **Upper gate or lower gate? Start at the top** Enter at the Upper Gate and walk down past the Odeon and Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the theatre. Ask your driver to wait at the Lower Gate. Bring water, a hat and shoes with grip — the polished marble gets slippery. ## What is Ephesus? Ionian Greeks founded Ephesus in the 10th century BC. Under Rome it became the capital of the province of Asia and one of the largest cities of the empire. St Paul preached here, and the Third Ecumenical Council met here in 431. The city once stood on the sea, but the Küçük Menderes river silted up the harbour and the coast moved several kilometres away. People moved to the next hill — today’s Selçuk — and the old city was left largely untouched, which is why so much survives. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. ## What to see at Ephesus - **Library of Celsus** — the two-storey 2nd-century façade and the photo everyone comes for. Morning light is best. - **Great Theatre** — about 25,000 seats cut into Mount Pion, looking down Harbour Street towards the long-gone sea. - **Curetes Street** — the marble street running downhill from the upper gate to the library, lined with the Temple of Hadrian and the Roman public latrines. - **Terrace Houses** — six wealthy Roman homes with mosaics and wall paintings under a protective roof. Extra ticket, but the most vivid part of the site. - **Odeon** — a small hall for about 1,500 people near the upper gate. - On the way, in Selçuk: **the single column of the Temple of Artemis**, one of the Seven Wonders, and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum with finds from the city. ## Is Ephesus worth it from Bodrum? Yes, if you care about history and can give it a full day. Ephesus is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean — real streets, a theatre and a library you walk through, not fragments behind a fence. No, if you are on a short beach break or travelling with small children in midsummer: six hours on the road for three hours in the sun is hard going. Stay local instead — the [Mausoleum at Halicarnassus](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/mausoleum-at-halicarnassus), the [ancient theatre](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-ancient-theatre) and [Bodrum Castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-castle) give you antiquity without the drive. Are the Terrace Houses worth the extra ticket? For most visitors, yes: they are covered, cooler and show how rich Ephesians actually lived. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Early start — on site before midday - [ ] About €40 for entry and €15 for the Terrace Houses, if not in the tour - [ ] Water, hat and sunscreen - [ ] Shoes with grip for the marble - [ ] Children’s ID for free entry - [ ] Time of the last coach back to Bodrum ## Ephesus vs ancient Bodrum | | Ephesus | Mausoleum at Halicarnassus | Bodrum ancient theatre | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | A whole Roman city | Remains of a tomb counted among the Seven Wonders | A theatre on the hillside above town | | Where | Near Selçuk, ≈ 175 km | Central Bodrum | Above Bodrum | | Time needed | A full day with travel | ≈ 1 hour | ≈ 30–40 minutes | | What you see | Streets, library, theatre, mosaic houses | Foundations and fragments | Seating and a bay view | Ephesus is the headline ancient site of the whole coast, but it costs you a day. If you cannot spare one, the Mausoleum and the theatre in Bodrum give you a taste without the drive. ## History around Bodrum compared Every historic site in and around Bodrum rated by YesGo. - [Mausoleum at Halicarnassus](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/mausoleum-at-halicarnassus) — YesGo score 64/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · €3, under-8s free - [Bodrum Old Town](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-old-town) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free, open 24/7 - [Ephesus](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/ephesus) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €40, Terrace Houses ≈ €15 - [Bodrum Ancient Theatre](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-ancient-theatre) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Bodrum Windmills](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-windmills) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Myndos Gate](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/myndos-gate) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Pedasa](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/pedasa) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, no ticket office - [Bodrum Castle](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-castle) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · €20, under 8 free - [Gümüşlük](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/gumusluk) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free ## A day at Ephesus, an evening in Bodrum Ruins in the morning, dinner in the old town and sunset at the windmills. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Ephesus](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/ephesus) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €40, Terrace Houses ≈ €15 2. [Bodrum Old Town](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-old-town) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free, open 24/7 3. [Bodrum Windmills](https://yesgo.io/turkey/bodrum/bodrum-windmills) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ## Good to know The House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John are not inside Ephesus but nearby in and above Selçuk, with their own tickets. “Efes” is also Turkey’s best-known beer and the name of the Anadolu Efes basketball club — and St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians was addressed to this city’s Christians. ## Tips - Be at the gate for the 8:00 opening — ahead of the heat and the cruise-ship groups. - Pay for the Terrace Houses: the mosaics and frescoes are close up, and it is cooler under the roof. - Shoot the Library of Celsus early; later the façade falls into shade and fills with people. - Driving yourself? Add the Temple of Artemis and the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk — both are minutes away. - Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; in July and August there is almost no shade on site. - Not up for a day on the road? See the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the ancient theatre in Bodrum instead. ## Questions ### How far is Ephesus from Bodrum? About 175 km by road, via Milas and Söke to Selçuk, next to the ruins. ### How long is the drive from Bodrum to Ephesus? 2.5–3 hours each way by car or tour coach. Public buses with changes take four hours or more. ### Can you get from Bodrum to Ephesus by bus? Yes, but not directly: a coach from Bodrum’s intercity terminal to Söke, a dolmuş to Selçuk, then another dolmuş to the Lower Gate. It is a long day, so most people take a tour or drive. ### Is an Ephesus day trip from Bodrum worth it? If you love history, yes — it is one of the finest ancient cities anywhere. On a short beach holiday, or with small children in summer, the long drive may not be worth it. ### How much is the Ephesus entrance fee? Around €40 for foreign visitors, plus about €15 for the Terrace Houses. Young children go free, though guides give the cut-off as under 7 or 8 and under. We are still verifying these prices. ### Is the Museum Pass valid at Ephesus? Guides agree the Museum Pass Türkiye covers entry to Ephesus. They disagree on the Terrace Houses, so expect to buy that ticket separately. Müzekart is for Turkish citizens only. ### What are Ephesus opening hours? Daily 8:00–18:00 with last entry at 17:30; the Terrace Houses open 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30. Summer night openings ran until 15 October in 2026. ### How long do you need at Ephesus? 2–3 hours for the main street, library and theatre, plus an hour for the Terrace Houses. With the drive from Bodrum, a full day. ### Should I enter Ephesus at the upper or lower gate? The upper (south) gate: from there the route runs downhill past the Odeon and Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the theatre by the lower gate. ### Is Ephesus good for kids? Young children go free and older ones usually enjoy the theatre and the streets. But there is little shade and a long drive, so in summer go early or choose spring and autumn. ## How we checked Hours, closures, the Müzekart rule and the address come from the official ministry page, rechecked on 30.10.2026. It lists no prices: €40 for entry and €15 for the Terrace Houses match across three 2026 guides, so they are marked “verifying”, not official. Guides disagree on the free age for children (under 7 or 8 and under) and on whether the Museum Pass covers the Terrace Houses — we show the disagreement. An undated ministry brochure gives separate summer and winter hours; the live page says 8:00–18:00, which we show. Night museum dates are from the minister’s statement reported by Euronews. Distance and drive time are from a route calculator and a guide; we dropped highway numbers beyond Milas because sources name them differently. Through coaches via Selçuk appear in one guide only, hence the caveat. Sources give the theatre 24,000 or 25,000 seats; we say ≈ 25,000. Dates for the Library of Celsus vary (roughly 117–135), so we give the century. ## Sources - Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr): Efes Ören Yeri and Efes Ören Yeri Yamaç Evler — hours, closures, Müzekart, address, 30.10.2026 - Tours Around Turkey and Istanbul Clues guides, Allianz Türkiye’s Ephesus guide, Yolcu360 blog — 2026 fees, Museum Pass, free entry for children - Ephesus.us guide: Entrance Fees of the Ephesus Ancient City — fees and children’s age - Euronews Türkçe, 18.10.2026: the culture minister on the night museum programme - himmera distance calculator and theephesus.com guide — distance and drive time - Turkey Travel Planner: Ephesus Transport; Wikivoyage: Ephesus, Selçuk, Bodrum; CNN Türk and bodrumotogar.com — Bodrum’s terminal at Torba - English Wikipedia: Ephesus; Russian Wikipedia: Ephesus (city); Wikidata Q47611 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.