Ephesus is a popular destination for those looking to explore the remains of an ancient city. It’s a common pitstop on Turkey travel tours, and a place I definitely recommend visiting if you’re able.
But getting to Ephesus can be a bit challenging. It’s not directly near a major city or airport.
Most commonly, people make a journey from Izmir to Ephesus. And that’s what I did.
Here’s how to travel from Izmir to Ephesus:
(P.S. if you’re looking to travel from Izmir to Pamukkale, check out my guide. It starts the same way).
Modes of Transportation
When it comes to getting from Izmir to Ephesus, you have a few options.
- A rental car
- An intercity bus- Kamil Koc bus provider
- The train
I’m no stranger to taking intercity buses in Turkey. That’s certainly a viable option, but the bus station is a bit outside of the city. So, you’d need to take a local city bus or a cab to get to that bus station. If you’re leaving Izmir anyway, rather than taking a day trip, the bus may be the way to go.
On the other hand, the train station is close to the hustle and bustle in Izmir, and likely within walking distance from your hotel. That was the case for me, and was a major reason why we opted to take the train on our day trip from Izmir to Ephesus.
Take the Train from Izmir to Ephesus
Overall, taking the train is a simple and effective way to get to Ephesus. Well, to Selcuk which is the closest stop to Ephesus. Here’s the process:
Head to the Basmane Train Station
First, navigate to the Basamane Railway Train Station, also known as “Basamane Gar” on Google Maps.
The address is: Etiler Mah. Basmane, Anafartalar Cd., Konak/İzmir
Note that the train you’ll need is on the main floor, there’s no need to go down any stairs. You’ll see the metal detector by the entrance. The train station includes outdoor platforms with some benches for waiting and a roof.
Hop on the Izmir- Denizli Train
After entering the train station, go to the ticket booth to buy your ticket. You’ll spot it easily close to the entrance and often with lines.
The train you’ll need is the “Izmir Denizli” train (which is the same one you need to travel to Pamukkale). Denizli is the final stop, and that’s close to Pamukkale (another common destination for travelers). But along the way, this train stops at Selcuk, which is closest to Ephesus.
The Izmir- Denizli Train Table
Rail Turkey
One important point to note is that the trains are not frequent. There are 6 per day. When looking for an option in the morning, we saw only 7 am and 10:40 am. Overall, they occur about once every 4 hours. You can see the full schedule on the rail Turkey website as well as Google Maps.
Ask for however many tickets you need for “Selcuk.” It’s pronounced “sell chook” and it’s a common destination so the ticket workers are familiar with it.
In May 2023, the tickets were around 36 lira ($2) per person. We paid under $4 each way for two people, so under $8 for the round trip. They accept cards or cash at the counter.
After buying the tickets, they told us which platform (it was platform 1 at the time) so we headed to the train and got on. There weren’t assigned seats, but on another train ride there seemed to be assigned cars.
BONUS TIP: Make sure to arrive early so you have time to get tickets and get your seat on the train. The lines can get a little long and you don’t want to be late!
Get Off at the Selcuk Stop
The train ride is around 90 minutes long. At each stop, they announce the name of the stop in English and Turkish. Furthermore, you can also follow the ride on Google Maps to make sure you don’t miss the stop!
There’s a bathroom on the train, one between each car to be exact. I never had to wait in line, a bathroom was typically open. Some of the bathrooms have western toilets (that you sit on) and some others had floor toilets.
Walk to the Selcuk Bus Station
After getting off the train (or bus), you’re in Selcuk! That’s about a 5-minute drive from Ephesus. If you take the bus, you’re already at the “bus station” when you arrive. From the train station, it’s a short walk to the bus station.
Enter “Selcuk Bus Station” into your map application for navigation. Here’s a photo for reference!
Take the Dolmus Bus to Ephesus
The minibusses/ minivan taxis in Turkey are called “dolmus,” and that’s what you’ll take to get from the bus stop to Ephesus.
There’s a counter near the front, just ask for “Efes”, as that’s what they call Ephesus. Again, this is an extremely popular destination so even if you don’t say it perfectly they’ll help!
The bus cost us $15 lira (less than $1) each in May 2023. They only take cash. After paying, they’ll point you to the next minibus. Get on, and once it’s full (won’t take long) it will leave!
The drive is quite short, around 5 minutes long. Basically everyone is going to Ephesus. The bus pulls into a large parking lot and announces “Efes!”
At that point, you’ve arrived! It may seem like a lot, but I promise it’s a pretty easy trip.
To head back to Selcuk after your time at Ephesus, head back to the same spot the minibus left you. They come frequently, so you won’t have to wait long to hop on one and head back to Selcuk (and then Izmir if you want).
Remember that the trains don’t come very often! You won’t want to miss the last one either. Check the “Denizli-Izmir” route departing from Selcuk to plan your train time back!
Frequently Asked Questions About Izmir to Ephesus
How long does it take to get from Izmir to Ephesus?
In total, it took us around 2 hours to get from Izmir to Ephesus. Walking to the station took us about 7 minutes. The train ride is about 90 minutes. Heading to the Selcuk bus and taking the bus was another 12 minutes or so.
Is Ephesus a good day trip?
Yes! I highly recommend heading to Ephesus for a day trip and then spending a couple of hours in Selcuk. You certainly could spend at least one night there, but I don’t think it’s necessary. If you take the 7 am bus, you’d have plenty of time for Ephesus, St. John’s Basilica, and some other sites in/near Selcuk.
How much time do you need in Ephesus?
Most people spend 3-5 hours in Ephesus, but it all depends on your timeline, priorities, and viewing habits. If you read every sign, stop, and look carefully at each spot, etc, then it may take longer! Likewise, you can also see Ephesus in less time than that. Overall though, I think you need at least 3 hours to take in the experience.