Question 1

Ephesus and the Ancient World

Accepted Answer

Greek colonists founded Ephesus in the 10th century BC, and the city came under Rome in 129 BC. The Temple of Artemis, completed around 550 BC, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only foundations and fragments remain. Ephesus received one of the letters of Paul and is one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation. Goths sacked the city in 263. Its harbor slowly silted up, and by the 15th century Ephesus was abandoned. Kusadasi was a minor port in the shadow of Ephesus until that harbor silted up. Under Frankish rule the town was called Scala Nova. The port was leased to a private operator in 2003.

Question 2

Getting to Ephesus

Accepted Answer

A taxi is the simple way to Ephesus, and the fare is a fixed round-trip price paid at the end. Agree the price and the waiting time with the driver before you leave. Allow 20 minutes to Ephesus, 25 to the House of the Virgin Mary and 30 to Şirince or the national park. By public minibus, take dolmuş No. 5 to the Friday Market, change to the Selçuk dolmuş, and at Selçuk bus station take a taxi or another dolmuş to Ephesus. Leave plenty of time for the way back. Ephesus is open every day from 8 am to 6 pm, with the ticket office closing at 5:45 pm (listed hours in October 2026; summer hours may differ). Check the hours and the ticket price before you go.

Question 3

Tipping and Costs

Accepted Answer

A common guide across Europe is to round up a taxi fare and leave 5 to 10 percent in a restaurant when service is not included. The Turkish lira is the currency, and US dollars and euros are also taken in Kusadasi. An exchange bureau sits just past customs, and credit cards are widely accepted in shops, cafes and restaurants. Bring small bills. UK government advice for Turkey says banks and exchange offices may refuse US$50 and US$100 notes because of counterfeits.

Question 4

Where to Eat

Accepted Answer

Kusadasi cooks the Aegean way: fresh seafood, olive oil and small shared plates called mezes. Midye dolma, stuffed mussels eaten with a squeeze of lemon, is the local snack to try. Turkish delight and baklava are sold boxed for the trip home. Be careful with cheap spirits. UK government advice for Turkey reports deaths from illegally produced spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol.

Question 5

Traveling with Family

Accepted Answer

Pigeon Island has a castle that is free to enter and peacocks in its grounds. Pigeon Island is joined to the shore by a causeway 350 meters long, and you climb stairs to reach the castle. Şirince, a hill village about 30 minutes from the port, has kept its old houses, and stalls on its narrow streets sell handcrafts and olive oil. Keep children away from stray dogs. UK government advice for Turkey says most towns have them and that rabies is present in the country.

Question 6

Culture & Local Life

Accepted Answer

The best-known sights at Ephesus are the Library of Celsus, whose facade was put back up in the 1970s, and the theater. The Library of Celsus was built in the 110s AD as a monument to a Roman governor, who is buried beneath it. It held about 12,000 scrolls. The Terrace Houses, across from the Temple of Hadrian, are six wealthy Roman homes with mosaic floors and painted walls. The House of the Virgin Mary, on a hill 7 km from Selçuk, is a Catholic shrine visited by Christian and Muslim pilgrims. The Catholic Church has never ruled on whether Mary lived there. In Selçuk, the ruined Basilica of St. John, built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th century, stands beside the İsa Bey Mosque of 1375.

Question 7

Shopping & Local Markets

Accepted Answer

Bargaining is the custom in Kusadasi, so treat the first price as an opening offer. Leather is a local strength. Turkey is a major producer, mainly of sheep and goat leather. Ceramics in the blue and coral patterns of İznik, carpets and jewelry are the other things the port's shops sell. Do not buy antiquities. UK government advice for Turkey says buying or exporting them is illegal, with a fine and 5 to 12 years in prison as the penalty. Shops inside the port can deliver purchases to you within the port and handle tax refunds for eligible travelers.

Question 8

Beaches

Accepted Answer

Ladies Beach is one of the well-known beaches in town, and the Dilek Peninsula national park has coves to swim in. Pigeon Island has swimming beaches, with the public ones on the far side, facing the open sea. In the national park, İçmeler Cove is the first beach you reach. It is sandy, and its water is the shallowest in the park. The coves farther into the park are pebbly, with deeper and rougher water that suits stronger swimmers.

Question 9

Accessibility

Accepted Answer

The port's terminals have elevators and accessible bathrooms, and wheelchairs are kept in every terminal. Ask port security for wheelchair help when you arrive, and ask at a guest information center whether the shuttle to the city center can take a wheelchair. Ask your tour operator which parts of Ephesus a wheelchair can reach before you book. Ask your ship whether the gangway will be step-free in Kusadasi.

Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus)

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