Selçuk
Selçuk is a district of İzmir.
Selçuk
Selçuk is a district of İzmir.
Selçuk is a municipality and district of İzmir Province, Turkey. Its area is 317 km2, and its population is 38,151 (2022). The town Selçuk is located 2 kilometres (1 mile) northeast of the ancient city of Ephesus, that was once home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Selçuk is one of the most visited tourist destinations within Turkey, known for its closeness to the ancient city of Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, and Seljuk works of art. The ruins of the 6th century Basilica of Saint John the Theologian, which, some claim, is built on the site of the Apostle's tomb, is also inside the town. Procopius said that the basilica was a most sacred and honoured place in Ephesus.
Sources: Wikipedia · Selçuk · CC BY-SA 4.0
This guide covers all 81 provinces, the World Heritage sites, local food, transport, emergency numbers and the small details that make a trip easier. It is written for foreign visitors and built from public records, official indexes and original research.
Opening hours, prices and transport change. Confirm details with the official venue before you go.
Sources: Sources & credits
Administrative boundaries, population and street counts come from public address and OpenStreetMap-derived datasets. Confirm local services with the municipality.
Selçuk
Selçuk is the practical base for Ephesus, but it deserves its own half-day: the Basilica of St John, the Isa Bey Mosque, the archaeology museum and the stork nests on the aqueduct. Go to Ephesus at opening time, come back for lunch, then take a minibus to Şirince for the evening.
Best time to visit: April to June and September to October; start Ephesus at 08:00.
Şirince
Şirince is a hillside village of white houses, fig trees and fruit wine. It is touristy at midday and pleasant in the late afternoon, when the buses leave and the light softens. Walk uphill past the main square, buy fruit from a stall and stay for dinner.
Best time to visit: Late afternoon or early evening; avoid midday tour buses.
İzmir
İzmir is the Aegean's largest city, with a long waterfront, markets and a relaxed Mediterranean rhythm. Ephesus, Pergamon and the nearby coast are within day-trip distance, while Alaçatı and Çeşme add summer energy.
Neighbourhoods
The list below shows the largest neighbourhoods by street count.