2 Days in Selcuk Itinerary, Turkey (Türkiye)

In this guide you can read about how to spend 2 days in Selcuk (Selçuk) in the Aegean region of Türkiye. The post includes information about how to get to Selcuk, where to stay and how long you should spend in this beautiful place to get the most out of your visit.

Many visitors put Selcuk onto their travel itineraries just to see one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Türkiye, the ancient city of Ephesus. However, Selcuk is home to many other significant landmarks, including one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

About Selcuk, Turkey (Türkiye)

Selcuk (Selçuk) is located in the Izmir Province of the Aegean region of Türkiye, about 550 km (340 mi) south of Istanbul.

The town has a long and rich history, with archaeological evidence showing that inhabitants lived on Ayasuluk hill in the Bronze Age. Selcuk’s Greek name was Agios Theologos in the Byzantine period, and in Ottoman times it was called Ayasoluk. The town was then renamed Selcuk (Selçuk) in 1914, after the Seljuk Turks who ruled this area in the 12th century.

Selcuk is a popular tourist destination due to its close proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus. However, there are other significant landmarks in Selcuk such as the House Of Virgin Mary, Ayasuluk Castle, the Basilica of Saint John, and the Temple of Artemis, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Surrounded by olive groves and rolling hills, Selcuk is a lovely escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy cities of Türkiye.

How to Spend 2 Days in Selcuk, Turkey (Türkiye)

Top Saving Tip. You can easily visit all the below sites if you’re spending a minimum of 2 full days in Selcuk. However, many of them will require a separate entry fee.

To save a few pennies, we recommend purchasing a combined ticket at Ephesus for 65 EUR, which will allow you to visit Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, Ephesus Museum and the Basilica of St. John. However, if you’re staying in Türkiye for longer, then we recommend getting either the Aegean Museum Pass for 95 EUR or the Türkiye Museum Pass for 165 EUR. You can check out what’s included in the Museum Passes here.

Note that prices are prone to change so always check the official website for more up-to-date information.

1. Visit the Ancient City of Ephesus (Top Thing to Do in Selcuk)

Without doubt the No.1 attraction to visit during your 2 days in Selcuk is the ancient city of Ephesus. This is probably the main reason you’d want to visit the town, so do this on your first day.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is located about 3 km to the west of the town centre, so you can either walk there or take a taxi. There are two entrances, so you can do a circular walk if you want. If you’re staying in Selcuk, then we recommend getting to Ephesus either at opening time or later in the afternoon, to avoid the crowds as much as possible. Not to mention the midday heat if you’re there in the hotter months.

Ephesus is probably the most complete ancient city in Europe, and even though only about 20% of it is excavated, there’s plenty to see. The most popular spots within the site are the Library of Celsus, the Terrace Houses and the Great Theater. However, there are many notable temples, fountains and other monuments that you don’t want to miss either.

Entry fee and opening hours. The site is open every day between 8AM and 6:30PM. You can buy a single entry ticket to the site (40 EUR), or a combined one for 52 EUR that allows you to visit the Terrace Houses as well.

2. See What Remains of the Temple of Artemis

Another reason for staying in Selcuk for at least 2 days is to visit the Temple of Artemis, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Türkiye is actually home to another one, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which is located in Bodrum. As you probably know, of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is still standing.

The Temple of Artemis was constructed in the sixth century BC, and took about 120 years to finish. It was huge, twice the size of other Greek temples, such as the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The temple is dedicated to Artemis, who was the goddess of wild animals, hunting, the wilderness, nature, vegetation, childbirth, fertility, and chastity.

A fire destroyed the temple in the 4th century BC, apparently on the same night Alexander the Great was born. The temple was rebuilt, but was destroyed again by the Goths and had to be rebuilt a third time. At some time during the next few centuries the temple was destroyed again, and the stones were reused to build other structures. This includes the Hagia Sophia, located in Istanbul’s historic centre.

Today, you can only see the foundations and one column of what was once the greatest temple in the ancient Mediterranean. However, some of its remnants are available to see in the British Museum in London.

3. Visit Ephesus Archaeological Museum (Efes Müzesi)

Your 2 days in Selcuk wouldn’t be complete without visiting Ephesus Museum. Although the museum is small, it houses a relatively large selection of artefacts excavated from Ephesus. There are also some beautiful sculptures.

One of the highlights is the statue of Artemis, which was recovered from the Temple of Artemis. The museum also has a scale model of what the original Temple looked like during its heyday.

Entry Fee and Opening Times. The museum is open every day between 8AM and 6:30PM. Entry fee is 10 EUR, however you can use your Museum Pass or a combined ticket to Ephesus to get in.

4. Walk Around the Basilica of St John

Another site to add to your Selcuk itinerary is the ruins of the Basilica of St John.

It is believed that Saint John, aka John the Apostle or John the Gospel, spent his final years around Ephesus. St John is thought to be the author of the Gospel of John. He was buried on Ayasuluk Hill, and in the 4th century a small chapel was built over his grave.

Later, in the 6th century, Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of a Basilica on the site. He was also the emperor who ordered the erection of the Hagia Sophia, located in Istanbul’s Historic Centre.

The Basilica was built in the shape of a cross, and was covered with six domes. At the time, it was the second largest church in Anatolia (the Asian portion of Türkiye). During the Ottoman era, the chapel was used as a mosque. The basilica was badly damaged in an earthquake in the 14th century.

There’s not much remaining of the Basilica today. However, you can walk around the ruins and see the tomb of St John.

Entry Fee and Opening Times. The site is open every day between 8AM and 6:30PM. Entry fee is 6 EUR, however you can use your Museum Pass or a combined ticket to Ephesus to get in.

5. Enjoy the Views from Ayasuluk Castle (Ayasuluk Kalesi)

Sitting on top of Ayasuluk Hill, overlooking Selcuk, is Ayasuluk Castle. If you’re visiting the Basilica of St John, then make sure not to forget to walk up to the castle either. The two sites are basically connected, although you’ll have to do a bit of uphill walking to reach the castle.

The castle was built in the 6th century during the Byzantine era. However, some evidence shows that the site was used by indigenous Anatolian people before that. Later, the Ottomans added extra structures to the citadel, such as the walls you see today. There’s not much left within the walls, apart from the Byzantine church, which still looks pretty intact.

Entry Fee and Opening Times. The site is open every day between 8AM and 6:30PM. There’s no additional entry to the castle once you’ve entered the Basilica.

6. Visit Isa Bey Mosque

Sitting on the slopes of Ayasuluk Hill is Isa Bey Mosque, one of the oldest active mosques in the country. They used some of the stone from Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis to build the mosque in 1375.

What’s unique about this mosque is that it has a different layout to the typical Seljuk and Ottoman mosques. If you’re visiting the Basilica and the Castle, then you’ll get a really nice overview of the mosque from there. You can normally go inside outside of prayer times, however it’s currently undergoing restoration work.

Note. It is an active place of worship. Therefore, once it’s open again, you’ll need to dress modestly and also cover your hair if you’re a female.

7. Check Out the Remains of the Byzantine Aqueduct

Another historical landmark you can check out during your 2 days in Selcuk is the remains of the aqueduct.

The aqueduct was built to carry water to the Basilica of St John and the nearby settlements. Apparently, some of the stones from Ephesus and Artemis were reused to build the aqueduct.

8. Stop By the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers

If you decide to walk to Ephesus, then you can stop by a place called the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers. It’s not going to be the most beautiful spot you’ll visit in Selcuk. However, the site’s story is quite fascinating, and it’s mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran.

According to the tale, seven young Christian men hid inside the cave during Emperor Decius’ reign, to escape the persecution of Christians. Apparently, they fell asleep and woke up about 200 years later during the reign of Theodosius II. In the Quran, the exact number of men who slept in the cave isn’t stated. However, there is a dog mentioned, who kept watch over the men whilst they were in the cave.

9. Go Shopping in Selcuk

If you have some downtime between visiting historical sites during your 2 days in Selcuk, then definitely go for a little wander around the town.

There are plenty of shops you can nip in and out of to find some lovely handicrafts and souvenirs. Every Saturday there’s an outdoor market, where you can buy fresh produce and spices, or some handmade products. There are also plenty of shops selling handwoven carpets and kilims, leather products, and antiques.

If you have a bit of a sweet-tooth, then you won’t have any trouble finding some Turkish Delight shops in town either.

How Many Days Do You Need in Selcuk, Turkey (Türkiye)

If you’re just planning out your Türkiye itinerary, you’re probably wondering how long you should stay in Selcuk for. We recommend spending a minimum of 2 full days in Selcuk. This will allow you to spare a good chunk of one day for Ephesus, arriving before the large tour groups get there. On your next day, you can then explore more of the town and visit all the attractions we’ve listed above.

Selcuk takes almost an entire day to get to if you’re coming from popular places such as Istanbul or Antalya. Booking just two nights, with one full day between, is possible, especially if you’re only here to visit Ephesus. Some people choose to do a day trip from Pamukkale to see Ephesus, without booking a night’s stay.

However, to see Ephesus and a bit more of Selcuk in just one day will be rushing it in our opinion, and you may as well just book on a dedicated day tour.

Where to Stay in Selcuk

Selcuk is small but it offers quite a good number of accommodation options. It is very walkable, but we suggest staying somewhere close to the centre where most of the attractions are. Plus, that way you won’t need to walk too far to the bus and train stations.

We stayed in Amazon Antique, which is a renovated farm house with a leafy courtyard that also included a great breakfast. The hotel was very close to the top attractions in Selcuk. You can also check out Anz Guest House, which has a colourful interior, a rooftop terrace with lovely views of the area, and also includes breakfast. There are also many hotels with pools, such as Akanthus Hotel Ephesus, which is a great option if you’re visiting in the hotter months.

How to Get to Selcuk

There are multiple ways to reach Selcuk depending on where you’re coming from. You can get there by plane, train, bus or hire car.

Most people come from Istanbul if they’re travelling across Türkiye. Another popular place to arrive from is Pamukkale (Denizli). However, you can also get to Selcuk from Antalya or Fethiye if you’re visiting the Turkish Riviera. The closest main city to arrive to will most likely be Izmir if you’re coming from further afield. From there, you can take either a train or a bus to Selcuk.

Travelling from Istanbul to Selcuk

Selcuk is about 550 km (340 mi) south of Istanbul. The quickest way to get there is by taking a domestic flight from Istanbul Airport (IST), or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB). Selcuk is another 62km (38 mi) south of Izmir. From the airport, you can take the Izmir-Selcuk train, or a Havas shuttle bus, to Selcuk. Both take about an hour.

If you don’t want to fly, or are travelling slower, then you can always rent a car and drive from Istanbul to Selcuk. Lastly, if you don’t fancy driving that distance, then consider taking a bus from Istanbul. Long distance buses leave from Otogar, Istanbul’s main bus terminal. You can check bus operators, timetables and ticket prices on either Busbud or Flixbus. The journey takes between 8 to 9 hours.

Travelling by train to Selcuk is possible but it will be more complicated and, in the end, it would probably take longer to get there than on a direct bus.

Travelling from Pamukkale to Selcuk

Thanks to its close proximity and good transport connections, you can easily reach Selcuk from Pamukkale too.

The easiest and most comfortable way to get there is by train. First, you would need to take a minibus from Pamukkale to Denizli.

From Denizli Train Station there are quite a few daily services running between the two cities. The journey time is just under 3.5 hours. You can check out the timetable on the TCDD’s website.

You can also take a bus from Denizli Bus Station (Denizli Otogari) to Selcuk if you wish. The journey time should be similar to the trains, but if you add road traffic, then it will most likely take longer. You can use Busbud to see some bus options.

Where to Eat in Selcuk

There are plenty of eateries in Selcuk, so you won’t go hungry during your stay. If you book a place with breakfast included, then you’ll most likely be able to enjoy a Turkish style breakfast every morning. Below we’ve listed a few other places you can try out:

• Agoda Restaurant. It serves a variety of really delicious meals. We enjoyed the outdoor seating area in the evenings. Just bear in mind that a lot of tour operators use this restaurant too, so it can get busy.
• Carpouza Cafe. Located next to the Byzantine Aqueduct, it’s a nice spot to relax with a cold drink, or to grab a light lunch.
• Ejder Restaurant. It’s another great place to have dinner with a view of the Aqueduct. They serve some delicious meals.
• Ali Baba & Mehmet Kebab House. Located next to Ephesus Museum, they serve some tasty and affordable meals.

Final Thoughts on 2 Days in Selcuk Itinerary

We really enjoyed staying in Selcuk for a few days and seeing other attractions apart from Ephesus. The whole town felt pretty empty when compared to the insane crowds at Ephesus. Since it’s quite a journey to get there, we highly recommend allocating a few days to make the most of your visit.

Have you ever been to Selcuk before? If so, how many days did you spend there? Do you think 2 days is enough to see Selcuk, or could you have spent more? Would you rather stay in Selcuk, or just visit Ephesus as a day trip? Let us know in the comments below.