The Ancient City of Ephesus (Selçuk)
Table of Contents
- Beds
Where To Stay
Ephesus Hostel is a family owned and operated hostel. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating to all of my needs. I even was offered Tea when I got back from a long day of touring the city of Ephesus. Drinking tea with one of the workers gave me insight into what it was like to be a Turkish citizen. The hostel also offers a variety of amenities, laundry facilities, and a common area where you can meet other travelers. the hostel was brand new, clean, and the beds had curtains. I had a great experience staying at the Ephesus Hostel.
Ephesus Hostel
Beds
The rooms were clean and comfortable and the wifi was not reliable at all, but apparently that is a thing city wide. All beds in the dorm rooms have a plug outlet for you to charge your devices at night. Turkey operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets /points. Along with a reading light, placed right by the pillow.
Ephesus Hostel Beds
Transportation Istanbul - Selçuk (Ephesus) 8 Hours
I decided to travel Turkey by bus, since it was the cheapest option. For this trip I rode on Pamukkale Bus Company. The Journey started from Istanbul Otogar - Main bus Terminal, this bus terminal has restaurants, and places to buy snacks for your long journey. I recommend you get to the bus terminal 1 hour before if this is your first time traveling in Turkey.
For booking all busses in Turkey I used:
For the 8 Hour journey, we had a bus attendant that offered ice cream, snacks, Pepsi, and tea. Typically for long bus journeys like these, the bus driver will stop at a restaurant/ Bus stop halfway through the trip. They will get off and start eating, this is your time to get out and start eating too. I didn't know this and I sat on the hot bus in the middle of summer and didn't know what was going on.
Place to Eat and Get Snacks
Bus Company Pamukkale
Day 1
I went to the City of Ephesus an ancient Greek city located in present-day Selçuk, Turkey. Founded by Greek settlers from the Ionian city-state of Miletus in around 1000 BC.
I recommend starting with the Ancient Greek Theatre first since it is closes to the entrance. The theatre is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek theaters in the world, having a capacity of 25,000 people. It was built around the 3rd century BC and used for public meetings, theatrical performances, and religious ceremonies.
Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre
Library of Celsus
Immediately after leaving the Theatre I headed to The Library of Celsus in Ephesus since I had seen so many beautiful photos of the library. The Library is a Roman-era library built in honor of the Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus in the ancient city of Ephesus. It was built in honor of Celsus' father, who was a wealthy Greek man from the city of Sardis. The library was built in the 2nd century AD, and is the only surviving example of a Roman-style library in the world. It was used to store 12,000 scrolls and served as a place of learning for the citizens of Ephesus. Scholars have said that this is where the modern book was created.
The Library of Celsus
Terrace House at Ephesus
The last major thing I saw was the House of Terrace. These multi-story homes were built in the 5th century BC, and many remain intact today. The terrace houses feature a central courtyard and three or four stories, with a kitchen, living area and bedrooms on each floor. The houses are decorated with frescoes, mosaics, and marble sculptures depicting scenes from everyday life. The terrace houses offer a unique insight into the everyday lives of the people who lived in Ephesus thousands of years ago. This will cost extra, but I think it is worth the price.
Notice How the Walls Have Mosaics on them
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