Top rated vacation points of interest in Ephesus? Pamukkale is 3 hours drive from Kusadasi town. Right by the natural wonders the ancient city of Hierapoolis was founded. Today a unesco heritage site. Its natural beauty and historical background attracts many travellers. Pamukkale means cotton castle. There are two reasons why the area is name as cotton castle. One reason the white cliffs look like a castle made of white cotton, the other reason is that the area houses lots of cotton processing factories. ​Natural thermal springs which has high density of chalk inside formed glacier looking terraces on the areas where flowed for thousands of years. It is a unique site. Ancient Hierapolis was founded by Pergamum Kingdom. Due to the existence of thermal waters which healed people. Thousands of patients came to the area to get cured. The ones who were not able to be cured died and buried in the area. Today the site has the largest ancient necropolis. The number of thumbs like sarcaphaguses excavated is over 1600. The total number is expected to be over 3000. St. Philip the apostle lived in the city and martyred during the persecution time to the christians. This is a must see site for travellers. Read extra info on Ephesus tours from Kusadasi port.

This citadel-like basilica once occupied the whole breadth of the hill it sits on and was ranked with the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now the Aya Sofya) as one of the Byzantine Empire’s largest churches. According to tradition, the grave of St. John is under the church. Originally, a mausoleum with a domed roof borne on four columns was built over the grave, but the Emperor Justinian replaced this simple monument with a three-aisled basilica on a Latin-cross plan boasting six domed roofs. Including the narthex at the western end and the arcaded courtyard, the basilica was 130 meters long and 40 meters wide. After the Seljuks captured Ephesus in 1130, the church was converted into a mosque and later served as a bazaar until it was finally destroyed by an earthquake. Although only partially restored, the basilica ruins that remain give a good idea of the awesome size of the original building.

Running through the center of Selçuk are the remaining broken arches of this Byzantine aqueduct, which is more of a tourist attraction these days due to the huge stork nests that top some of the arches. If you arrive in town in spring or early summer, you’ll likely be able to spot storks sitting regally in the nests. The best chunk of aqueduct remains is found on Inönü Caddesi, right in the town center just across from the train station. There’s another section on St. Jean Caddesi, leading up to the Basilica of St. John. After dark, the aqueduct remnants are lit up and make a great subject for some night shots of town.

Endless struggles between humans and gods were depicted. The roles were performed by wearing masks with different expressions instead of facial expressions. Over time, these performances took shape and formed the contemporary theater of today. Here comes the story of the laughing and crying masks of the theatre. The entrance fee to the Ephesus Ancient City also includes the theatre, the same goes for visiting hours. The temple was built by P. Quintilius in honor of the visit of the emperor Hadrianus and is estimated to have been finished before 138. The inscribed pedestals in front of the temple were built between 293-305 AC. On the door lintel in front of it, the foundation legend of Ephesus City is displayed with reliefs. Bronze statues of the Roman Emperors Diocletian, Constantius, Maximian and I. Theodosius were erected in 300 AC. There is a statue of Emperor Hadrian in the cella.

Our professional tour guide will be waiting for you with a board your name written on, you will take your private vehicle (Brand-New VIP Mercedes) from your Hotel, Izmir or Kusadasi Cruise port and drive to Ephesus Ancient City. Also visit other highlight according to your preferences. Your guide will skip the line to buy tickets at the entrances of sites. Tour totally be planned according to your preferences and after tour you will be dropped port or anywhere you like to be dropped. Discover many more details at Ephesus tours.

The parts of the aqueducts starting from the east of the Saint John Pursuit Gate within the district, especially around the station, have managed to remain intact. Byzantine aqueducts passing through the district continue northward through the Şirince Strait. These arches supply the drinking water supplied from the water sources in the east of Pranga locality between Belevi and Selçuk, the Byzantine Period settlement in Selçuk Ayasuluk Hill and St. It was used to deliver it to the St. Jean Church. You can see reused marble blocks brought from Ephesus and Artemision at the feet of these arches, which reach a height of 15 meters around the station. Among these, Ionic capitals from the Archaic period are standing out.