Ephesus Travel Forum

1. Is it easy to identify the bus or mini bus that goes to Ephesus?
2. When you leave the ship, where do you walk to to catch the local transportation?
3. How far is it?
4.How much does the local transportation cost?
5. Is it safe to walk?
6. Is there a way to get from Ephesus to St. John's Cathedral and the Virgin Mary House?
7. Is transportation back as easy as getting there?

It's been 8 years since I was there. It is approx. 17 km. from Kusadasi. Wed were told that we shouldn't pay more than $10. round trip, but we paid $10. each way and were happy with that. They started by asking $40., but considering the price the tours charge, it would still be a deal. When you get off the ship there will be a fleet of taxi's there. You must bargain with the main man and he will assign a taxi for you. The driver will be back to pick you up at a pre-determined time to pick you up. Don't pay him the whole amount until after he picks you up. On a worse case, there were a lot of taxis hanging around the exit of Ephesus. We said an hour and that was far too short, recommend at least 2 hours. p.s. (bring kitty treats)

1. Is it easy to identify the bus or mini bus that goes to Ephesus?
Every bus or minibus which is called "Dolmush" has a sign on the front window informing the passengres the destination. Isn't it also in your country?

2. When you leave the ship, where do you walk to to catch the local transportation?
You must ask that question to a local Turk. Here I write you in Turkish:
"Efes'e gitmek istiyorum. Dolmush duragi nerede? Lutfen bana yardimci olurmususnuz?"
English " I want to go to Ephesus. Where is tjhe next Dolmush station?. Plese kindly halep me."
Show the turkish sentence to the driver of Dolmush that he drops you at the enterence of the antic city.

3. How far is it?
It is 25 kms away

4.How much does the local transportation cost?
I dont know exactly but it cost Dolmush must be between 5 or 10 TL per person

5. Is it safe to walk?
It is more safer then Venice.

6. Is there a way to get from Ephesus to St. John's Cathedral and the Virgin Mary House?
St. John's Cathedral and Grave is in the town of Selcuk. It is 7 kms away from the enterence of the antic Roman city of Efes. You should take a taxi or dolmush to Selcuk. On the other hand Home of Mother Mary is on the top of a hill called Bülbül Dagi the Nigtingale Hill. You can not walk there you should hire a taxi. Please tell her my personal respects that we moslems also respect her.

7. Is transportation back as easy as getting there?
Efes is on the right side of the road while coming from Kusadasi. While returning back you should wait on the opposide side. ask the driver "Kusadasi?" ıf he says "yes" get in otherwise you will take a wrong dolmush and drive to another part of Turkey.

Have a nice time in Turkey.

Where are you planning to spend that night? You could easily spend a day at Epahesus! it beats anything you find in Italy or Greece in my opinon.
Why not spend the night in Selcuk? It is a nice enough town with lots to see! When you get off the boat their will be people their representing various hotels, youth hostles etc from Selcuk.(which is only about 2Km from Ephesus) We got a free lift to the town, accomidation for $15 a night (shared accomidation in a youth hostel) and a free ride from the accomidation to Ephesus and back again.
Getting back to Kusadasi is ver easy, the hotel/hostel may give you a lift back , or their are many public buses going between the towns each day!

local transport ıs all you need dolmus ıs a set prıce usually where ever you go