Ephesus Travel Forum

HI:

We are a group of 4 adults we are taking a cruise and we will be in izmir in october, we donīt want a tour, but we need advice in which bus taxi or minbus we have to take to arrive to Ephesus and were do we have to take it? is it a long way ? more than 1 hour?

thank you!

Maria

Hi there, it is approximately 45 mins - 1hour from Izmir to Ephesus dependent on traffic in Izmir. All taxi firms will quote you for a trip from Izmir to Ephesus. Do not book any trip with the ship as they will charge you huge amounts and any tour is likely to be inadequate, it is much cheaper to do this yourself and Ephesus is only 20 YTL entry fee. Enjoy Ephesus - it is a magnificent experience!

As far as I know there is no direct bus from Izmir to Ephesus, you have to go first to Selcuk (1 - 1 1/2 hours) (or Kusadasi) and change there, total journey time 2 1/2 to 3 hours. This could leave you with not much time to visit Ephesus before you have to return before your ship sails.
So first you have to get yourself from the ship to the bus station (otogar) then look for the faster option to Selcuk which is the 1h coach run by various operators (dolmus-minibuses take longer but run more frequently, every 20 minutes); then at Selcuk you have to change to a dolmus or possibly take a taxi.
If you don't want to take the tour organised by the cruise people, you might have to book a private tour, see http://www.ephesustours.biz/ephesustours/ephesustours_from_izmir.htm

Selcuk is the town very near to the antic city of Ephesus only 7-8 kms.
Izmir- Selcuk is 80 kms.

I advice you to take the ships tour although it is very expencive. I paid last year a Pireaus to Athens tour 80 EU. If you want solo travelling you might get lost. You might not find the main Izmir Bus terminal. Izmir is a huge city. More to say the 8o km distance is long. Every thing may happen on the road. Please be with other pasengers. There is a Turkish proverp "If a sheeps runs away from the herd a wolf may eat it."

Consider renting a car. Day rental for a 1200cc is about 40E. It is not be difficult to drive there and you will enjoy Ephesus and the nearby area on your own pace.