Turkey
Selçuk
Small Aegean town next to Ephesus. Stay 2 days. We have mapped 7 sights, 1 place to eat and 1 bar or café here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- January
7 See · 1 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop
Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus
from our route notes
39°C / 102°F avg high
12°C / 54°F avg high
about 135 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Selçuk
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
7 sights worth building a day around across Ephesus, Center and Ayasuluk. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Huseyin Moldibi · GoogleSeeEphesus Ancient City
Roman port city with the Library of Celsus and a 25,000-seat theater.
Tip Enter at the upper gate and walk downhill; go at opening.
Photo: Ahmt Atc · GoogleSeeTerrace Houses
Roofed Roman villas with mosaics and wall paintings inside Ephesus.
Tip Separate ticket bought at the entrance to the houses.
Photo: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Umit Ozbay · GoogleSeeBasilica of St. John
Ruins of Justinian's basilica over the traditional tomb of John the Apostle.
Tip Climb to the citadel for views.
Photo: Erik Cleves Kristensen · CC BY 2.0SeeHouse of the Virgin Mary
Small stone chapel on Mount Koressos, a pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims.
Photo: autor fotografie Zee Prime Original uploader was Zee Prime at cs.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeTemple of Artemis
Site of an ancient Wonder of the World, now one re-erected column in a marsh.
Tip Brief stop; storks often nest on the column.
Photo: Cheyrek · CC BY-SA 3.0
Eat
Where we would book a table in Selçuk in Center.
Photo: Валерий Бо · Google
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Selçuk in Şirince.
Photo: Şirince Artemis Restaurant ve Şarap evi · GoogleDrinkŞirince Artemis Restaurant & Wine House
Largest wine house in Şirince, in an old school with a terrace over the valley.
Tip Taste the local fruit wines.
Shop
Markets and shops worth the detour in Center.
Photo: Kensuke Miyoshi · GoogleShopSelçuk Saturday Market
Large weekly market of Aegean produce, olives and cheeses.
Tip Held Saturdays; arrive by mid-morning.
How to fit Selçuk into a trip
Selçuk is stop 3 of 3 on our Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route. Follow it as-is or lift Selçuk into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 3
Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus
Mosques, fairy chimneys and Roman ruins
- Trip length
- 9 days
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Göreme
Getting here and onward
- Göreme to SelçukGöreme is about 655 km / 407 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Selçuk month by month
Average daily highs run from 12°C / 54°F in January to 39°C / 102°F in July. January is the wettest month, with about 135 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan12° / 54°F average high
- Feb14° / 57°F average high
- Mar17° / 63°F average high
- Apr22° / 71°F average high, in our recommended season
- May28° / 82°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun34° / 93°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul39° / 102°F average high
- Aug39° / 102°F average high
- Sep33° / 92°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct26° / 79°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov20° / 67°F average high
- Dec14° / 57°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Selçuk weather and the best time to visit →
Near Selçuk
5 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.
Selçuk questions, answered
How many days do you need in Selçuk?
Our route notes suggest 2 days in Selçuk. On our Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 9-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Selçuk best known for?
Small Aegean town next to Ephesus. Stay 2 days. Standouts on our list: Ephesus Ancient City (Roman port city with the Library of Celsus and a 25,000-seat theater); Terrace Houses (Roofed Roman villas with mosaics and wall paintings inside Ephesus); Ephesus Museum (Finds from Ephesus, including two statues of Artemis).
When is the best time to visit Selçuk?
Our Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route is best Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (39°C / 102°F), the coolest in January (12°C / 54°F) and the most rain in January (about 135 mm).
What are the best things to do in Selçuk?
Start with Ephesus Ancient City, Terrace Houses, Ephesus Museum, Basilica of St. John and House of the Virgin Mary. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 7 sights, 1 place to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.
What is near Selçuk?
The closest destinations in our guides are Mykonos (about 188 km / 117 mi), Naxos (about 199 km / 124 mi) and Santorini (about 242 km / 150 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Selçuk with your crew
Open the Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Selçuk
More in Turkey
- Göreme 10 places