Ephesus Tickets and Admission 2026
How much is admission, are the Terrace Houses worth it, and which gate should you start at? Opening hours come from the Turkish Ministry of Culture, prices from the operator’s notices on site, last checked on 25 September 2026.
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Admission to Ephesus costs €40 and includes the new Experience Museum at the lower gate. The Terrace Houses cost €15 extra.
- Children up to 7 go free. Student and senior discounts apply to Turkish citizens only.
- Pay by card or in lira; the state ticket offices do not accept euro cash.
- If you visit several sites, the Museum Pass Aegean (7 days) or Museum Pass Türkiye (15 days) saves money: both include Ephesus and the Terrace Houses.
- Two gates: start at the upper Magnesian Gate and walk downhill through the city to the lower gate.
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Ephesus admission prices 2026
Prices for foreign visitors in euros; Turkish citizens pay considerably less in lira. Each ticket is valid for one entry.
| Ticket | Included | Price | Reduced* | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ephesus (ancient city) | The ruins from the upper to the lower gate, including the Experience Museum | €40 | 1 entry | |
| Terrace Houses (Yamaç Evler) | Seven Roman homes under the protective roof, separate entrance on Curetes Street | €15 | 1 entry | |
| Museum Pass Aegean | More than 40 sites in İzmir, Aydın, Denizli and Muğla, including Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Ephesus Museum, Basilica of St John, Pamukkale | €95 | 7 days from first use | |
| Museum Pass Türkiye | More than 300 state museums and sites across the country | €165 | 15 days from first use | |
| Ephesus Museum, Selçuk | The Artemis statues, finds from the Terrace Houses | €10 | 1 day | |
| Temple of Artemis | A single column in a field near Selçuk | free |
* Discounts apply to Turkish citizens only. Children up to 7 free. Prices for foreign visitors in euros as of April 2026 according to Ephesus Guide; they usually change at the start of the year. Opening hours according to Ministry of Culture.
Terrace Houses: worth the extra €15?
- Yes, if you want to see how the rich of Ephesus lived. Under a protective roof lie seven homes with mosaics, wall paintings, marble cladding and underfloor heating, visited on glass walkways.
- The entrance is right on Curetes Street, opposite the Temple of Hadrian. Allow 45 minutes. Many group tours skip the Terrace Houses; the ticket or offer states whether they are included.
- The Museum Pass Aegean and the Museum Pass Türkiye include the Terrace Houses.
Ephesus opening hours
| Period | Opens | Ticket office closes |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (April to October) | 8:00 | about 18:45 (ticket office) |
| Winter (November to March) | 8:30 | about 17:30 |
The Ministry lists 8:00 to 18:45 (ticket office closing) for the site; sources differ by half an hour, and the site closes earlier in winter. Open daily, including holidays. On afternoons with cruise ships in Kuşadası it is busiest between 10 am and 2 pm.
Buying tickets: official or through a provider?
Just the ticket? Buy it at the ticket office at the gate or officially online at muze.gov.tr, the platform of the Turkish Ministry of Culture (which also sells the Museum Passes). Queues form mainly when cruise groups arrive; an online ticket saves time then.
With a guide or transfer? Then a package makes sense. Providers such as GetYourGuide bundle pick-up in Kuşadası, Selçuk or İzmir, admission and guide, often with the Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary. Ephesus is large and largely unlabelled; a good guide turns columns into a city.
Note: The state ticket offices take cards or Turkish lira, not euro cash. Guides offering their services at the gate are not always licensed; book tours in advance or ask for the licence.
Free admission and discounts
- Children up to 7: free, with ID or passport.
- Students, seniors: discounts apply to Turkish citizens only; foreign visitors pay the full price.
- Museum Pass: If you also visit the Terrace Houses, the Ephesus Museum or Pamukkale, the Museum Pass Aegean (€95, 7 days) is almost always cheaper.
- Night museum: On selected evenings (Wednesday to Saturday) Ephesus opens at night for Museum Pass holders; dates on the Ministry’s website.
Ephesus with a guide
Ephesus is two kilometres long and almost nothing is labelled. A guided tour of three to four hours puts Curetes Street, the library and the theatre in order and explains why the sea has disappeared. Tours run from Kuşadası, Selçuk and İzmir in several languages; choose the language when booking.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Prices, languages and availability change; the provider’s listing prevails. Selection checked on 25 September 2026.
Getting there: from Selçuk, Kuşadası or İzmir
Ephesus lies three kilometres outside Selçuk. Minibuses (dolmuş) run from the bus station to the lower gate; on foot it is 40 minutes along a gravel path, and a taxi costs a few euros. Selçuk has a station on the İzmir–Denizli line: from Basmane station in İzmir the journey takes about an hour and a half, and İzmir airport is on the same line.
From the cruise port of Kuşadası it is 20 kilometres, about 25 minutes by taxi or tour. Minibuses go as far as the junction on the main road; from there it is a 15-minute walk to the lower gate. By car: paid car parks at both gates.
The two gates
- Upper gate (Magnesian Gate)
- In the south-east on the road to the House of the Virgin Mary. The better start: from here you walk downhill through the whole city.
- Lower gate
- In the north-west by the theatre and the Experience Museum, closer to Selçuk. Start here and you walk uphill.
Both gates, 16 highlights and three routes are on our Ephesus map. How the Library of Celsus became a ruin and was re-erected is told in our history of Ephesus.
Around Ephesus: museum, Temple of Artemis, House of the Virgin Mary
The Ephesus Museum in Selçuk shows the two statues of Artemis of Ephesus, frescoes and finds from the Terrace Houses; €10, included in the Museum Pass. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, is free to visit on the edge of Selçuk: a single re-erected column in a field. The House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) on the mountain above the city costs about 700 lira, card only; it does not belong to the Ministry and is not in any pass.
The Basilica of St John in Selçuk (€6), with the tomb of the evangelist, lies below the castle; from there you look out over the Temple of Artemis and the plain where the sea once was.
Tips for your visit
- Early or late: At 8 am or after 3 pm the city is almost empty; the cruise groups come between 10 am and 2 pm.
- Walk downhill: Start at the top, finish at the bottom, taxi back to the car. It saves 100 metres of climbing.
- Little shade: Marble reflects the sun. Hat, water and sturdy shoes; the Marble Street is slippery.
- Plan for the Terrace Houses: 45 minutes and €15 extra, for the best look at Roman living.
- Museum in Selçuk: The Artemis statues from the Prytaneion are not in Ephesus but in the museum in town (€10).
Frequently asked questions about Ephesus tickets
How much is the Ephesus entrance fee?
€40 for foreign visitors, including the Experience Museum at the lower gate (as of 2026). The Terrace Houses cost €15 extra. Children up to 7 go free; other discounts apply to Turkish citizens only.
Where can I buy Ephesus tickets?
At the ticket offices at the upper and lower gates, by card or in Turkish lira, or online at muze.gov.tr, the platform of the Turkish Ministry of Culture, which also sells the Museum Pass. Providers such as GetYourGuide offer tours with admission and transfer.
Is the Museum Pass worth it for Ephesus?
Not for Ephesus alone. If you also visit the Terrace Houses (€15), the Ephesus Museum (€10) or Pamukkale, the Museum Pass Aegean at €95 (7 days) saves money. The Museum Pass Türkiye at €165 is valid for 15 days across the country.
How long do you need for Ephesus?
Two to three hours for the highlights from the upper to the lower gate. Half a day with the Terrace Houses and the Experience Museum, a full day with the museum in Selçuk and the Temple of Artemis.
Can you visit Ephesus on your own?
Yes. With a ticket you move freely; start at the top and walk downhill. Little is labelled, so our map with 16 highlights and three routes helps. A taxi from the lower gate back to your car at the upper gate costs a few euros.
Which gate is the better start?
The upper gate (Magnesian Gate). From there the path runs downhill through the whole city to the library and the theatre. Tours from Kuşadası port usually drop you at the top.
How do I get from Kusadasi to Ephesus?
By taxi or tour in about 25 minutes (20 kilometres). Minibuses go as far as the junction on the main road; from there it is a 15-minute walk to the lower gate.
How do I get from Izmir to Ephesus?
By train from Basmane station to Selçuk, about an hour and a half; the airport is on the same line. From Selçuk by minibus or taxi three kilometres to the gate.
When is the best time to visit Ephesus?
Spring and autumn. In summer the marble heats to over 35 degrees, and the cruise groups arrive at midday. Early at 8 am or after 3 pm the city is emptiest.
Sources and status
Text: Daniela Pieper, Back in Time Travel editorial team. Opening hours, prices and rules checked on 25 September 2026. Details may change, usually at the start of the year; the operator’s information prevails.
Image credit
The Library of Celsus. Photo: Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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