OTR in Turkey - Day Four- Ephesus

Ephesus is normally very crowded, especially starting from late morning, when tour buses flood it with people. The best strategy is to enter when the site opens, at 8 (based on our experience, with the Museum Pass it is possible to enter even earlier, since there is no need to wait for the ticket booth to open), in order to avoid the crowds as much as possible.

Therefore we postponed the visit to the ancient city to the following day and we spent the rest of the afternoon in Sirince (see specific post).

The following morning at 8 am we were at the Lower Entrance Gate (also known as the “North Entrance” 37.9434659138961, 27.34146430726145), ready to start our exploration.

In Ephesus there are actually to entrances: the Upper Entrance Gate (also known as the “South Entrance” 37.93561208539849, 27.345445016309636) and the Lower Entrance Gate. There are basically two reasons to enter from this last one: 

• touristic buses download the people at the Upper Entrance and then wait for them at the Lower Entrance. In this way groups will start their visit from the top and they will not have to climb to visit the different attractions. As a consequence this means less people crowding the Lower Entrance
• The Library of Celsus and the Terrace Houses are closer to the Lower Entrance, just about ten minutes walk.

In this way it was possible to have these two main attractions almost for the two of us (actually not only for the two of us, but there were only about 5-6 other people, giving us plenty of possibilities of taking pictures without having to fight off the crowds of other tourists).

Library of Celsus at 8,20 am

Just a few steps away from the Library, the Terrace Houses are an unmissable attraction in Ephesus (a dedicated entrance ticket is needed, included in the Museum Pass). These houses were luxurious residential buildings that belonged to the wealthy elite of Ephesus during the Roman period, particularly between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century.

 The houses were built in a stepped, terrace-like fashion, hence the name "Terrace Houses." This multi-level design maximized the use of the hilly terrain and provided stunning views of the city. They typically had multiple stories, with living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, kitchens, and private baths. Central courtyards, often featuring fountains or small gardens, were surrounded by colonnades and served as the focal point of each home. The interiors of the Terrace Houses are particularly famous for their exquisite mosaics and frescoes. The floors were often adorned with intricate mosaic patterns depicting scenes from mythology, nature, or geometric designs. The walls were covered with vibrant frescoes, some of which depict mythological figures, landscapes, and everyday life, offering insight into the cultural and artistic tastes of the period.

Even in this case we had the luxury of being practically alone, thus being able to better enjoy this attraction.

After one last look to the Library, which at 9,30 am started getting crowded, we started the exploration of the rest of the ancient city.

Library of Celsus at 9,30 am

Following the main road we first encountered the public Latrine. 

Located near the Library, these latrines were part of a larger bath complex and served as a communal restroom for the citizens of Ephesus. The public latrines were built in the 1st century CE and feature a large rectangular room with marble benches lining the walls on three sides. These benches had circular holes cut into them, which served as the toilet seats. Beneath the seats ran a sophisticated drainage system, including a channel of flowing water that carried away waste into the city’s sewer system. A second channel of clean water ran in front of the benches for users to cleanse themselves.

The public latrines were not just functional spaces but also social hubs where people gathered, conversed, and conducted business. The seating arrangement encouraged conversation and interaction among users, making the latrines a place of socializing as well as sanitation.

Next stop was the small Temple of Hadrian (we were there at about 10 and the city was already pretty crowded), lots of people were arriving from the Upper Gate.

The Nike Relief, located along the Curetes Street

Ephesus is open everyday. The official opening time is 8 am, but based on our experience, if you own the Museum Pass and so you do not have to buy the ticket, it is possible to enter even earlier.

The entrance cost is 40 euros. The Terrace Houses require a separate entry ticket which costs 15 euros (both included in the Museum Pass).