Located near Ephesus, south of the city of İzmir, and on the edge of Selçuk, The Temple of Artemis is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the first marble temple in the ancient world. This temple is located 50 km from Izmir, Turkey.
Stories About the Temple of Artemis
Like other temples of Artemis, this building faced west and was designed and built in the sixth century BC. Its initial construction was at the expense of Croesus, the wealthy king of Lydia. This temple was a revered place, and an unknown perpetrator set it on fire in 356 BC on the night that Alexander the Great was born.
Alexander later paid for the reconstruction of the temple, but the officers refused to accept the aid. Finally, after the death of Alexander in 323 AD, the citizens rebuilt the temple. In 262 AD, the building was destroyed and rebuilt by the Ephesians. Finally, in 401 AD, under the leadership of St. John Chrysostom, they destroyed it and used the stones to build other buildings.
One of these buildings is the Hagia Sophia, located 724 km north of Ephesus in present-day Istanbul. Some historians claim that Some of the green pillars in Hagia Sophia originally belong to the Temple of Artemis.
Other Attractions Near the Temple of Artemis
one of the best things about Turkey is that whenever you leave a place, there are many other options around you to see and dive into the culture and the history of that part of the country. The Temple of Artemis is another place in Turkey that you will find many other landmarks around it to have a back-to-back visit.
The Basilica of St. John
The Basilica of St. John is a church in Ephesus that Justinian I, Roman emperor in the sixth century, built. This building is on the burial place of John, who was one of the apostles. The church is on the slopes of Ayasuluk Hill just below the castle near Selcuk city center in Izmir Province, Turkey, about 3.5 km from Ephesus, and a perfect spot to drop by after you have visited the Temple of Artemis. From April to October, visiting hours are from 8 am to 6:30 pm and from November to March from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The average ticket price is About 3 Euros.
Ephesus City
Built as a port, Ephesus was the most important trading center. In addition, this place played an important role in ancient times due to its strategic location. Ephesus is in a fertile valley near the temple of Artemis; it was once the center of trade in the ancient world, a religious center from the beginning of the Christian era.
Today, it is an important tourist center in Turkey. The ancient city of Ephesus is 3 km from Seljuk, a small town 30 km from Kusadasi. From April to October, visiting hours are every day, from 8 am to 7:30 pm, and from November to April from 8 am to 5 pm. The average ticket price is about 9 Euros.
Shirinje Village
Shirinje village is a village with a population of 600 people in the Turkish province of Izmir, which is about 8 km east of Seljuk. The Ephesus inhabitants settled in Shirinje when they left in the 15th century, but the village we see today dates back to the 19th century. According to the stories, the freed Greek slaves settled in this village and named it Chirkinje, which means ugly, to prevent them from being pursued. The governor of Izmir province, in 1926, changed its name to Shirinjeh, meaning beautiful. Today this village is a tourist hotspot for those visiting Turkey and the Temple of Artemis.
Isa Bey Mosque
Isa Bey Mosque, called Isa Bey Jami in Turkish, was built from 1995 to 1996. This mosque is one of the oldest and most influential architectural art left from the Turkmen tribal monarchies in Asia Minor. The mosque is in the foothills of the Ayaslu Mountains in Seljuk, Izmir, and a Shamli architect, Dimos Koldo Ali, built the building on the orders of Aydin Oglu Issa Bey. The travelers also used it as an inn in the 19th century. You can visit Isa Bey Mosque Every day from April to October from 8 am to 7 pm and from November to March from 8:30 am to 6 pm, and the price rate for visiting this mosque is free.
Virgin Mary’s House
When visiting the Temple of Artemis, seeing the Virgin Mary’s house is a must, and it is located on top of Mount Bull, 9 km from Ephesus. Historians believe that this is where the Blessed Virgin Mary spent the last days of her life. Virgin Mary’s house is an example of a type of Roman architecture made entirely of stone. In the fourth century AD, a church was built to combine her house and tomb.
Both main houses consist of a waiting room, which today is where visitors can light candles, a bedroom and a prayer room, the space of a Christian church, and a room with a fireplace, a prayer hall for Muslims. The front kitchen was destroyed and rebuilt in 1940. Today, only the central part and a room on the right side of the altar are open to the public.
This place is more like a church than a house. Another interesting place is a saltwater source outside the churchyard that is said to have healing properties, and everyone can drink this water. You can visit this location every day from April to October from 8 am to 7 pm and from November to March from 8:30 am to 6 pm, and the average ticket price is about 7 Euros.
Where to Stay?
Visitors love Turkey for millions of reasons. one of the reasons is that you can always find your favorite place to stay. There are various types of accommodation in Turkey and that’s why you will be satisfied anyway. Let’s see some of them near the Temple of Artemis.
Aqua Fantasy Aquapark Hotel & Spa
Aqua Fantasy Aqua Park is the number one water park in Turkey, designed and built by NBGS, a well-known water park equipment manufacturer in Texas, USA. The capacity of this park is 5,000 people daily. There are many slides in the three main towers with a pool and a children’s pool. The children’s pool with a water height of up to 30 cm is in the shape of a life-size pirate ship and a submarine so that your children can have fun in this place safely.
While enjoying delicious food and drinks during your stay, you will also be entertained by entertaining shows. The service of this hotel is all-inclusive, which provides breakfast, lunch, dinner, local Turkish drinks, and dinner for free. The hotel is 8 km from Ephesus and Kusadasi and tourist sites such as The Temple of Artemis and 69.2 km from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.
Free parking is another feature of this hotel. The two main restaurants of this hotel have a capacity of 1000 people. In these restaurants, you can pay for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at any time. These restaurants come with a selection of menus, including traditional Turkish cuisine, excellent Asian cuisine, Italian specialties, crispy steaks, and fresh seafood at an additional cost.
Ladies Beach Residence Hotel
Located in the middle of the beach, the Ladies Beach Residence Hotel opened its doors in 2014 to guests looking for the comfort of their own home with the luxuries of a 5-star hotel. With more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, the management team of this hotel brings a new approach to a great stay away from home.
The hotel is a 15-minute walk from the center of Kusadasi along the coastal road. There is a lovely resort, offering various bars, cafes, and restaurants, offering various food and drinks. The hotel is 84 km from Izmir Airport, 20 km from Ephesus and 24 km from Virgin Mary’s House, and 30 km from The Temple of Artemis.
Le Bleu Hotel & Resort
Le Bleu Hotel & Resort is an all-inclusive hotel (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and local drinks are included in room service), located on the coast of Kusadasi, has easy access to the sea and a port resort. This hotel is a very romantic place for couples offering the necessary facilities to spend holidays with entertainment.
For young couples, it is also a lovely place to spend their honeymoon. All the rooms of this hotel have tasteful decor. All rooms have air conditioning, a small fridge with water bottles, and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Guests can relax in sun loungers by the sea. A variety of massages are available at the spa. The hotel is 3 km from many famous restaurants, shops, and nightclubs and 70 km from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.
Grand Belish Hotel
Grand Belish Hotel in Turkey, near the Aegean Sea coast, is one of the most popular beaches in the Aegean, and it is built on an area of 14,500 square meters and opened in the summer of 2010. All rooms at this beachfront hotel have sea views. It also has a multi-purpose meeting room, a spa center, an ala carte restaurant, and other restaurants serving various delicious international cuisine in the setting sun. In this hotel, unlimited entertainment and activities and high-quality services will make your vacation an unforgettable experience. The hotel is 100 km from Adnan Menderes Airport and 12 km from the center of Kusadasi.
Where to Dine Near The Temple of Artemis?
The culinary culture of Turkey is one of a kind in the world. What attracts tourists to Istanbul and Izmir is the food culture of the Turkish people. Various types of food and drinks with many ways of cooking make Turkey true heaven for food lovers. Let’s see some of the best places near the Temple of Artemis.
Mate Pub Cafe
Mate Pub Cafe in Turkey, Kusadasi District serves various South American, Brazilian, Mexican, and Pacific dishes served to eager guests. In addition, they offer various fish, flavored with tropical fruits, among the unique dishes of this cafe. The staff is friendly and helpful, and it is close to multiple tourist attractions in and around the city.
La Promenade Restaurant
La Promenade Restaurant offers a variety of dishes that are prepared naturally and with organic ingredients. They provide a varied vegetarian diet and serve meat and fish and dishes cooked and served according to guests’ tastes, all part of La Promenade Restaurant hospitality etiquette. Other services at the restaurant include Mediterranean cuisine, international cuisine, and grilled food.
Kabuba Restaurant
Kabuba Restaurant is famous for its Turkish kebab, which is one of the dishes in the culture of this country, and it contains meats that are all grilled. Every part of Turkey prepares this kebab in its own style and with the addition of special spices. Therefore, Guests of Kabuba Restaurant can enjoy the most delicious Turkish kebabs along with a panoramic view. In addition, they Serve Orfa Kebab, Pistachio Kebab, and Adana Kebab, some of the popular Turkish grilled dishes in this restaurant.
Shorba Restaurant, which translates to The soup restaurant near Kusadasi, Turkey, with wonderful service and helpful staff, has a selection of dishes from the best kitchens worldwide for its guests. Guests of the restaurant can order various dishes such as Mediterranean cuisine, Middle Eastern cuisine, Turkish cuisine, and other international cuisines.
Some Tips While in Ephesus
In Kusadasi, there is no heavy traffic, so if you want to use a taxi you have to pay a hefty fee of at least 20 Euros, instead it is recommended to use vans called Dolmush. The maximum capacity is 15 people, and each of them follows a specific path. You can also use these vans for short distances up to 24 hours.
Since it is better to know the necessary telephone numbers on each trip, the essential telephones in Kusadasi are 112 for ambulances, 155 for police, and 110 for fire brigades. When you go for a walk around Kusadasi, the most important things to bring with you are drinking water, sunscreen, a hat, a camera, and a city map for when you go sightseeing in places like The Temple of Artemis or the house of virgin Mary. And do not forget to bring your hotel phone number with you as a precaution.
