Selçuk, Turkey
Selçuk is a town of 29,101 people in İzmir Province, Turkey, founded in September 1, 1957.
Why visit Selçuk
Townapedia lists 146 museums and landmarks, 22 parks and trails, 192 places to eat, 85 places to stay and 11 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Bouleuterion (Ephesus), Ladies Beach, Basilica of St. John and Belevi Mausoleum.
Weather in Selçuk
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Selçuk
Selçuk is a municipality and district of İzmir Province, Turkey. Its area is 317 km2, and its population is 38,151 (2022). The town Selçuk is located 2 kilometres (1 mile) northeast of the ancient city of Ephesus, that was once home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
From the Wikipedia article Selçuk (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Selçuk on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do11
Bouleuterion (Ephesus)
Cinema and theater · 2.6 km
Building located beyond Basilica Stoa used for assemblies and performances in Ephesus
Museums and landmarks146
Basilica of St. John
Monument and historic site
Church building located on the Ayasoluk by Ephesus
Belevi Mausoleum
Monument and historic site · 11.5 km
Hellenistic tomb in Turkey
Church of Mary
Monument and historic site · 2.7 km
Very large church complex and adjoining buildings in Ephesus
Ephesus
Monument and historic site · 2.6 km
Ancient Greek city in Anatolia
Ephesus Archaeological Museum
Museum
Museum in Selçuk District
Mo-Su 08:00-18:00
Library of Celsus
Monument and historic site · 2.8 km
Library constructed over the burial of the Roman senator Ti. Iulius Celsus Polemaeanus in Ephesus
Ayasuluk Hill
Monument and historic site
Ancient mound and part of Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site
Bonitai
Monument and historic site · 13.1 km
Ancient city of Lydia in modern-day Turkey
Çamlık Railway Museum
Museum · 7.4 km
Railway museum in Izmir Province, Turkey
Claros
Monument and historic site · 16.5 km
Ancient Greek sanctuary on Ionian coast
Çukuriçi Höyük
Monument and historic site · 2.6 km
Tell in Selçuk, Izmir, Turkey
İsa Bey Mosque
Monument and historic site
Mosque in İzmir, western Turkey
134 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds22
10 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes192
Nasırettin Hoca Uygur Mutfağı
Restaurant · Uyghur · 13.0 km
2A 303 sk
Mo-Su 10:00-23:00
Cafe Turko
Cafe · Regional · 5.4 km
4 Meryemana Mevkii Küme Evleri
Mezgit Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood · 12.9 km
104 Atatürk Bulvarı, aydın
Nihavend Meyhane
Restaurant · Turkish · 12.5 km
6 Hülya Koçyiğit, aydın
180 more on the map.
History
Its previous Greek name, Agios Theologos (Άγιος Θεολόγος), referred to John the Apostle, because emperor Justinian I had erected there the basilica in honour of the Saint. Ayasoluk is a corrupted form of the original name. In the 14th century, it was the capital of the Beylik of Aydin, and was visited by Ibn Battuta. He noted that "the congregational mosque in this city is one of the most magnificent mosques in the world and unequaled in beauty". Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Ayasoluk. In 1914, it was renamed Selçuk after the Seljuks, who first led incursions into the region in the 11th century.
It was a township in the Kuşadası district until 1957, when it became a district. Its neighbouring districts are Torbalı from the north, Tire from the northeast, Germencik from the east, Kuşadası from the south, and Menderes from the northwest.
In 1921, after the capture of the village by the Greek forces, the village had a total population of 600, ethnographically consisting of 580 Greeks, 10 Turks and 10 Armenians.
The old quarter of Selçuk retains much traditional Turkish culture. Ayasuluk Hill dominates the surrounding area, with several historical buildings on its slopes, including the İsa Bey Mosque built by the Aydinids in 1375, and the Grand Fortress. The hill itself is part of Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From the History section of Selçuk on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay85
Churches and places of worship20
Shopping32
Gas and EV charging14
SHARZ Karahanlar Opet
EV charging · 0.9 km
Atatürk Mh., Atatürk Cd. 50-56, 35920 Selçuk/İzmir, SELÇUK
Schools, colleges and libraries22
Kuşadası Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi
School · 13.9 km
0 256 612 49 81 İnönü Bulv., Kuşadası
Healthcare35
Map of Selçuk
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Selçuk-Efes Havaalanı (IZM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 km away.
- Kuşadası 14 km southwest, about 14 min by car
- Söke 23 km south, about 23 min by car
- Torbalı 26 km north, about 26 min by car
- İncirliova 33 km east, about 33 min by car
- Tire 36 km northeast, about 36 min by car
- Aydın 43 km east, about 43 min by car
- Karabağlar 52 km northwest, about 52 min by car
- İzmir 55 km north, about 55 min by car
- Konak 55 km northwest, about 55 min by car
- Bornova 60 km north, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Selçuk fortress, Francisco Anzola, CC BY 2.0
- Selçuk, a small mosque, Dguendel, CC BY 3.0
- Selçuk, townscape, Dguendel, CC BY 3.0
- Selçuk, view to the suburbs, Dguendel, CC BY 3.0
- Selçuk 2024 Ekim 3, Satirdan kahraman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Persecution Gate of Basilica of St John in 2011 3177, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Persecution Gate of Basilica of St John in 2011 3178, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Persecution Gate of Basilica of St John in 2011 3179, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Persecution Gate of Basilica of St John in 2011 3180, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk, the St.Jean Street, Dguendel, CC BY 3.0
- Persecution Gate - Basilica of St. John, Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey - October 7, 2025, Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Castle - view from side of town in 2011 3163, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk 2024 5, Satirdan kahraman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk 2024 6, Satirdan kahraman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Byzantine cistern in 2011 3168, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Alpaslan Cami in 2011 3174, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Alpaslan Cami in 2011 3173, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk 2024 4, Satirdan kahraman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Byzantine cistern in 2011 3169, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Byzantine cistern in 2011 3171, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selçuk Byzantine cistern in 2011 3170, Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kadınlar Denizi - Kuşadası 02, Özlem Demiir, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. John in Ephesus 01, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Belevi1, Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marienkirche Ephesos 2, Matthias Holländer, Public domain
- Ephesus Celsus Library Façade, Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 3.0
- EfesMuseumEingang, Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 57 01 Camlik1, Mef.ellingen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Klaros01, User:Nikater, CC BY-SA 4.0
- House of the Virgin Mary, No machine-readable author provided. Mfryc assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5
- Ephesos St John byzantine & turkish fortress, Marsyas, CC BY 3.0
- İsa Bey Camii, Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nesin Matematik Köyü Bina, Raicem, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sirince-Hl-Johannes, Peter Tritthart, CC BY 3.0
- SelcukZitadelleMoschee, Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY 3.0
- Kılıçaslan Camii 2025-08-31 18.27.51 1793004764, Canercangul, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mosquée Kaleiçi, Kuşadası (Turquie), Bpierreb, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lydia circa 50 AD - English legend, Caliniuc, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aziz Yahya Bazilikası takip Kapısı 04, Satirdan kahraman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aziz Yahya Bazilikası 20241007 161413 559, Satirdan kahraman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hotel "Aqua Fantasy" in Kusadasi - panoramio, Helfmann, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Street-level photo, asturksever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, hderinoz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, asturksever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, asturksever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, asturksever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, doriel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, hderinoz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, asturksever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, hderinoz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, amasya05055, CC BY-SA 4.0
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