Mo

Just at the beginning of researching my trip; it better be done fast as we want to go at the end of March. How long should one plan on spending in the Ephesus area? Is one night enough? Any recommendations on a hotel? Will be spending 7 days in Turkey (2 additional days for the to and from Turkey). After a lot of consideration we have decided to rule out viisitng Cappadocia (that will have to keep for another visit with more time) and limit our visit mostly to Istanbul. Is it better to make our plans for Ephesus from the U.S. ---flight, hotel or can we wait till we are in Istanbul. Thanks for any advice.

otherchelebi

The earlier you make your Istanbul-Izmir flight reservations, the cheaper it will be.

You can be more lax regarding lodging and car rental in selcuk area, because end of March is long before the tourism season starts.

i recommend car rental at Izmir airport. Distance to selcuk is only 45 minutes mostly on toll road, without going through any cities or congested areas.

You can visit all the sites in and close to selcuk within a day and a half, Ephesus, the museum, Virgin Mary's retreat, Cave of the Seven Sleepers, St. John's Basilica, even including a visit to kusadasi castle and city.

There are two interesting small hotels next to each other, just across from St. Johns, 'Nazhan' and 'Bella' . Bella also has a nice restaurant. The only problem is that both have small rooms.

The formerly evacuated Greek village of Sirince, has a number of hotels and B&Bs which have larger rooms.

one of the best sources for interesting and reasonable cost lodging is "the small hotels of Turkey" site on the web. The original author of the book also has his own very nicely renovated greek house hotel at Sirince. (Nisanyan)

A guide will be useful while visiting Ephesus only, and you can get licensed guides at the entrances to the antique city. This is preferable to an audio guide. you should also not miss the Terrace Houses, which require an additional entrance fee. (if you love cats, have some cat food with you to feed the cats of Ephesus, possibly the only progeny of the historic inhabitants who are still on location.) Walk from the upper entrance. the reverse can be very tiring. your guide can arrange to have your car driven down for you.

you will not need a guide to other sites and can enjoy your freedom and the flexibility. Just a guidebook and a reasonable map (which the car rental agency will NOT supply usually) are all you need.

End of March will be a very good time for the special salad greens of the region. Make sure that you eat only at Sirince and bella hotel to get this kind of fare, and not at the typical tourist restaurants on the highway.

Mo

otherchelebi thank you so much for your advice. Have been thoroughly enjoying all your other posts throughout the forums. Agree with you totally on the guide (when to have one and when you need to spend the money to have one).Didn't think of the cat food until I read it in another of your posts. We are cat lovers indeed. That said I wish you could do something with the weather to make it a bit warmer. So one night spent in selcuk is enough. Thanks again.

otherchelebi

Dear Mo, i think you should be more worried about the weather in Istanbul, as Selcuk does not get as much rain as Istanbul, in general.

And to help you get better weather in Istanbul, i will make sure that my wife and i do not schedule any boat trips, picnics outdoor barbecues, or walking or driving tours in and around istanbul, during that time. This is bound to have favorable results.

good luck

ellen75005

Mo,

We planned one night in Selcuk, but decided to spend two nights there and were glad we did. I think it depends on your overall itinerary. Otherchelebi is (of course right in his advise to rent a car from Izmir. We drove from the Izmir airport to the Hotel Bella after dark and it was not problem at all. We thoroughly enjoyed the Hotel Bella which is right in Selcuk, close to Ephesus. Our room (and especially our bathroom) was small, but the roof terrace/restaurant is a place I could have stayed for weeks!

Ellen

Don't miss the terraced houses, as otherchelebi said, and the Ephesus Museum (within walking distance from the Hotel Bella) is a little gem of a museum, not to be missed.

Mo

Thanks a lot to both of you. ellen75005, I was planning on looking at Hotel Bella after you suggested it on another post. As for guides would you get a guide when you got to ephesus (pre planned or not) or would you get a guide to take you the entire area. Is the area easily done by oneself as long as you have a car? As usual otherchelebi you have been a wealth of information? Thanks again.

clehrman

bookmarking

Aduchamp1

Here is an excerpt form our trip report from last October:

You are fortunate that Andrea and I are alive. We are staying at a pricey hotel in Sirince called Nisanyan. We thought we discovered it, then we noticed it was recommended in Frommer’s. The road to the hotel is one of those narrow creatures with hairpin turns, no guard rails, and where one wrong move and you descend thousands of feet into the Turkish countryside. Of course there are also tourist buses with which to contend. Then when we made the final turn towards the hotel on a 90 degree upslope, we found the town has left many holes for new electrical work. Rev up in first and hope for the best. The hotel is well done as the walls resemble ancient Rome through some trompe l’oiel. The receptionist felt sorry for us and gave us some salad even though the kitchen was closed. Not too sorry, tonight will probably be the most expensive meal we will eat in Turkey. I must inquire if you die on the road up, are you still responsible for the cancellation fee.

Michael

Two nights should be enough. From my trip report:

The airport is south of Izmir and driving to Selçuk was very easy. We stopped turned off a side street and came upon the first hotel recommended by Fodors'--Hotel Akay (http://www.hotelakay.com/ ) with Internet access in the lobby--$236 for 3 nights.

appletea

This was helpful. Think we will rent a car in Ephesus. Do you think 1 night in selcuk is enough?

Michael

I would spend two nights in Selçuk or environs, for while Ephesus (it's the archeological site, you can't rent cars there) can be done in a long morning, there is also the museum in the town itself and one of the oldest mosques with a very friendly imam. Choose to arrive in Izmir in the middle of the day if possible, pick up the car at the airport and drive to Selçuk. Do your touring of sites and museums the next day. Drive off the following day.

appletea

ok thanks. think we'll get to izmir around 2pm, rent a car, drive to selcuk, check out the ephesus museum on the first day. stay in selcuk.

day 2, go to ephesus (including terrace houses), st. john's basilica, and house of virgin mary.

can we make it to the izmir airport for a 6pm flight to kayseri(cappadocia)? or would you recommend flying out the next morning at 6:45am.

cabovacation

I stayed in Selcuk for two nights, and I spent much of one day at Ephesus, and part of another day in Sirince, the Greek Village....which has awesome olive oil! And while in Selcuk I visited a public hamam, which I highly recommend as an essential part of any visit to Turkey. There are lots of good places to shop and eat in Selcuk. It is an easy, relaxing place to hang out after visiting the sights.