Basilica of St John, Ephesus

Basilica of St John, Ephesus tickets: which one to buy

A modest ticket covers the site, and it is separate from the Ephesus archaeological park three kilometres away; the Turkish museum pass covers both and is worth buying if you are visiting several sites in the region. Guides wait at the gate and charge a negotiable rate. Tours of Ephesus from Kusadasi and Izmir include the basilica in the fuller versions and skip it in the cheaper ones, which is worth checking before booking, because most visitors never realise it exists.

The ruins are on Ayasuluk hill in the middle of Selcuk, five minutes from the bus station and the train halt, so independent visits are easy. Nothing needs booking. The site has its own car park and is on the walking route between the Selcuk bus station and the fortress above.

Visiting Basilica of St John, Ephesus: what to see

John the Apostle is said to have spent his last years at Ephesus and to have been buried on this hill. Justinian built a great basilica over the grave in the sixth century, modelled on the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, with six domes on a cross plan; it was one of the largest churches of its age and it was ruined by earthquake and by the Mongol raids of the fourteenth century. What stands now is a field of marble: re-erected columns, the nave and transept walls to shoulder height, a baptistery with its cruciform font, and in the middle a marble slab marking the tomb, with four columns at the corners.

The view takes in the Isa Bey mosque below, the Byzantine fortress above and, in the distance, the single re-erected column of the Temple of Artemis. A small treasury and baptistery stand on the north side, and the marble pavement of the nave has been partly relaid to show the original plan. Justinian's church was some 130 metres long and its plan is fully traceable on the ground, which makes it easier to read than most ruined basilicas.

Basilica of St John, Ephesus opening hours and the best time to go

Open daily from morning to evening with shorter winter hours. Selcuk is hot from June to September and the hill has no shade at all, so early morning or late afternoon is the only comfortable choice in summer; the light on the marble is also better then. The site is uneven, with steps and loose stone.

Cruise groups from Kusadasi visit Ephesus in the middle of the day and rarely come here, which keeps the basilica quiet. Allow forty-five minutes. The Ephesus Archaeological Museum in the town, the Isa Bey mosque of 1375 and the single column of the Artemision are all within fifteen minutes on foot. The fortress on the summit reopened to visitors after restoration and is covered by the same regional pass.