We can only get late afternoon flights from Athens to Izmir. In order to have a full day to
See Ephesus and the museum we’ll need to spend at least one night in Selcuk.
Does anyone have some experience with a recent stay?
Thanks
Posted by
Turkey
49 posts
Akanthus hotel or Celcus Hotel. Please check out reviews.
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
1159 posts
I am currently planning a trip similar to yours. At this time I am leaning towards staying in one of the resorts on the coast rather than in Selcuk. How to you plan to get from and to Izmir...train, car rental, shuttle?
Posted by
Midwest
21 posts
We were in Selcuk for 2 nights last week - late June 2026.
We stayed at the Akanthus Hotel. Highly recommend!
You don't say when your trip is - the Akanthus has a small pool that was delightful after a 95 degree day at Ephesus. There is an outdoor shaded courtyard by the pool - free coffee, tea, cake all day. Other drinks alcohol and non-alcohol available for purchase. Breakfast was good.
We used a car transfer service between Izmir airport and the hotel. I had the hotel book for us both ways - I was just too tired of making arrangements to find my own transfer company. There are a number if you search - I was burned out and ready to pay a premium if necessary. Hotel used two different companies and I'm sorry I don't remember the names. Both were fine.
The hotel is walkable to the Ephesus Museum, St John's Basilica, İsa Bey Mosque, and Temple of Artemus, all are in Selcuk.
With our visit of one full day and another half day on arrival, we were able to see all the above, spend 4 -5 hours at Ephesus and visit the House of the Virgin Mary without feeling pushed, although maybe I should confess to being one who would would rather be active than relaxing.
I had the Akanthus book a car for us for the Ephesus and Virgin Mary House site - the standard trip is 60 Euros cash, driver takes you to the House of the Virgin Mary, waits for you for 40 minutes, then drives you to the upper Ephesus gate. When done at Ephesus, you call the driver who picks you up at the lower gate. Worked seamlessly for us, pick-up was within 10 minutes and we were not asked to pay until we were delivered back to our hotel. I'm sure the visit could be done less expensively, but Ephesus was the last stop on a 3 week trip through Turkey and I was in the mood for some pampering.