Selçuk
From Turkey Travel Guide
Selçuk is a town in Izmir Province in the Aegean Region of Turkey.
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[edit] History
Originally named Ayios Theologos during Byzantium after St. John the Theologian, this central town of Selçuk district in Izmir Province was later renamed "Ayasluğ", a derivative of the same name. During the end of the Ottoman era, the town was renamed Selçuk, fittingly after the Seljuk Turks who settled in the region in the 12th century.
Today, Selçuk is a very popular touristic destination, as it is close proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Isa Bey Mosque, and the ancient basilica of St. John the Apostle, which, some claim, is built on the site of the Apostle's tomb.
[edit]
Selçuk is located north of Torbali, northeast of Tire, Germencik from east, with the Aegean Sea on the west.
[edit] Getting there
[edit] By plane
Closest international airport is the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.
[edit] By train
From the airport there is a connecting train station, with 4 trains per day to Ephesus/ Selcuk.
[edit] By car
A drive out to Selçuk takes about 1 hour, and is very scenic and peaceful.
[edit] By bus
Several bus companies from Izmir go directly to Ephesus on a daily, several times a day. A ticket costs roughly 20 TL. The Izmir bus station is located in Bayrakli/Bornova district, however, you can wait at the bus company from which you purchase, as they schedule a pickup for their customers.
[edit] Getting around
[edit] By car
This is definitely the best option, as many of the different locations and more affordable restaurants are spread out across the town.
[edit] By public transport
Local mini-buses and dolmuses run all around Selçuk, particularly the tourist areas to and from Ephesus.
[edit] By foot
Selçuk might be a little difficult by foot, as many locations are spread out around the district. Unless you are in a concentrated area, traveling by car will be the best option.
[edit] By bike
Biking is definitely an option, as the traffic is calm, with long stretched roads and scenic views.
[edit] Weather
Below chart shows the weather information for Izmir.
(°F)
(55)
(56)
(62)
(70)
(79)
(88)
(92)
(91)
(85)
(76)
(65)
(57)
(°F)
(43)
(42)
(46)
(53)
(60)
(68)
(73)
(72)
(66)
(58)
(51)
(46)
(inches)
(4.7)
(3.5)
(3.1)
(1.9)
(1.0)
(0.3)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.7)
(1.7)
(4.4)
(5.3)
[edit] See
Selçuk is one of the most popular tourist destinations for the entire country, as it is the stronghold of ancient Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations. Thus, there are several things to see:
Ephesus: Take the day and discover the city of Ephesus. It contains some of the best preserved Greek and Roman architecture, including the great library and theater. Entrance fee cost 20 TL per person.
Cave of the Seven Sleepers: A popular folklore story which lives in the Christian and Islamic world, you can visit this legendary cave which is right next to the site of Ephesus.
Şirince: Historically a Greek village up until the war of independence, this beautiful local is situated about 9km east to Selcuk. Taking the day to discover this peaceful village is well worth the trip, as it has been written about several times in Turkish and Greek media as a 'heaven on earth'.
House of the Virgin Mary: Located about 10 km south of Selçuk, this monument is claimed to be the house where the Virgin Mary spend her last days in Ephesus. The Vatican declared this place as an official Catholic pilgrimage site.
[edit] Do
See the sights. They are all beautiful.
And relax and eat at a local restaurant outside of the , as opposed to the tourist traps that circle the tourist locations.
[edit] Eat
Food is moderately priced outside of the tourist areas. A great food to sit and relax with is "ciger", which is grilled/roasted liver on a skewer. With a side of yogurt, salad, and bread, this meal will make you feel as native as can be.
[edit] Drink
Traditional Turkish drinks, such as Turkish tea and ayran, are readily available at all the restaurants. Also try the soda-pop called "Gazoza", which is a Turkish version of Sprite.
[edit] Sleep
Bella Hotel
Ataturk Mah. St. John Street No:7 Selcuk
Phone: +90 232 892 3944
Fax: 0090 232 892 0344
Email: info@hotelbella.com
Free transport to and from Ephesus.
Prices start at around $52/night.
Urkmez hotel
Namik Kemal Cad. 20
PTT Karsisi No: 20, Selcuk 35920, Turkey
Phone: +90 0232 892 6312.
The Urkmez Hotel is run by the multi-lingual Ozkan Brothers (English, German, Spanish).
Prices start at around $45/night.
[edit] Safety
Selçuk is a safe part of Turkey. Basic safety sense need only apply when traveling around Selçuk, as the hospitality of the locals is very good.
[edit] Stay Healthy
When traveling the sites, be sure to bring bottled water and snacks, as the heat can rise and stay hot all day. Wear basic hat and sunglasses as well to protect your skin from the sun.
[edit] Books
[edit] External links
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