Ephesus charges one entrance fee for the ancient city and a second, separate fee for the Terrace Houses. Both are set by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, both are usually revised each January, and both can be paid by card at either gate. We deliberately do not print the figures here: a price published on a travel page is wrong within months, and the official one takes ten seconds to check.
Where to check today’s price
The Ministry’s own portal, muze.gov.tr, lists current admission for every state site and museum in Türkiye, including Ephesus, the Terrace Houses and the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk. That is the source your guide checks too. Ignore third-party pages quoting a number without a date — including, if we ever slip, this one.
What each ticket covers
- Ephesus Ancient City — the whole archaeological site: both gates, the full route from the Odeon to the Great Theatre, and the Arcadian Street. One ticket, valid at either entrance.
- Terrace Houses — the covered complex of six frescoed Roman houses halfway down Curetes Street, entered on its own ticket bought at the site. It is the best-preserved thing in Ephesus and the most commonly skipped.
- Ephesus Museum, Selçuk — a separate ticket in town, where the finds live, including both statues of Artemis Ephesia.
- Basilica of St John and the House of the Virgin Mary — each charges its own admission; the Temple of Artemis site is free.
Opening hours
Ephesus keeps summer and winter hours, with the summer season running roughly April to October: gates open early and close in the evening, and last admission is usually an hour or so before closing. Winter hours are shorter at both ends. The site is open every day of the year, including public holidays — the practical exceptions are rare weather closures and the occasional half-day on the first morning of a religious holiday. Since exact times shift with the season, check muze.gov.tr the week you travel.
One planning note that matters more than the exact minute: the first hour after opening and the last two before closing are the quietest and coolest parts of the day, which is also when the Library of Celsus photographs best. Our page on how long to spend at Ephesus builds a schedule around that.
Sources & further reading
- Türkiye Ministry of Culture — official museum & site tickets — the only authoritative price source
- UNESCO World Heritage listing — Ephesus
