Which one to choose in Turkey
Two ancient sites in Turkey. Ephesus has 263 tickets and tours to book; Hierapolis and Pamukkale has 194 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Selçuk, Turkey
Ephesus is the best-preserved Graeco-Roman city on the Aegean coast of Turkey, 3 km from the town of Selcuk. A marble street runs downhill for about 2 km past temples, fountains, the two-storey facade of the Library of Celsus and a theatre for some 24,000 people, and the roofed Terrace Houses keep wall paintings and mosaics of wealthy Roman homes.
Pamukkale, Turkey
Hierapolis is a Roman spa city built on top of the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale in south-western Turkey, where warm spring water has coated the hillside in calcium. One ticket covers both: a huge necropolis, a restored theatre, colonnaded streets, the shrine of the Apostle Philip and a pool where visitors swim among fallen columns.
| Ephesus | Hierapolis and Pamukkale | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ancient City | Ancient City |
| Civilisation | Greek | Greek |
| Founded | 950 BC | 250 BC |
| Area | — | 10.8 km² |
| Visitors | 2.6 million a year (2024) | 2.4 million a year (2024) |
| Entry | EUR 40; under-8s free; Terrace Houses extra | EUR 30; under-8s free; Antique Pool extra |
| Hours | 8 am to about 6 pm, to 9.30 pm Wed–Sat in summer; 8 am to 5.30 pm from mid-October to March | South Gate 6.30 am to 9 pm May–Sep; 8 am to 6 pm Oct–Apr; North Gate opens at 8 am |
| Time needed | 2.5 to 4 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| Booking | Pay at the gate or online; cards accepted; no need to book ahead | Pay at the gate; no need to book ahead; Museum Pass accepted |
| UNESCO | yes | yes |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | 263 | 194 |
| Official website | yes | yes |