OUR DESTINATIONS
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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Europe
- Turkey
- Aegean Coast
- Kusadasi
- Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus is the biggest and best-preserved ancient city in the
country and is one of the world's spectacular historical sites. The
city was established with a harbour on the mouth of the Cayster
River, and in the 2nd century BC it became the most important port
and commercial trading centre in Anatolia, from Alexander the Great
and the Hellenistic period to capital of Roman Asia under Augustus
in 133 BC. The city went into final decline during the Byzantine
era with the silting up of the harbour and by 527 AD it was
deserted. The city is also important as the early seat of
Christianity, visited by St Paul, whose letters to the Ephesians
are recorded in the New Testament. The site needs little
imagination to see what a functioning Roman city would have looked
like, but guides are available and can offer a rich insight into
the history and architecture of the ruins. Among the amphitheatres,
murals and mosaics, baths, fountains, brothels and columns, the
chariot-worn streets lead to some of the highlights, including the
enormous Library of Celsus, the impressive Temple of Hadrian, a row
of public latrines and the Grand Theatre where Paul preached to the
Ephesians. The city was originally dedicated to the goddess Artemis
and her once-magnificent temple was considered to be one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Information & Facts
Address
Admission
Language
Turkish is the official language, but English is widely
understood in the main tourist areas.
Money
The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was
introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from
the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be
exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and
ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions,
but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open
mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas.
ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but
Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on
their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and
Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are
Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the
more expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some
banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash
or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions
and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as
payment.
Opening Times
Museum: daily 8:30am to 6pm