Selçuk Town (Ephesus), Turkey

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Sprawling beneath an ancient fortress on Ayasoluk Hill, Selçuk provides hotels, restaurants, transport and other services to travelers visiting Ephesus.

It also provides storks! The town is a favorite nesting-place for the leggy birds, who take up residence here on the old Roman aqueduct, disused minarets, television aerials and any other safe perch, from late April into September.

The Ephesus Museum and St John Basilica are both in Selçuk (SEHL-chook, pop. 22,500), and worth a visit.

There are even a few minor Seljuk Turkish buildings in the town, as this was the western extent of Seljuk Turkish expansion—hence the town's name.

On your way out to the Ephesus archeological site, stop for a look at what's left of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

For a swim, try Pamucak Beach, 7 km (4 miles) west.

The seaside resort and cruise ship port of Kusadasi is only a 30-minute ride away (map), and the pretty mountain town of Sirince is a 15-minute ride in the opposite direction (east).

You can visit the ruins of Ephesus on a flying day-trip from Istanbul via Izmir's Adnan Menderes Airport, but it's better to spend at least one night in a hotel here. There are plenty of small restaurants, too. (Here's how to drive from the airport to Selçuk.)

Spend at least two nights if you plan to see the other sights in the region. You can visit the impressive ruins of Priene, Miletus and Didyma on a day trip. Pamucak Beach; is good for a dip in the Aegean Sea after trekking the hot marble streets of Ephesus.

Kusadasi is a booming, bustling cruise port resort. The hilltop winemaking town of Sirince, is a beautiful place to get away from it all. Dilek National Park. provides unspoiled nature in the midst of a booming tourism region.

Bus service to Selçuk is frequent from Izmir, with minibuses shuttling back and forth between Izmir's main bus terminal (Otogar) and the bus station in Selçuk every 15 or 20 minutes throughout the day (just ask for the Selçuk minibüs). Bus service to and from Bodrum is also convenient, particularly during the warm months. Minibuses run frequently from Selçuk to Kusadasi and other nearby towns.

Several trains run daily between Selçuk and Izmir (Basmane Station), stopping at Izmir's Adnan Menderes Airport on the way. The airport is actually between Izmir and Selçuk.