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Visiting the Basilica of St. John & Ayasuluk Fortress
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
Contents
1. Basilica of St. John Opening Hours & Entrance Fee
The Basilica of St. John is open from 08.00 to 19.00 and entry tickets cost EUR 6 (payable in Turkish lira). The entry ticket also gives access to the Ayasuluk Fortress which is open from 09.00 to 17.30 in summer. Google wrongly states that the fortress closes at 16.30.
There are good toilets and a gift shop in the middle of the site.
2. History of Basilica of St. John & Ayasuluk Fortress
Saint John spent his last years in Ephesus. He died around 100 AD and was buried on Ayasoluk Hill. There was a commemorative plaque on his grave and in the 4th century AD it was encased in a chapel. In the 6th century AD the Byzantine Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of a huge Basilica on this site.
The construction of the Basilica used stone from the nearby Temple of Artemis and it was completed in 565 AD. The Basilica of Saint John was an important goal for pilgrims as it was believed that the dust from the tomb of the Apostle possessed healing properties.
Ephesus declined after the invasion of the Arabs in the years 654-655 and some of the population relocated to Ayasoluk Hill. A hilltop fortress was built above the Basilica of St. John and it was surrounded by thick walls.
In 1304 the Seljuk Turks invaded the city. The Basilica of St. John was transformed into a mosque and pilgrims had to pay for the access to the tomb of St. John. In 1402 the Mongol army invaded the area and the Basilica was destroyed. For over 600 years the ruins of the Basilica lay in oblivion and its stones used for building materials.
3. How to get to the Basilica of St. John
The Basilica of St. John is a 10 minute uphill walk from Selcuk and the Isa Bey Mosque. The Ayasuluk fortress is a short walk further up the hill through the Basilica of St John.
4. When to Visit the Basilica of St. John
We visited Ephesus in the morning (see my 2026 Travel Guide for Ephesus). After a rest we visited the Basilica of St. John at 16.30. This meant we didn't run into any tour groups and it wasn't during the hottest part of the day.
The Basilica is open until 19.00 and an even later visit would result in cooler temperatures and less people. However, if you want to see the fortress it closes at 17.30. I wouldn't worry about visiting the interior of the Ayasuluk Fortress as there is very little to see inside.
5. What to see at Basilica of St. John & Ayasuluk Fortress
The Basilica of St.John is an evocative and beautiful ruin that's worthwhile wandering around. There are a few information boards at the Basilica.
The Ayasuluk Fortress has an impressive exterior which can be seen from the Basilica. There's very little to see inside except for a small mosque and a small covered cistern. It's possible to walk along the ramparts.
We spent one hour wandering around the Basilica and Fortress.
6. Mosque of Isa Bey
The Isa Bey Mosque is situated below the Ayasoluk Castle and Basilica of St. John and they can all be visited together.
The mosque has a very imposing exterior. and is one of the best examples of Anatolian mosque architecture. It was built in 1375 using stone and columns from the ruins at Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. The mosque stood in ruins for many years but was restored in 1970 and reopened for prayer.
Originally, the mosque featured two grand minarets. The eastern minaret was completely levelled by early tremors, while the surviving western brick minaret had its top half taken down by an earthquake in the 17th century.
The Mosque is accessed through a very pleasant central courtyard. It's shaded by trees and has Ottoman gravestones resting against the walls.
The interior of the mosque isn't very special. Modest attire is required; head coverings for women and covered legs for everyone, with wraps available at the entrance.
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