Archaeological site · İsa Bey Mahallesi, Selçuk, İzmir
Basilica of St John
Aziz Yuhanna Bazilikası · St. Jean Anıtı
A Byzantine-era basilica on Ayasuluk Hill in Selçuk, traditionally associated with the burial place of St John, run as a ticketed Ministry of Culture and Tourism site that also includes the adjoining Ayasuluk Castle.
Where it is
37.9525, 27.3676
Why go
The basilica stands on Ayasuluk Hill in Selçuk, İzmir province, part of the same hill as Ayasuluk Castle and near the Ephesus Museum and the ruins of Ephesus itself — Ayasuluk Hill is one of the four components of UNESCO's Ephesus World Heritage property (inscribed 2015), separate from the Ancient City of Ephesus component. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (muze.gov.tr, unit STJ01, read 2026-09-23), the site is open daily 08:00–19:00 with the ticket window closing at 18:30, and its own e-ticket product confirms Ayasuluk Castle is included in the same admission. The castle itself, however, has a narrower visiting window: the Ministry's separate page for it (unit IAO01) states it may only be visited 09:00–16:00 within the site's broader opening hours — plan a castle visit inside that window, not just within the basilica's own 08:00–19:00 hours.
Getting there
According to the Ministry (muze.gov.tr, unit STJ01, read 2026-09-23), open daily 08:00–19:00, ticket window closes 18:30. Ayasuluk Castle, on the same hill, is included in the same admission per the Ministry's own e-ticket product, but has its own narrower visiting window of 09:00–16:00 (Ministry unit IAO01) — a visitor wanting to see the castle specifically should plan for that window, not just the basilica's full opening hours. The site is on Ayasuluk Hill in Selçuk, near the Ephesus Museum; the Ministry publishes no walking route or transport instructions specific to this site.
Best time to visit
Open year-round with the same daily hours per the Ministry (read 2026-09-23); no season-specific visiting guidance is published by the operator. Like the neighbouring Ephesus ruins, this is an outdoor hilltop site with limited shade — see ephesus-ancient-city's heat-season caution for the same regional climate consideration.
Through the year
YEAR_ROUND for opening hours, per the Ministry's daily schedule (no seasonal variation published). UNKNOWN for shade/heat mitigation at the site itself — not published.
Accessibility
The Ministry does not publish a step-free route, toilets, shade or stroller/wheelchair information for this site, matching the pattern at the neighbouring Ephesus ruins — ask locally before travelling with mobility needs.
Near Basilica of St John
Museum
Ephesus Museum
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism's museum in Selçuk town, showing finds from the excavations of Ephesus and nearby sites, including the Ephesian Artemis, the Resting Warrior and a statue of Marcus Aurelius.
0 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Archaeological site
Ephesus Ancient City
The excavated Greek and Roman city of Ephesus, near Selçuk in İzmir province, run as a ticketed archaeological site by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and one of the four components of UNESCO's Ephesus World Heritage property.
3 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Place
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314 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Archaeological site
Aspendos Archaeological Site
The ruins of a Greco-Roman city at Belkıs, Serik (Antalya province), best known for a Roman theatre that Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism counts among the best-preserved in the world, with an agora, basilica, stadium and a long aqueduct beyond it.
354 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ