Turkey / Ephesus / House of the Virgin Mary

— Historic District

House of the Virgin Mary

Last updated: August 2026 Read time: 3 min

Nymphaeum Traiani ruins near Ephesus — illustrative of the wider site, not the shrine itself

Location Mt. Koressos, ~7km from Selçuk

Hours 08:00–18:00 (most months) 08:30–17:00 (Nov, Feb) Last entry: 30 minutes before closing

Ticket price from $15

Typical visit 45–60 minutes

Nearest transport Taxi, rental car, or organized tour (no public transit)

House Of The Virgin Mary Ephesus — The House of the Virgin Mary is a small stone shrine on Mt. Koressos near Selçuk, believed by many Catholics to be where Mary spent her final years, identified in 1891 based on the 19th-century visions of a German nun and visited by three popes since. It’s a genuine pilgrimage site for both Christian and Muslim visitors.

Why visit the House of the Virgin Mary? (House Of The Virgin Mary Ephesus)

The site’s discovery traces to an unusual chain of events: French priest Abbé Julien Gouyet identified the building in 1881 by following descriptions in the visions of German nun Anne Catherine Emmerich, who had never visited the region herself. A decade later, in 1891, two Lazarist missionaries rediscovered the same structure using the same source, and found it already venerated locally. Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI have all visited, with Benedict XVI celebrating Mass there in 2006 — a level of official recognition that’s rare for a site whose identification rests on visionary rather than archaeological evidence. Beyond its religious significance, many visitors — regardless of faith — find the pine-forested hillside setting and quiet atmosphere genuinely affecting.

Source: UNESCO World Heritage — Ephesus.

What should I know before visiting?

No public transport reaches the site — arrive by taxi, rental car, or organized tour.
A wishing wall near the site draws visitors of multiple faiths who leave written prayers.
Modest dress is appropriate given the site’s religious significance.
Combine with Ephesus and Şirince for a full day covering the wider area’s highlights.

How much are tickets and what are the hours?

Admission runs approximately 500 TL (roughly $15). Open daily, 08:00–18:00 in most months, with slightly shorter hours (08:30–17:00) in November and February.

How do I get to the House of the Virgin Mary from Ephesus center?

The site sits about 7km from Selçuk on Mt. Koressos, reachable by taxi, rental car, or as part of an organized Ephesus tour — there’s no public transit option.