Selçuk

Selçuk, the closest city to the archaelogical site of Ephesus, lies beneath an ancient fortress and is unfortunately, often overlooked. The former farming town has interesting sights of its own to offer—St. John the Evangelist was purportedly buried here, and the city has one of the oldest mosques in Turkey. It's also a practical place to base yourself, as it's close to many of the area's attractions. The city is easy to navigate, and there are many friendly, well-run pansiyons in the area. The town also hosts an annual camel-wrestling festival every January.