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Türkiye
Turkish Aegean Coast
Izmir Province
Selcuk
Things to Do in Selcuk
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
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Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)

See all things to do
See all things to do
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
4
2,860 reviews
#14 of 51 things to do in Selcuk
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Churches & Cathedrals
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8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Several years after the death of Christ, St. John brought the Virgin Mother to this house located on the slopes of Bülbül Mountain. It is believed the Virgin Mary lived in this house until she died at the age of 64.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
2,860 reviews
Excellent
1,500
Very good
747
Average
422
Poor
119
Terrible
72
B1714D
Belgrade, Serbia16,212 contributions
Rather a pilgrimage place than an attraction
Sep 2020
Virgin Mary's house is some 10 min drive from the southern Ephesus gate, so it's well worth your visit when you're in the area.
Clearly, it's in a shadow of the area's main attraction - the Ephesus ancient city, and for some visitors (non Christians) it's probably disappointing and waste of time.
Therefore, I'd rather call it a pilgrimage site for Christians, as it was her last house where St. John took her after Jesus crucifixion.
Entrance fee is around 3 Euros and prepare for a steep downhill walk (uphill when returning) from the parking lot.
The stone house is very small and modest with absolutely no photos (one by one are admitted inside with an ever present guard).
This was my second visit and this time was quite different probably due to Covid - much less crowds and the prayer's wishing notes wall was empty.
Written November 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
majeo
Miami, FL2,846 contributions
Holly site
Jul 2021 • Family
This is the 2nd visit
On our drive from Izmir to Bodrum
Entrance fees around 60 tl including parking
Take 300 metres walk to what is used to be the house of virgin Mary were she lived after Christ death.
The story how this house came to be is very interesting and it's written in many languages posted aside of the path leading to the house.
Once there, you can light a candle, hang message on the wall and drink from the spring water.
C U AROUND
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
doctorfoxtrot
Taguig City, Philippines7,829 contributions
One Visit would be enough
Feb 2023 • Couples
Nice to go and spend time at the place where the virgin Mary spend a significant time of her life. Whether it was a fact or fiction, for a believer like me , it’s important. But visiting the actual house needs to deal with certain amount of tourists, and limitations. For one , photography is disallowed. Spending time is definitely curtailed.
Written February 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meowy
Montgomery, AL523 contributions
Small and Rushed
Sep 2022
You have to queue for entrance to the house because they only allow about 8 people in at a time. Once there, you are pushed through as fast as you can and aren't allowed photos or time to really enjoy it. After about a minute you exit and that's it, that's the experience. I don't think I gained much insight into the life of Mary by this excursion. I got a lot more from Mary's Tomb in Jerusalem, where you are allowed time to reflect. I would skip this if I could do over.
Written October 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Doug L
6 contributions
Religious train wreck
Jun 2022 • Family
What a freak show. This place is full of religious nut bags. There is absolutely zero evidence that “ Virgin Mary” even lived here. In fact your tour guide will tell you that it’s all based on a “vision” some crazy lady in Germany had. There is a line 100 people long on an off day to go inside the house and then there’s a bunch of morons riding wishes on paper and tying it to a rope thanking it will come true and then drinking and splashing themselves with some really smelly polluted “holy water”.

Imagine if people were still doing this at the temples of Dominus, Hadrian, Or Artemis
Written July 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Vladimir R
Moscow, Russia553 contributions
Usually, not believable, the feeling of divorce for tourists.
Sep 2021 • Friends
It was part of the excursion program. We were taken to the mountain, where, according to the legend, the Virgin Mary spent her last years of her life. Sounds interesting and religious. But while we visit there, they are told that they found it purely by accident, getting lost and looking for water. The locals told them where to dial it; near this place, they allegedly found the ruins of the house of the Virgin Mary. I am a religious person, I put candles, I got some water. But I did not believe a single word that was said about this place. Only deeply religious people can believe this, I am not one of them. Now this place looks like a place to siphon money from deeply religious people. You have to pay for everything. 100 meters from the house there is a restaurant, small shops, with typical souvenirs as everywhere, but also with souvenirs, icons, crosses, etc. To be honest, it would not have been included in the tour, I would not even waste time on this place.
Written October 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Aaron G
Los Angeles, CA256 contributions
Disappointing
Apr 2021
Sadly I did not have anything close to the spiritual experience that some of the reviewers talk about. The house was covered in COVID signage which completely ruined any rustic photogenic aspects and took me out of it. The plethora of gift shops lined up on the walk between the car park and the house was also a solid reminder that this is anything but a holy site.

However, if you are religious, Catholic in particular, I recommend it, though you may be dismayed to know there is no concrete evidence that the Virgin Mary ever lived here, or was even in Turkey, though the story of how the site was discovered is quite interesting and lends some credibility to it. I suppose I will give it the benefit of the doubt that she actually lived here.
Written April 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Christopher F
Basingstoke, UK12 contributions
Small Church. Little time inside. No photos
Aug 2022
This was an extra part of the tour of Ephesus which cost an extra 5 euros.

When you get to the church you are set up in a line and walked through. You are also not allowed to take photos. The church itself is very small and there is little to see. You get about a minute inside the church. You can make a wish in the fountain outside afterwards but other than that there is not much else other than the tourist merchandise stands. Not worth it.
Written August 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
pfefmeister
San Francisco, CA2,666 contributions
Decent Side Trip
May 2022 • Couples
If you’re going to the Ephesus ruins on a tour, you’re probably stopping here on the way. I found it mildly interesting, though we did get there early before long lines form, so that made the visit more enjoyable. A quick walk through the house was nice, and the surrounding grounds were peaceful. Gift shops before you exit have decent souvenirs.
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
radbrad73
Dallas, TX71 contributions
An interesting but not “must see” site
Oct 2020 • Solo
This is, by oral tradition, the house where Mary the mother of Jesus lives out her last days. True or not, it’s a place worthy of visit just to see and also to note the architecture of houses of the period. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen another like this. It’s a humble place, so it doesn’t take long to see. Note, this was my second visit. In ore covid times there was holy water you could collect yourself but those spigots were not operating at the time of my visit.
Written February 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House), Selcuk

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  • Sun - Sat 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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