Grotto of the Seven Sleepers
Grotto of the Seven Sleepers
Grotto of the Seven Sleepers
3
About
It is believed that seven young Christians, who refused to sacrifice animals for the Roman imperials, took shelter in this cave near the city. They fell asleep only to wake 200 years later to find that Christianity had become more accepted. The event lead many to accept Christ's belief of resurrection.
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3.0
183 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
47
Average
68
Poor
36
Terrible
8
John W
London, UK40 contributions
Feb 2020
The grotto was closed off with a gate when we visited in February, and while you could peer in (after carefully stepping across the big muddy puddle) there wasn't much to see from the gate. Outside there was a tree with prayers carefully tied on.
It's only 5 minutes from Ephesus so worth popping by while you're there, and we wished we had stopped at the restaurant next door where the old ladies were rolling out fresh gozleme.
It's only 5 minutes from Ephesus so worth popping by while you're there, and we wished we had stopped at the restaurant next door where the old ladies were rolling out fresh gozleme.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kent19
Mumbai, India416 contributions
June 2014 • Couples
The story of the Seven Sleepers are an interesting one but the ruins do not live upto the story at all ! Its in a sad state, with no sight of any attempt being made to restore them and you get to look at them from outside closed gates.
Good that there were no fees for what a waste it would have been.
However at the base of the short climb, is a restaurant where traditional ladies roll out their traditional Gozleme at extremely reasonable price. We had a mixed one and it was simply delicious. Its worth a visit for that only.
Good that there were no fees for what a waste it would have been.
However at the base of the short climb, is a restaurant where traditional ladies roll out their traditional Gozleme at extremely reasonable price. We had a mixed one and it was simply delicious. Its worth a visit for that only.
Written 13 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peaches O
Faro District, Portugal342 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
From our base in nearby Selcuk, my husband and I walked 2 km to Ephesus and decided to start off with the grotto of the seven sleepers first as it was nearing dusk. The walk was largely uneventful save from a few horse drawn carriage riders soliciting tourist trade.
We got to the site and walked up a tiny hill to meet locked gates. Then an attendant appeared, said something in Turkish, we greeted him in Turkish and were let through. On entering, unless my eyes failed me, there seemed only desolation and uninspiring remnants of tombs within the cave. It lacked any sort of resonance and seemed that whatever historical elements had for a time existed had been mercilessly pillaged.
We barely tarried for 2 minutes before exiting the space thankful that we didn't have to pay for an entry ticket. On departing the cave the attendant said something in Turkish which we didn't understand and then gestured as if asking for money. We looked around but couldn't see any tourist board displaying info regarding entry fees/requirements. Anyhow, we had only a meagre amount in small change and were certainly not going to part with 10TL, so we gave him the little we had on us. He was upset with the offer but accepted it nonetheless.
Unless we missed the main information board, it would be beneficial if tourists are advised beforehand of any entry fees. I would however advise people to bypass this attraction and focus on the main site which harbours the amphitheatre, library, terraced houses and other historical edifices.
We got to the site and walked up a tiny hill to meet locked gates. Then an attendant appeared, said something in Turkish, we greeted him in Turkish and were let through. On entering, unless my eyes failed me, there seemed only desolation and uninspiring remnants of tombs within the cave. It lacked any sort of resonance and seemed that whatever historical elements had for a time existed had been mercilessly pillaged.
We barely tarried for 2 minutes before exiting the space thankful that we didn't have to pay for an entry ticket. On departing the cave the attendant said something in Turkish which we didn't understand and then gestured as if asking for money. We looked around but couldn't see any tourist board displaying info regarding entry fees/requirements. Anyhow, we had only a meagre amount in small change and were certainly not going to part with 10TL, so we gave him the little we had on us. He was upset with the offer but accepted it nonetheless.
Unless we missed the main information board, it would be beneficial if tourists are advised beforehand of any entry fees. I would however advise people to bypass this attraction and focus on the main site which harbours the amphitheatre, library, terraced houses and other historical edifices.
Written 23 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rftu
Newry, UK1,036 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
This is an interesting site with no admission charge. It's got a nice, if unbelievable story behind it.
The real highlight is having breakfast at the grotto enterance.
Highly recommended
The real highlight is having breakfast at the grotto enterance.
Highly recommended
Written 20 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SlowAncientOnTour
Carnac, France4 contributions
Oct 2019
Visit 25 Oct 2019. A must see site if you are obsessed with archaeology or the legend, otherwise it is insignificant compared to the other sites in the area. But it is permanently closed so you can only view part of it from outside the fences. If you go to the main entrance you can look through the big iron gate into the site and see some of it. You can scramble up some of the goat paths to the fences around the top for a view of some of the structures on top. (The right side is a lot easier than the left) And there is the section of wall on the way in. If you are superstitious you can join the pagan ritual of leaving a message to be taken to your ancestors in the afterlife by writing a message on a small piece of white cloth and tying it to the branches of one of the trees in front of the caves. Many people don't come prepared and just tie on a piece of rubbish (I'm not sure what this tells their ancestors). Some hints - if you go late in the day at this time of year the sun is just above the hill line and so looking at the top of the site from the fences will be looking into the sun - go earlier. Also if it's hot and your thinking of a drink from the shops in the grotto and it's late in the day, you may be disappointed. At 3:30pm all the "staff" were at a small table behind the souvineer shop for a tea break and were still there when I left at 4:30. Quite a few people came and sat at the tables and eventually gave up and left. If you walk back to Selcuk along the walking path next to the highway there are good views of the distant Fortress and you can drop into the Temple of Artemis.
Written 16 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Islandhopper198
Cork, Ireland279 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
Yet another historic site this is in effect a cave site where according to legend around 240 AD seven young Christians hid here during the reign of Emperor Decius he had them sealed in the cave the interesting part of the story is hundreds of years later almost the same tale in the same place is told in the Qur'an one of the very few crossover stories.....again worth a look if only to hear a good old tale.
Written 6 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mostafa S
Cairo, Egypt104 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
The cave looks nice from outside but unfortunately you cannot enter it, there are looked gates.
The story of the sleepers is mentioned in the Holy Quran,but the most probably they were in Leavant Countries not in Turkey.
The story of the sleepers is mentioned in the Holy Quran,but the most probably they were in Leavant Countries not in Turkey.
Written 24 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lizbé K
Headington, UK41 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
To be honest we never went to the grotto, but our friends in Selçuk recommended that we have lunch there instead of getting anything in overpriced Ephesus. We went to the second restaurant (when you walk up from the road), watched the ladies make the pancakes for a while and had a lovely meal. It was worth the taxi ride.
Written 9 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ilyadeux
Canada26 contributions
Mar 2014 • Family
A very short climb brings you to a fenced-off area where the 7 Sleepers emerged. If you don't know the story before you go, this is essentially just a nice view of the valley.
However, now that you're here...have lunch. The small collection of local restaurants at the bottom of the hill serve great fresh gözleme (flat bread wraps), including the sweet gözleme with tahini and grape molasses which was amongst the best things I ate in Turkey.
However, now that you're here...have lunch. The small collection of local restaurants at the bottom of the hill serve great fresh gözleme (flat bread wraps), including the sweet gözleme with tahini and grape molasses which was amongst the best things I ate in Turkey.
Written 2 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aqusite
California1,554 contributions
June 2013 • Couples
Admittedly, the cave of the seven sleepers is not much to see -- a few alcoves in the rock strewn sadly with rubbish. Still, if you know the tale, it's quite an enchanting place to visit and should be visited by more people.
Also, my favorite dining experience in all of Turkey was at the cave of the seven sleepers; I'd love to know the name of the dish that I had because it was so sublime. It was some sort of gozleme filled with ground poppy seeds and something else, I think honey -- it was so good that we ordered a second round to go since gozlemes keep well in a plastic bag. We also ordered potato gozlemes. The restaurant is beautiful! It's just a maze of ottoman carpets and rugs set amongst an arbor of trees that is quite large, with lanterns hanging everywhere. Nearby is a store where, for the first and one of the only times in Turkey, I was allowed to browse for a long time without being hassled to buy ANYTHING. I walked out with $100 worth of gorgeous jewelry, scarves, and other gifts. It seemed to be run by a family. If anyone ever knows the name of the restaurant here or the name of this kind of poppy seed gozleme, PLEASE post in your review! Thanks! Totally recommended for a cool, two-hour, off-the-beaten path in Ephesus sort of experience.
Also, my favorite dining experience in all of Turkey was at the cave of the seven sleepers; I'd love to know the name of the dish that I had because it was so sublime. It was some sort of gozleme filled with ground poppy seeds and something else, I think honey -- it was so good that we ordered a second round to go since gozlemes keep well in a plastic bag. We also ordered potato gozlemes. The restaurant is beautiful! It's just a maze of ottoman carpets and rugs set amongst an arbor of trees that is quite large, with lanterns hanging everywhere. Nearby is a store where, for the first and one of the only times in Turkey, I was allowed to browse for a long time without being hassled to buy ANYTHING. I walked out with $100 worth of gorgeous jewelry, scarves, and other gifts. It seemed to be run by a family. If anyone ever knows the name of the restaurant here or the name of this kind of poppy seed gozleme, PLEASE post in your review! Thanks! Totally recommended for a cool, two-hour, off-the-beaten path in Ephesus sort of experience.
Written 20 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
I just want to ask either the cave is open for visitors? Previous comments mentioned that the gate was closed.
Thank you.
Written 6 March 2015
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