⛪ Selçuk✈ 68 km from ADB⏱ 70 min🎟 Entry is ticketed, plus a small separate parking fee at the car park below the chapel

Private Transfer toHouse of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana)

Mary's last home above Ephesus — a candle-lit mountain chapel about 70 minutes from İzmir Airport, private transfer from €63.

From İzmir Airport (ADB) · per vehicle€63EUR

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About this attraction

House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana)

The House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) is a small stone chapel folded into the pine forest of Bülbül Mountain, about 9 km above Selçuk, where many Catholics believe the Virgin Mary spent her final years after St John brought her to Ephesus. Rediscovered in the 19th century following the visions of the German nun Anne Catherine Emmerich, it is today an official Catholic pilgrimage site with daily mass, a wishing wall and sacred spring water taps — and it has welcomed Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Getting there is simple by road: İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is about 68 km and roughly 70 minutes away, and a private SooTransfer towards Selçuk/Meryemana starts at €63 — a fixed euro price with meet and greet at arrivals.

Opening hours

Open daily year-round. Summer roughly 08:00 – 18:00 (sometimes later in peak months); winter roughly 08:30 – 17:00, with last entry shortly before closing. Daily mass is celebrated at the chapel — check the shrine's current schedule if you want to attend.

Entry fee

Entry is ticketed, plus a small separate parking fee at the car park below the chapel. Prices are set in Turkish lira and revised regularly, so check the current rate at the gate before you go; cards are accepted at the ticket office.

What to see / do

Highlights of House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana)

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The chapel itself

A humble stone chapel restored over far older foundations — pilgrims file quietly through the small candle-lit interior where Mary is believed to have lived.

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An astonishing discovery

The site was located in the 19th century by an expedition following the sickbed visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a German nun who never left her homeland.

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Blessed by three Popes

Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI all came to pray here — about the strongest endorsement a Catholic pilgrimage site outside Rome can carry.

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The wishing wall

Below the chapel, visitors of every faith tie ribbons, tissues and hand-written wishes to a wall — hundreds of thousands of hopes fluttering in the pines.

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The sacred spring

Taps near the exit carry water from the spring below the house; pilgrims drink it and bottle it, believing it blessed. Bring an empty bottle.

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Bülbül Mountain setting

Nightingale Mountain's pine forest, birdsong and glimpses of the Aegean make the winding 9 km drive up from Selçuk part of the experience.

Practical tips

Trip tricks for House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana)

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Dress modestly

This is an active place of worship: cover shoulders and knees, keep voices low, and note that photography is not allowed inside the chapel.

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No public transport — go private

No bus or dolmuş climbs the mountain. Book a SooTransfer wait-and-return: your driver brings you up from the airport or hotel, waits at the car park, then continues to Ephesus, 15 minutes away — luggage safe in the van the whole time.

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Allow about an hour

The site is small: 45–60 minutes covers the chapel, wishing wall and spring. Pair it with Ephesus, the Basilica of St John and Şirince for a full day out.

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Attending mass

Mass is said daily at the chapel; Sundays and 15 August draw large congregations. Arrive early for a place and check service times in advance.

Pickup from your hotel

Transfer prices to House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana)

Fixed price in EUR for a private Eco Van (up to 6 guests) — larger Vito and V-Class options available at booking.

From

Vehicle

One-way

Round trip

İzmir Airport (ADB)68 km · 70 min

Eco Van

€63

€126

Selçuk & Ephesus55 km from ADB

Eco Van

€63

€126

Kuşadası75 km from ADB

Eco Van

€70

€140

İzmir18 km from ADB

Eco Van

€60

€120

Şirince62 km from ADB

Eco Van

€65

€130

Round-trip includes up to 6 hours wait time. Need longer? Message us for a flat day-rate.

FAQ

House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) transfer · frequently asked

How much is a transfer from İzmir Airport to the House of the Virgin Mary?

A private one-way SooTransfer from İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) towards Selçuk/Meryemana starts at €63 for the roughly 68 km, ~70-minute journey. The price is fixed in euros and quoted up front — no meter — and includes meet and greet with a name sign, flight tracking and free waiting; you pay on arrival.

Is a private transfer better than a taxi, bus or group tour?

For this site, clearly yes: no public bus climbs Bülbül Mountain, taxis from Selçuk run on the meter plus waiting charges, and coach tours give you a fixed 30–40 minutes in the busiest window. A private car costs a fixed euro price, leaves the moment you land, waits while you visit and continues on your schedule.

Can I combine the House of the Virgin Mary with Ephesus?

Yes — that is the classic pairing. The upper gate of Ephesus is only about 15 minutes downhill, so most visitors see Meryemana first while it is quiet, then walk Ephesus top to bottom while their driver moves round to the lower gate.

Do I need to be Catholic to visit?

No. The shrine welcomes every faith — Mary is honoured in Islam too, and many Muslim visitors come. Everyone is asked to dress modestly and keep quiet inside the chapel; the daily mass is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Did the Virgin Mary really live here?

The Catholic Church has never issued a formal ruling, but it takes the site seriously: it matches the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, tradition holds that St John brought Mary to Ephesus, and Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI all chose to pray here. Authentic or not, few visitors leave unmoved.