Turkey’s Most Visited Destination: Ancient Ephesus Takes the Lead
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s data for the first 8 months of 2025, a surprising leader has emerged among Turkey’s tourist attractions. This destination welcomed millions of visitors, surpassing both Galata Tower and Göbeklitepe.
Record Broken with 21 Million Visitors
During the January-August period of 2025, Turkey’s museums and archaeological sites received a total of 21 million 610 thousand 964 visitors. This figure demonstrates the remarkable interest in our country’s cultural heritage.
Ancient Ephesus Claims the Top Spot
Turkey’s most visited destination was the Ephesus Archaeological Site in Izmir. One of antiquity’s most important cities, Ephesus, topped the list with 1 million 741 thousand 547 visitors. This number proves Ephesus’s global appeal and justifies its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Most Popular Destinations Ranking
Pamukkale (Hierapolis) Archaeological Site in Denizli ranked second, with 1 million 613 thousand 357 people visiting this natural wonder. Famous for its white travertines, Pamukkale is also one of the important centers of thermal tourism.
Cappadocia’s Enchanting Appeal
The Cappadocia region also attracted significant interest:
- Göreme Archaeological Site: 766 thousand 937 visitors
- Paşabağlar Archaeological Site: 753 thousand 638 visitors
Performance of Istanbul and Göbeklitepe
Istanbul’s iconic Galata Tower ranked fifth with 651 thousand 197 visitors, while Göbeklitepe, humanity’s oldest temple complex, secured sixth place with 497 thousand 394 visitors.
Other Notable Destinations
Other significant sites completing the top 10:
- Kaymaklı Underground City (460,262)
- Republic Museum, Ankara (454,048)
- Sümela Monastery (392,976)
- Derinkuyu Underground City (375,870)
Future of Cultural Heritage
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy emphasised that this success results from restoration work, digitalisation, and new museum approaches. “We will continue carrying our culture to the world with our Turkey Century vision,” he stated.
These statistics reveal that Turkey is not only a powerful destination for sea-sun-sand tourism but also exceptionally strong in the cultural and historical tourism sectors.
Source: Galata Kulesi veya Göbeklitepe değil: Türkiye’nin en çok gezilen yeri belli oldu – Sözcü
