Türkiye’s museums and archaeological sites welcomed a record 34.8 million visitors in 2025, generating more than TL 7.3 billion ($204 million) in revenue, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said.
Ersoy said in a post on his NSosyal account that museums and archaeological sites reached their highest visitor numbers to date, with 34,836,007 visitors recorded throughout the year.
“The great interest in our unique cultural heritage, from Ephesus to Hierapolis, Göreme to Galata Tower, is the strongest indication of the work we have carried out and the rise of cultural tourism,” Ersoy said.
He added that Türkiye would continue efforts to preserve and promote its historical heritage.
The ancient city of Ephesus in Izmir was Türkiye’s most visited cultural site in 2025, attracting 2,552,734 visitors, according to figures released by the ministry.
It was followed by the Hierapolis archaeological site in Pamukkale, Denizli, with 2,302,218 visitors.
The Göreme archaeological site in Nevşehir welcomed 1,187,185 visitors, while Paşabağları received 1,143,434.
Istanbul’s Galata Tower was also among the country’s most visited cultural attractions, drawing 953,537 visitors during the year.
Other popular sites included Kaymaklı Underground City, with 688,459 visitors, and Derinkuyu Underground City, with 548,687.
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums welcomed 534,602 visitors, while the Troy archaeological site received 360,209 and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Bodrum attracted 312,951 visitors.
