According to the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Ersoy, the country welcomed almost 4 million visitors to its museums and historical sites in the first three months of 2024. This number includes over 300 museums and archaeological sites affiliated with the Ministry and the museums within the Presidency of National Palaces.
Konya Mevlana Museum Is the Most Visited
Museums and historical sites in Turkey received approximately 30.5 million visitors last year and 3,886,998 visitors in the first three months of this year. Konya Mevlana Museum was the most visited museum in the first quarter of 2024, with 383,392 people.
Denizli Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Ruins ranked second with 259,025 visitors, and Izmir Efes Ruins ranked third with 249,482 visitors.
The museums and ruins that hosted the most visitors in the first three months of the year were followed by Izmir Efes Ruins, with 249,482 people, and Nevşehir Göreme Ruins, with 149,023 people, respectively.
Record Museum Card Sales
To help citizens access historical and cultural sites, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has set the price of the Museum Card at 60 lira (about $2). The Museum Card grants access to over 300 museums and historical sites affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and museums within the Presidency of National Palaces. In the first three months of 2024, there were 701,162 sales of the Museum Card. Compared to the same month in the previous year, sales increased by 7% in January, reaching 217,033. In February, sales increased by 122% to 245,010 cards sold. In March, sales increased by 77% to 239,119 cards sold.
The most visited museums and ruins in Turkey in the first quarter of 2024:
- Konya Mevlana Museum
- Denizli Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Ruins
- Izmir Ephesus Ruins
- Nevşehir Göreme Ruins
- Nevşehir Zelve-Paşabağları Ruins
- Ankara Republic Museum
- Istanbul Archeology Museum
- Istanbul Galata Tower
- Şanlıurfa Göbeklitepe Ruins
- Nevşehir Kaymaklı Underground City
