2024 was a truly spectacular year for the ancient city of Ephesus! According to official figures, exactly 2 million 626 thousand 753 people visited the Ancient City of Ephesus in 2024. This figure clearly shows how popular and attractive destination Ephesus has become. Imagine, almost 3 million people have come here to explore this magnificent ancient city!
After the low figures of the pandemic period of 20201, the ancient city of Ephesus has steadily increased the number of visitors every year. In 2024, there was a 119% increase compared to 2020. This clearly demonstrates Ephesus’ capacity for recovery and growth.
With this number of visitors, Ephesus became the second most visited archaeological site in Turkey in 2024. The Mevlana Museum in Konya ranked first, while the Hierapolis Pamukkale Ruins in Denizli ranked third. This ranking once again proves the important position of Ephesus on the cultural tourism map of Turkey and the world.
The popularity of the ancient city of Ephesus has been increasing in recent years. In 2023, 2 million 196 thousand 104 people visited Ephesus. In 2024, this number increased by about 430 thousand people, reaching 2 million 626 thousand 753. This means an increase of 19.6% in one year.
In recent years, Ephesus has also started to organize night visits2. Especially in the summer months, visiting Ephesus in cool weather and under special lighting offers a different experience to visitors. Night visits contribute to the increase in the number of visitors and tourism revenues of Ephesus.
In 2024, the ratio of night visits to the total number of visitors is approximately 5%. This means approximately 131,337 night visitors. Night visits allow Ephesus to be experienced in a different atmosphere and the magic of the ancient buildings, especially when illuminated, offers an unforgettable experience for visitors.
Your Turn To Visit Ephesus
As a tour guide, I am pleased with the increasing interest in Ephesus every year. Ephesus offers visitors an unforgettable experience not only with its historical ruins, but also with its surrounding natural beauties, quaint villages like Şirince and local delicacies. Especially night tours are a great option for those who want to experience the magical atmosphere of Ephesus differently.
I am sure that Ephesus will continue to be one of the most important tourist destinations in Turkey for years to come. As a guide who organizes tours in and around Ephesus, I would like to remind you that these statistics are not just numbers, there is a story, an experience behind each of them. If you haven’t visited Ephesus yet, I strongly suggest you add it to your plans. Exploring this magnificent ancient city will be an unforgettable experience!
- Ephesus Visitor Numbers From Previous Years
2017: 1,550,261
2018: 1,655,000
2019: 2,031,804
2020: 737,000 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
2021: 1,738,229 ↩︎ - Ephesus Night Tours ↩︎
