Ephesus visitors are back to normal. About 1.65 million people came to the ancient city in the first 10 months of 2022, close to the 1.81 million of the whole year 2019, before Covid-19. The numbers fell hard in 2020, but they grew again in 2021 and 2022.
In the first 10 months of 2022, the number of visitors from all around the world to see the Ancient City of Ephesus went up to 1 million 650 thousand. The number of visitors to the ancient city, which hosted 1 million 810 thousand visitors in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, went down to 362 thousand 917 in 2020, and the year 2021’s visitor numbers were 782 thousand 27 people. The number of visitors was approximately 1 million 650 thousand in the first 10 months of this year. The total number at the end of the year 2022 is expected to exceed pre-pandemic numbers.
How Busy Is Ephesus Today?
Very busy. In the first 10 months of 2022 Ephesus had more than 5,000 visitors on an average day. Summer days are much busier than that, winter days are quiet.
That is why I like to start my guests at the Upper Gate in the morning and walk down, so we stay ahead of big groups. I explained the two entrances in my post Ephesus Upper Gate or Lower Gate.
In 2025, 2,552,734 people visited Ephesus, about 7,000 on an average day and the most of any museum or archaeological site in Turkey. The record year 2024 and the numbers after it are in my post Record Breaking Visitor Numbers Of Ephesus in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Ephesus closed during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Yes. Turkey closed its state museums and archaeological sites on March 18, 2020 and reopened them on June 1, with masks and temperature checks.
Which months are the busiest at Ephesus?
The months from April to October are the busy season, when the cruise ships come to Kuşadası. July and August are also the hottest, so I suggest an early start or one of the summer night visits.
Visit Ephesus Ancient City with your local, experienced, licensed tour guide Hasan Gülday.
