Türkiye’s summer programme of evening openings at museums and archaeological sites attracted a record 1,326,590 visitors in 2026, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on 17 October.
The figure is 32% higher than last year’s 1,008,080, according to numbers the minister shared on social media and reported by Anadolu Agency.
Ephesus and Galata Tower top the list
The ancient city of Ephesus near Selçuk in İzmir province was the most visited night venue, with 501,811 visitors, up 36% on the previous year. Istanbul’s Galata Tower came second with 277,557 visitors, up 35% from 205,344.
The rest of the top six were Hierapolis at Pamukkale in Denizli (190,910), the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Muğla (62,071), the ancient site of Didyma in Didim, Aydın (60,884) and the Marmaris Museum (50,053).
Some venues recorded far sharper growth. Visitors to the Istanbul Archaeology Museums rose by 183% to 24,850, while Didyma more than doubled from 27,846. The ancient city of Patara in Antalya almost doubled to 28,021, and the Terrace Houses at Ephesus rose 82% to 19,541.
Extended hours into autumn
The 2026 scheme ran from 1 June to 1 October at 22 venues, 11 museums and 11 archaeological sites, run by the ministry’s General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
Because of demand, evening hours were extended to 15 October at Ephesus and Side, and the open-air museum at Göreme in Cappadocia is staying open late until 31 October. Galata Tower will continue its evening opening all year round.
Night visits have become popular with holidaymakers who want to avoid the midday heat at large open-air sites on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, as well as with cruise and city-break visitors in Istanbul.
What visitors should know
Entry prices for state museums are set by the ministry and are due to change for 2027; our report on next year’s museum fees for Ephesus, Galata Tower and the MuseumPass has the details. Visitors planning a late-season trip to Cappadocia may also want to read about the record Cappadocia Ultra Trail held this weekend.
The strong numbers for Bodrum’s underwater archaeology museum, housed in the town’s medieval castle, and for Marmaris underline the role of culture in the Muğla coast’s tourism. Our Bodrum living guide covers the town for those thinking of staying longer.
The ministry has not yet announced which venues will take part in the 2027 programme.
Sources
- Bakan Ersoy, gece müzeciliğinde ziyaretçi sayısının 1,3 milyonu aştığını açıkladı (Anadolu Ajansı)
- Gece müzeciliğinde rekor. Zirvede Efes Ören Yeri var (NTV)
Photo: Cungum / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
