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Gobeklitepe, the ancient archaeological site located in southeastern Türkiye, has firmly established itself as the region’s leading tourist attraction. Regarded as the world’s oldest known cult center and often referred to as the “zero point of history,” the site has drawn millions of local and international visitors since its official opening to the public in 2019.
Situated in the Haliliye district of Sanliurfa province, about 18 kilometers from the city center near the rural Orencik neighborhood, Gobeklitepe was first identified in 1963 during surface surveys. However, it gained archaeological significance in 1986 when a local farmer unearthed a statue while plowing his field.
Excavations officially began in 1995 under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Directorate General of Cultural Heritage and Museums. The site revealed towering T-shaped obelisks from the Neolithic era, measuring between 3 and 6 meters in height and weighing up to 60 tons. These megalithic structures positioned Gobeklitepe as one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the modern era.
Gobeklitepe was added to UNESCO’s Tentative List in 2011 and received full World Heritage status in 2018. Months after the UNESCO recognition, Türkiye opened the site to tourists in 2019, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declaring that year the “Year of Gobeklitepe.”
Although the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters in 2023 disrupted travel, Gobeklitepe continued to welcome visitors steadily. From its opening in 2019 until mid-2025, the site hosted over 3.6 million people. Visitor numbers remained strong, with more than 700,000 recorded in 2024 and nearly 400,000 in the first half of 2025.
According to Aydin Aslan, the provincial head of culture and tourism, Gobeklitepe has become an essential stop on every tour to Sanliurfa. He noted that the UNESCO designation elevated its global appeal, positioning it as the region’s main tourism driver. He also underlined the growing role of Gobeklitepe in boosting Türkiye’s national cultural tourism sector.
Aslan highlighted international promotional efforts such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s exhibition titled “Gobeklitepe: The Enigma of a Sacred Place,” held at the Colosseum in Rome. The six-month exhibition attracted 6 million visitors and had a notable effect on interest in the site. “Many who saw the exhibit at the Colosseum have since traveled to the region to experience Gobeklitepe firsthand,” he said.
Visitors are coming from around the world to witness Gobeklitepe. Ahmet Yazdag, a visitor from Australia, shared his excitement during his trip: “I work at a hospital in Australia, and even there, many doctors are eager to visit Gobeklitepe. I hope they come here soon. Sanliurfa is definitely a destination worth visiting.”
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