Goreme Open-Air Museum Among Turkey’s Top 3 in 2025
Goreme Open-Air Museum Among Turkey’s Top 3 Most Visited Museums in 2025
The Goreme Open-Air Museum in Cappadocia has secured its place among Turkey’s top three most visited museums in 2025, welcoming over 1.18 million visitors. Located in Nevşehir province, the museum continues to attract both domestic and international tourists.
A Living Testament to Early Christianity
Carved directly into soft volcanic rock, the museum is renowned for its rock-cut churches, monasteries, and chapels, many dating back to the 11th–12th centuries. These structures feature original frescoes, offering rare insights into early Christian art and monastic life.
The museum is part of a larger national park shaped by Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman influences.
Steady Year-Round Tourism
According to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, 1,187,016 visitors explored the museum in 2025.
- Visitor numbers typically rise in spring, peak in late spring and autumn, and drop during winter months.
- Compared to 2024, when the museum welcomed just over 1.13 million visitors, this increase highlights growing international interest.
✔ Sustained Growth: The museum demonstrates a consistent upward trend in visitor numbers year over year.
Why It Attracts International Visitors
Guides note that the museum’s appeal lies in the authenticity of its churches and frescoes, preserved over centuries thanks to minimal sunlight exposure.
Notable churches open to visitors include:
- St. Basil Church
- St. Barbara Church
- The Apple Church
- The Snake Church
- The Dark Church
"The Dark Church, named for its low natural light, is particularly significant due to its exceptionally well-preserved frescoes."
Fact: The controlled, dark environment of these rock-cut structures has acted as a natural preservative for the vibrant frescoes within.
