Ancient City of Sardis Attracts More Tourists in Türkiye
UNESCO-Listed Ancient City of Sardis Attracts More Tourists in Türkiye
The ancient city of Sardis, the former capital of the Lydian Kingdom and a place associated with the production of some of the earliest coins in history, attracted nearly 60,000 visitors between January and July 2026.
Located in the western Turkish province of Manisa, Sardis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Anatolia. The history of the ancient city dates back to around 1200 BC.
According to the Manisa Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, around 60,000 people visited Sardis during the first seven months of 2026.
A City Shaped by Thousands of Years of History
Numerous structures from the Lydian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods have survived within the ancient city.
Visitors can explore:
- the Temple of Artemis;
- one of the largest known synagogues of the ancient world;
- a church mentioned in the Gospel of John;
- the remains of a monumental Roman complex with baths and a gymnasium;
- archaeological remains from several successive civilizations.
The combination of monuments from different historical periods makes Sardis an important destination for visitors interested in the history and archaeology of Anatolia.
Archaeological Excavations Continue
Excavations at Sardis are still ongoing. Archaeological layers from the Byzantine, Roman, Hellenistic, Persian and Lydian periods are located directly on top of one another, allowing researchers to study the development of the city over many centuries.
Archaeologists have been working at Sardis for almost 120 years. Numerous discoveries made during this period have helped researchers better understand the political, economic, religious and cultural history of the ancient city.
2,500-Year-Old Statue Discovered at Sardis
One of the latest discoveries at Sardis is a 2,500-year-old statue of a young man measuring approximately 2.2 meters in height.
During the Roman period, the statue was reused as construction material in the paving of a colonnaded street.
Thanks to its monumental size, good state of preservation and expressive details, the statue is considered a rare surviving example of sculpture from its period.
New archaeological discoveries continue to increase interest in Sardis among researchers and visitors.
Sardis Becomes Increasingly Popular Among Tourists
Although Sardis remains an important destination for archaeologists and researchers, the ancient city is also attracting growing numbers of Turkish and international tourists.
The number of visitors recorded during the first seven months of 2026 demonstrates the growing interest in the site. Around 60,000 people visited Sardis between January and July, according to the Manisa Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.
The increasing popularity of the archaeological site is also reflected in the experiences of visitors who come to explore its ancient remains.
Visitors Discover the Ancient City
Aysel Kuzu, an architecture student who visited Sardis, said that although she lives nearby, it was her first visit to the ancient city.
“We were amazed as soon as we walked between the columns. I regret not coming earlier. It is a magnificent place, and preserving it is priceless.”
Another visitor, Abdullah Serdar Erceylan, said that he brought his daughters to introduce them to history and cultural heritage from an early age.
He named one of his daughters Lydia after the ancient Lydian civilization.
“I wanted them to see this beautiful historical site. We named one of our daughters Lydia after one of the important civilizations of our history. I believe everyone should visit this place. It is one of the rare historical monuments that has survived and reached us today.”
Why Sardis Is Important
Sardis played a central role in the history of the Lydian Kingdom and later became an important settlement under Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine rule.
The city is particularly significant for the history of money because the Lydians are widely associated with the development of early coinage. Its archaeological remains also provide evidence of the cultural and economic connections between different civilizations that developed in Anatolia and the wider ancient world.
With continuing excavations, new discoveries and a growing number of visitors, Sardis is becoming one of the increasingly prominent cultural and archaeological attractions in western Türkiye.
Located in Manisa, the UNESCO-listed ancient city offers visitors an opportunity to explore more than two thousand years of history in a single archaeological landscape, from the Lydian Kingdom to the Byzantine period.
