Infrastructure improvements are underway at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Göbeklitepe to accommodate rising visitor numbers, including expanded road access and redesigned walking routes.
Described as the “zero point of history,” Göbeklitepe is located 18 kilometers from central Şanlıurfa near the rural neighborhood of Örencik. First identified during archaeological surveys in 1963, the prehistoric site has become one of Türkiye’s most popular archaeological destinations, attracting around 1 million visitors annually.
Authorities are continuing investments to increase the site’s capacity. A previously single-lane road serving both directions is being widened into a dual carriageway, while pedestrian pathways around the archaeological area are being expanded, made accessible for visitors with disabilities and extended to nearly twice their previous length.
Şanlıurfa Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Aydın Aslan said interest in Göbeklitepe has grown rapidly and 2019 was declared the “Year of Göbeklitepe.”
Aslan said the improvements, carried out under the coordination of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, are designed to enhance the visitor experience while easing congestion.
“We have widened the walking paths and are making them accessible for disabled visitors. We are also creating new routes that allow visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the Harran Plain thanks to Göbeklitepe’s elevated location,” Aslan said.
“Previously, visitors would tour the area beneath the protective roof and then leave. We are opening up more of the site. Visitors will spend more time here and crowds will no longer be concentrated in a single area,” he added.
Mehmet Kamil Türkmen, head of the Şanlıurfa Tourism Development Association, said the new investments would benefit both tourism and visitor capacity.
He said the expanded routes and the future opening of additional archaeological sections would create a broader circular visitor trail, allowing tourists to explore previously inaccessible areas.
Türkmen added that the road expansion would not only support an increase in tourist arrivals but also encourage visitors to spend more time both at Göbeklitepe and in Şanlıurfa.
