Hunter-gatherers raised circles of huge T-shaped stone pillars here roughly 11,000 to 11,500 years ago, before farming or pottery. Many pillars carry carved animals.

Inscribed 2018ŞanlıurfaCultural

Video

Göbeklitepe – Uncovering #12 | Go Türkiye (Go Türkiye). Watch on YouTube.

Plan your visit

  • Getting there: Fly to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport (GNY), about 35 km from the city. A Havaş bus into Şanlıurfa takes about 45 minutes. The site is about 15 km from the city centre, and a taxi is simplest. Stay in Şanlıurfa.
  • How long: Allow 1.5 to 2 hours at the site.
  • Best time: Summer opening runs to 18:30, so you can go early or late. Check the forecast and bring water.
  • Tickets and hours: Open 08:30 to 18:30 from 1 April to 1 October, and 08:30 to 17:30 after that. Foreign adults pay EUR 20.
  • Tip: Buy your ticket online to skip the queue.
  • Tip: Pair it with Şanlıurfa Museum in the city, which holds finds from the site.
  • Nearby: Şanlıurfa Museum and Balıklıgöl pool are in the city, about 15 km away. Harran is 44 km south of Şanlıurfa.

UNESCO listingOfficial visitor pageDirections in Google Maps

Header photo: Enclosure D with its T-shaped pillars at Göbekli Tepe — Photo: Dosseman via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

More UNESCO sites in Turkey

Previous: Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens. Next: Arslantepe. See the full list of all 22 UNESCO sites in Turkey.

Inscription details checked on 8 November 2026 with UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Prices, hours and transport change, so check the official page before you go.