Date: 23 September 2025 • Location: Şanlıurfa / Berlin
Türkiye will be showcasing "Myths on Stone: Göbeklitepe and the Last Hunters' World" in Berlin in 2026, featuring a special presentation of 96 objects from the UNESCO World Heritage site. The Ministry of Culture & Tourism states that the Berlin show is part of a steady effort to promote the Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills) program nationally and globally, with a major event planned for Museum Island and additional events in other countries.
This follows on from Rome's Colosseum performance, "Göbeklitepe: The Enigma of a Sacred Place," which drew over 6 million people—a vibrant reflection of international interest in the Neolithic heritage of Türkiye.
Why Göbeklitepe is significant
Göbeklitepe, near Şanlıurfa in south-eastern Türkiye, dates to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (c. 9600–8200 BCE) and features monumental T-shaped pillars with engravings of wildlife—evidence for early ritual building by hunter-gatherers. In 2018, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its universal outstanding value.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
The location is the linchpin of the larger Taş Tepeler complex (incorporating Karahantepe), a multi-site research and visit initiative which relocates early human settlement and ritual landscapes across the Şanlıurfa province.
Why it's important to investors (Gain Estates viewpoint)
1) Tourism demand → product gaps new
Blockbuster cultural programming always boosts destination appeal. After heavy promotion, Göbeklitepe welcomed ~600k tourists in the first 10 months of 2024 (+50% y/y)—and the Berlin limelight has to keep that going till 2026. We discover under-tapped niches in:
• Boutique & design hotels (20–60 rooms) offering packages on archaeotourism.
• High-end short-stay villas/aparthotels for unpretentious groups and scholars.
• Experience-based operators (speciality-design diggings, lecture-type expert shows, night-at-the-mound activities).
2) Brand halo → urban value capture
Museum Island production keeps Türkiye's prehistory inside European visitors' faces, fueling city-break pipelines that begin in Istanbul and flow towards Şanlıurfa. Expect knock-on demand for:
• CBD accommodation in Istanbul (night stayover extension).
• Cultural retail & F&B concepts linked with Anatolian heritage.
3) Long-tail assets along heritage corridors
As Taş Tepeler content becomes more detailed, shoulder season occupancy can rise across Southeastern Anatolia. This is good for:
• Last-mile mobility hubs (EV-ready parking, shuttle hubs).
• Visitor-centre adjacencies (food halls, artisan markets).
• Mixed hospitality + learning centres (museum-quality programming).
Risk & realism
• Seasonality: Heat and flight patterns continue to skew traffic—mitigate with climate-adaptive design (shaded courtyards, efficient HVAC) and winter programming.
• Conservation sensitivities: Proximity rules and view corridors matter—prioritize low-impact builds and local stakeholder alignment.
• Air connectivity: Track capacity adds into GAP Airport (Şanlıurfa) and promotion partnerships that bundle Istanbul + Şanlıurfa itineraries. (We infer upside if airlines co-market the Berlin exhibition.)
What we’re tracking next
Final Berlin venue specifics and partner institutions on Museum Island.
Programming links between Berlin and Şanlıurfa Visitor Centre (films, replicas, digital archives).
New research updates across Taş Tepeler sites (e.g., Karahantepe) that can refresh itineraries.
How Gain Estates can help
We advise and acquire off-market Istanbul and Southeast Türkiye hospitality, cultural-tourism, and mixed-use opportunities—site selection, feasibility, operator search, and brand/experience strategy. Give us your ticket size, target yield, and hold period, and our Investment Desk will create a tailored brief with comparables, ADR/RevPAR scenarios, and exit possibilities.
