In 2019 alone the site attracted nearly 2 million tourists and history buffs. Ephesus was added to UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage List in 2015.
With safety measures in place, museums and archeological sites across Turkey reopened as of June 1.
"Considering the social distancing [rules] during the 'new normal', we determined the number of visitors at a time to be 650," Topal said. "We believe that the total visit number will vary between 4,500-6,000 during the day."
Ephesus, previously an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman settlement near present-day Selcuk in the coastal Izmir province, boasts a rich cultural heritage dating back to 6,500 BC.
