🍯 Southeast Türkiye in Colour

GAZİANTEP

2 days · UNESCO City of Gastronomy

1. Zeugma Mosaic Museum

   One of the largest mosaic museums in the world. Find the famous Gypsy Girl, with eyes that follow you.

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2. Gaziantep Castle

   A castle on a hill in the old town, with a museum about the city's defence.

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3. Coppersmiths' Bazaar (Bakırcılar Çarşısı)

   The sound of hammers on copper, spices and leather shoes (yemeni).

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4. Tahmis Coffee House

   A coffee house from the 1600s. Try menengiç coffee, made from wild pistachio.

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5. Baklava at İmam Çağdaş

   A legendary baklava and kebab house in the old town, running since 1887.

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💡 Local tip: Eat breakfast beyran, a spicy lamb and rice soup, early in the morning like the locals.

MARDİN

2 days · A golden city on a hill

Old Mardin climbs up a mountain over the flat Mesopotamian plain. Every house is carved stone. Stay in a stone mansion with a terrace.

1. Mardin old town

   Walk the main street (Cumhuriyet Caddesi) and the narrow stepped lanes above it.

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2. Zinciriye Medrese

   A 14th-century religious school with a terrace view over the plain.

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3. Kasımiye Medrese

   A beautiful 15th-century school with a courtyard pool, just below the old town.

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4. Deyrulzafaran Monastery

   A Syriac Orthodox monastery from the 5th century, 5 km outside town, still in use.

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5. Sunset over Mesopotamia

   From any terrace in the old town, watch the plain turn gold all the way to Syria.

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💡 Local tip: Mardin is famous for telkari, fine silver filigree jewellery.

MİDYAT

1 day · 1 hour east of Mardin

1. Midyat old town

   A Syriac stone town with church towers, mansions and silversmiths.

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2. Midyat Guest House (Konuk Evi)

   A carved stone mansion often used in Turkish TV series.

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3. Mor Gabriel Monastery

   Founded in 397, one of the oldest active monasteries in the world. Check visiting hours.

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HASANKEYF

Half a day · 1 hour north of Midyat

The old town of Hasankeyf was flooded by the Ilısu Dam in 2020. Some monuments were moved to a new cultural park, and the lake is now a place for boat trips.

1. New Hasankeyf cultural park

   See the moved monuments, like the round tomb of Zeynel Bey with its turquoise tiles.

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2. Boat trip on the lake

   Sail past the castle cliffs that still rise above the water.

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DİYARBAKIR

1–2 days · The city of black basalt

1. City walls

   Almost 6 km of black basalt walls, among the longest in the world, a UNESCO site with the Hevsel Gardens below.

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2. Great Mosque (Ulu Cami)

   One of the oldest mosques in Anatolia, with a courtyard of reused ancient columns.

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3. Hasanpaşa Hanı

   A 16th-century caravanserai. Have a huge breakfast in its courtyard.

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4. Ten-Eyed Bridge (On Gözlü Köprü)

   A stone bridge over the Tigris from 1065. Sunset here is special.

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