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    Mardin

    Turkey

    Mardin

    CityCulture

    Mardin, in southeastern Turkey, perches on a slope above the Mesopotamian Plain, famed for its south-facing stone old town. Madrasahs, mosques, and Syriac Orthodox monasteries speak of Artuqids, Akkoyunlu, and past Christian communities.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Turkey
    7. Southeastern Anatolia
    9. Mardin
    Mardin, in southeastern Turkey, perches on a slope above the Mesopotamian Plain, famed for its south-facing stone old town. Madrasahs, mosques, and Syriac Orthodox monasteries speak of Artuqids, Akkoyunlu, and past Christian communities. With around 130,000 residents, its old town stretches below the citadel down the south slope, best explored on foot.

    Sights in Mardin

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Zinciriye Madrasa
    Historic Landmark

    1Zinciriye Madrasa

    Melik Necmeddin İsa had the Medrese built in 1385, hence its name, Sultan-İsa Medrese. It lies below the Citadel and is known for its muqarnas portal and its two ribbed domes. It also occasionally served as an observatory.
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    Deyrulzafaran Abbey
    Place of Worship

    2Deyrulzafaran Abbey

    The Syriac Orthodox Saffron Monastery is located approximately 5 km southeast of the city and was founded in the 5th century. It was built on the site of an older sun temple and served as the seat of the Patriarch for centuries. It can only be visited with a guided tour; during the week, it is quieter.
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    Great Mosque (Ulu Cami)

    3Great Mosque (Ulu Cami)

    The mosque was built in 1176 under Artuqid Sultan Kutbettin İlgazi. Its richly decorated cylindrical minaret dates from the 19th century.
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    Ancient City Dara
    Historic Landmark

    4Ancient City Dara

    Emperor Anastasios founded Dara in 505 as a garrison town. The ruins lie about 30 km southeast of Mardin in Oğuz village. Excavations have been ongoing here since the 1980s.
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    Kasımiye Madrasa
    Attraction

    5Kasımiye Madrasa

    Construction began under the Artuqids and was completed in the 15th century under the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım, after whom it is named. The Madrasa is located slightly west of the Old Town.
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    Mardin Museum

    6Mardin Museum

    The museum occupies a three-story building, erected in 1895 as the seat of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate; next door stands St. Mary's Church. After years as a barracks, party office, and police station, it was restored and opened as a museum in 2000. The archaeological collection ranges from the Bronze Age, through Assyrians, Urartians, Romans, and Byzantines, up to Artukids and Ottomans. In the ethnography department, you'll see silver jewelry from Mardin, traditional costumes, and coffee sets.
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    Restaurants in Mardin

    1

    Cercis Murat Mansion

    The restaurant is located in a 19th-century Syrian-influenced mansion. It serves Mardin cuisine, such as Kişk soup, Kazan Kebap, Dobo, and Kaburga Dolması. On weekends, you should make a reservation.
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    2

    Bağdadi Restaurant

    The restaurant in the Old Town serves Turkish and Syrian dishes. The Mezopotamya meze platter is ideal for sampling, and İkbebet is also on the menu.
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    3

    Seyr-i Merdin

    The restaurant and café in the Old Town serves regional cuisine, including Kaburga Dolması.
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    Food and Drink

    Mardin is known for its meat dishes, dumplings, and sweets. Five local specialties have a protected geographical indication since 2021.

    Kaburga Dolması

    Lamb ribs are filled with rice, diced meat, almonds, and spices, and cooked for almost three hours. The dish is often served on festive occasions.

    İkbebet

    In Mardin, İçli Köfte is a bulgur shell with meat filling. Unlike elsewhere, it is usually cooked instead of fried.

    Sembusek

    The minced meat flatbread resembles a closed Lahmacun and is baked on a sheet or in the oven.

    Almond Candy

    The almond dragées are sold in the shops of the old town and make a typical souvenir.

    Culture & History

    Artuqids and AkkoyunluThe old town's grand buildings date back to the Middle Ages. The Great Mosque was built in 1176 under the Artuqids, the Zinciriye Madrasah in 1385. In the 15th century, the Kasımiye Madrasah, named after the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım, was completed.Syriac Orthodox HeritageThe city is primarily inhabited by Kurds and Arabs, along with Syriac Orthodox Christians. The Deyrulzafaran Monastery, dating from the 5th century, served as the seat of the Patriarch for centuries. Approximately 20 km southeast of Midyat lies Mor Gabriel, founded in 397 by Mor Shmuel and Mor Shemun, and one of the oldest still-operating Syriac Orthodox monasteries.BazaarsIn the old town, historical bazaars are still in operation, such as the Kayseriye Bazaar, the Coppersmiths' Bazaar, and the Jewellery Bazaar.

    Arrival & On the Way

    Getting ThereMardin Airport is 20 km southwest of the Old Town. Rental cars are practical for excursions in the Tur Abdin.On Site and ExcursionsOld Town: Explore the steep alleys and stairs on foot.Deyrulzafaran: About 5 km southeast, visits only with a guided tour.Midyat and Mor Gabriel: Midyat is about 70 km from Mardin and is known for its stone houses. The Late Antique and medieval churches and monasteries of Midyat and the Tur Abdin have been on the UNESCO Tentative List since 2021. Mor Gabriel Monastery is about 20 km southeast of Midyat.NoteMardin Province borders Syria. Before you travel, check the current travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

    Accommodations in Mardin

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    Nearby

    Southeastern Anatolia

    Southeastern Anatolia

    Southeastern Anatolia is the land between the Euphrates and Tigris, bordering Syria, home to Göbekli Tepe, the colossal statues of Mount Nemrut, and the stone city of Mardin. Here lie some of humanity's oldest cult sites, plus Gaziantep, the capital of Turkish cuisine. If you seek archaeology and hearty, spicy cuisine, this is the right place.
    Şanlıurfa & Göbekli Tepe

    Şanlıurfa & Göbekli Tepe

    Şanlıurfa is the city of Abraham in southeastern Turkey and the starting point for Göbekli Tepe, one of humanity's oldest known sanctuaries. Pilgrim ponds with sacred carp, bazaars, and a spicy cuisine characterize the old town. The city has around 600,000 inhabitants; the old town and Balıklıgöl are located at the foot of the castle hill, with museums slightly north in the Haleplibahçe quarter.
    Nemrut Dağı

    Nemrut Dağı

    Nemrut Dağı is a mountain in the Anti-Taurus range in Southeast Anatolia, on whose summit King Antiochus I of Commagene had his tomb-sanctuary with colossal statues of gods erected. Since 1987, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a popular destination, especially for sunrise and sunset. Starting points are Kahta and the village of Karadut at the foot of the mountain, about 85 km from Adıyaman.
    Van

    Van

    Van lies at around 1,700 m on the eastern shore of Lake Van, Turkey's largest lake, in eastern Anatolia. The city is a starting point for the Akdamar Church, the Urartian Fortress, and the famous Van breakfast. The city has over 500,000 residents, and its center, with the Breakfast Street, is in the Şerefiye quarter. The fortress rises a few kilometers west along the lakeshore.
    Gaziantep

    Gaziantep

    Gaziantep in southeast Turkey, about 97 km north of Aleppo, has been a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015 and is known for baklava, kebap, and pistachios. In the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, you can see the mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma on the Euphrates. The city has around 1.9 million inhabitants; its castle, bazaars, and coffee houses are located in the old town center.

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    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
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