Mardin Travel Guide: Stone Town Above Mesopotamia
Plan a first trip to Mardin: the old town's medreses and lanes, Deyrulzafaran Monastery, Dara, Midyat and Hasankeyf, local food and the best season.
· 4 min read
Mardin is a honey-coloured stone town on a hillside above the Mesopotamian plain in south-eastern Turkey. Plan two days: one for the old town's medreses, mosques, museums and stepped lanes, one for Deyrulzafaran Monastery and the ancient city of Dara. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summers are very hot.
Mardin has been home to Muslims, Syriac Christians, Armenians, Kurds and Arabs for centuries, and you hear and taste that mix everywhere — in the bells and calls to prayer, in the markets and in the kitchen. This is how we'd spend a first visit.
What should I see in Mardin's old town?
The old town climbs the hill along one main street, with narrow stepped lanes and covered passages (abbara) leading off it. Wander slowly: carved doorways, rooftop terraces and views over the plain appear at every turn. The best photos come at sunset and after dark, when the town lights up above the flat plain.
Zinciriye Medresesi
City Guides · Artuklu
The Zinciriye Medrese, built by the Artuqids, has courtyards and a rooftop with one of the best views over the plain.
Go to Zinciriye MedresesiKasımiye Medrese
City Guides · Artuklu
The Kasımiye Medrese, just below the town, is a beautiful 15th-century building with a calm inner courtyard and pool.
Go to Kasımiye MedreseMardin Museum
Museums · Artuklu
Mardin Museum, in a former Syriac Catholic patriarchate building, displays finds from the region's long history.
Go to Mardin MuseumSabancı Kent Müzesi
Museums · Artuklu
The Sakıp Sabancı City Museum shows daily life and crafts of old Mardin.
Go to Sabancı Kent MüzesiIs Deyrulzafaran Monastery worth visiting?
Yes. Just outside the city to the east, the Deyrulzafaran (Saffron) Monastery was for centuries the seat of the Syriac Orthodox patriarchs and remains an important place for the community. Guided visits show the old church, the patriarchs' tombs and the courtyard. It's a working religious site, so dress modestly and check visiting hours locally.
Mor Hananyo Monastery
Religious Sites · Artuklu
Deyrulzafaran's golden stone glows in the late afternoon — combine it with sunset back in the old town.
Go to Mor Hananyo MonasteryWhat is Dara?
About 30 km south-east of Mardin, the ancient city of Dara was a Roman and Byzantine frontier city. Its rock-cut necropolis, huge underground cisterns and remains of walls and streets are still being excavated, and it's one of the most atmospheric sites in the region. Wear good shoes for the uneven ground.
Dara
Historic & Cultural · Artuklu
Dara's cisterns and necropolis are impressive even on a short visit; go in the morning in warm months.
Go to DaraWhat are the best day trips from Mardin?
- Midyat: a town of stone mansions and Syriac churches about an hour's drive east, famous for its silver filigree (telkari). The Tur Abdin plateau around it has historic monasteries, including Mor Gabriel, one of the oldest still-active monasteries in the world.
- Hasankeyf (Batman province): the historic town on the Tigris was partly moved and rebuilt after the Ilısu dam; its new museum and the relocated monuments tell the story.
- Nusaybin: home to the ancient Mor Yakup Church, near the Syrian border.
Hasankeyf
Historic & Cultural · Hasankeyf
The rock of Hasankeyf rises above the Tigris; the area has changed greatly since the dam, and the new town and museum are worth seeing.
Go to HasankeyfSaint Jacob of Nisibis church
Religious Sites · Nusaybin
The Church of Mor Yakup in Nusaybin is one of the oldest churches in the region.
Go to Saint Jacob of Nisibis churchWhat should I eat in Mardin?
Take home soap made in the traditional way, silver filigree from Midyat, or spices from the bazaar.
- Kaburga dolması: lamb ribs stuffed with spiced rice, the city's celebration dish.
- Sembusek: thin flatbread folded around spiced minced meat.
- İkbebet: bulgur dumplings filled with meat.
- Almond sweets and other local desserts, and strong coffee with cardamom.
When is the best time to visit Mardin?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). In spring the plain below turns green; in autumn the light is golden and the days pleasant. Summer is very hot, so if you come in July or August, sightsee early and late and rest in the shade at midday. Winter is cool and quiet, with occasional snow on the old town.
How do I get to Mardin?
- By air: Mardin Airport (MQM) has flights from Istanbul and Ankara.
- By bus: intercity buses connect Mardin with Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep and the rest of Turkey.
- Around the region: a rental car or a driver makes it easy to combine Mardin, Midyat, Hasankeyf and Dara; minibuses link the towns too.
- In the old town: walk — the lanes are steep and stepped, so pack comfortable shoes.
Mardin is a place to slow down: tea on a terrace, the call to prayer and church bells, and the plain stretching to the horizon. Check in on TripNVB at the places you visit — your verified visit helps the next traveller.
Sources
This article was written by the TripNVB team from our own data: places, locations and facts come from our records. Check opening hours and prices on each place's page before you go.
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