Diyarbakır is a city people think they know a lot about but actually know nothing about. You can only understand what I mean when you go; Because most of the time we know not as much as we read, but as much as we see.. Diyarbakir, unfortunately, is a city that has always been described incompletely or incompletely and unfortunately, it has not been introduced much in terms of travel.. So much so that when you look at the travel guides written about it on the internet, you will probably think that there are only 3-5 places to see.. But there is so much more to this city than that.. Based on what we read at the beginning, we thought we knew what to see in Diyarbakır, but we were wrong.. That’s why we wanted to prepare a comprehensive Diyarbakir guide as soon as we returned.
Anatolia always fascinates us. always adds a little more to what we know. We learn something new on every trip, but especially if you travel to the East of the country, people write what you learn, not books.. That’s why I love to travel, especially to Eastern Anatolia.. In this article, our subject is places to visit in Diyarbakır; If you are ready, we begin to describe every place we see one by one..
Ten Eyed Bridge, Diyarbakir
INFORMATION ABOUT DİYARBAKIR
Turkey’s 12 most populated. The history of Diyarbakir, the city of Diyarbakir, goes way back with its prehistoric cave structures, archaeological finds and its location on the transition route of Anatolian civilizations and Mesopotamia.. The city, which is home to the oldest village in the world with its Çayönü Hill near its district Ergani, has been the place where various civilizations lived for thousands of years.
We are talking about a region so rich in the diversity of Anatolian civilizations. There are Hittites, Assyrians, Arameans, Medes, Persians, Armenians, Romans, Sassanids, Byzantines, Umayyads, Abbasids, Mervanis, Seljuks, Artuqids, Eyyubis, Akkoyunlus, Safavids and Ottomans among the states that dominate in Diyarbakir.. Diyarbakir, which started to develop as a result of the Assyrians determining this city as their center, first came under the protection of the Seljuks with the participation of the Mervanis to the Seljuks after the Battle of Manzikert, and then became one of the military centers of the geography together with the Ottoman Empire.
Diyarbakır’s main development and urbanization started after the proclamation of the Republic. After 1950, the city grew and became one of the most developed places in the East with various reconstruction works and economic changes.
Diyarbakır, located in the Southeast Anatolian region; Neighbors of Batman, Muş, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Elazığ and Bingöl. With the city walls and Hevsel Gardens, an agricultural area that once met all the food needs of the city, the city, which has been under the protection of UNESCO since 2015, today constitutes one of the most special regions of Anatolia.
Hevsel Garden Is Like Home, Diyarbakir
WHEN TO GO TO DİYARBAKIR
We made our Diyarbakir trip in the first week of January and while we were there, we learned that even in the coldest times, the weather is between 5-7 degrees, the most rainy.. Since the Southeast Taurus Mountains surrounding the city cut the winds coming from the north, the terrestrial climatic conditions we know in Diyarbakır are not very effective.. In our opinion, Diyarbakir can be visited in all seasons.. Of course, if you can coincide with the spring months, it is possible to see the city greener.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED TO VISIT DIYARBAKIR
We were able to allocate 1 full day to Diyarbakir to go to Diyarbakir with the Southern Kurtalan Express and return without using annual leave.. Since Şehadet Hanım, the founder of @hevselbahcesi, guided our Diyarbakır trip, we had the chance to see many places in 1 day; but if we were traveling by ourselves, i think 2 full days would be enough. Therefore, if you want to see the city and its culture fully, you need at least 2 days for a trip to Diyarbakir in any season.
HIRE A CAR IN Diyarbakir DO I NEED
Most touristic places you will visit in Diyarbakir are very close to each other. Public transport possibilities are quite plentiful; However, renting a car is an advantage for those who want to move quickly.. Especially if you are going in the winter season, using your own vehicle instead of public transport saves you a lot of time.
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THINGS TO VISIT IN DIYARBAKIR
I have a very good day in Diyarbakir for a trip. Since we started early, we had the opportunity to see many places; but we wanted to add the ones we couldn’t see to the list so that the guide would not be incomplete.. We have created our travel list from places that are currently open to visitors, which you can visit at the moment.. If you’re ready, we’re starting our section on Places to Visit in Diyarbakir!
The Bridge with Ten Eyes, Diyarbakir
#1 Diyarbakir Ten-Eye Bridge:
The Ten-Eye Bridge over the Tigris River, Anatolia’s first Islamic work accepted. The Bridge with Ten Eyes, built on ten cut arches during the Marwanid period, was completed in 1065.. Today, there are tea gardens on the shore of the restored bridge.. Especially when the weather is nice, one of the favorite activities of Diyarbakır residents and tourists is to take a tea break on the banks of the Tigris.. When you come to the bridge, don’t forget to climb the steps and look at the river while walking on it.. The Tigris sound, which cannot be heard clearly while walking on the bridge, is loud when you climb the step..
Diyarbakir Walls, Diyarbakir
#2 Diyarbakir Castle and Diyarbakir Walls:
Diyarbakır Castle, which has a history of approximately 1600 years in medieval architecture, is the first in the world with the size of its bastions, and the length of its walls in China. Coming second after the Great Wall. The best part is that the part you can see today is still standing.. The black basalt stone, on which the castle was built, was collected around Karacadağ, which was active in the past.. While walking around Diyarbakır, you will come across architectures made of this basalt stone in abundance.
The Interior Castle, which is entered from the Artuklu Arch, is actually Diyarbakır’s defined as the city center. Amida Mound, Artuqid Palace, Hz.. Suleyman Mosque, St.. George, Aslanlı Çeşme, Atatürk Museum, and Diyarbakır Archeology Museum.
Outer Castle with the bastions of the castle. the name given to the large area containing the walls. Although the architecture of the castle has survived to the present day, a governor in the past decided to demolish the walls on the side of the mountain gate (not a joke) in order to supposedly improve the silhouette of the city and keep the center cool, especially in summer.. Fortunately, a French archaeologist seized the incident and made a decision to stop the demolition, but the castle managed to survive, although some parts of it were destroyed.. Diyarbakır Castle, thankfully, has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1995, so the historical values of our country will no longer be protected by the French.
Diyarbakır Walls , Diyarbakir
#3 Diyarbakir Wall Gates:
Diyarbakir There are 4 main gates on its walls, namely Dağ Kapı (aka Harput Kapı), Urfa Gate (aka Greek or Aleppo Gate), Mardin Gate (aka Tell Kapı) and Yeni Kapı (aka Tigris Gate).. Among these gates, which were built to ensure the security of the city, Dağ Kapı open to the north, Urfa Gate to the west, Mardin Gate to the south and Yeni Kapı to the east.. In addition; There are 4 more gates in the inner castle, namely the Palace Gate and Kupeli Gate, which open into the city wall, and the Oğrun Kapı and Fetih Kapı, which open outside the city walls.
Ali Pasha Mosque, Diyarbakir
#4 Ali Pasha Mosque:
The Ali Pasha Mosque, located between the Mardin Gate and the Urfa Gate, was built by Mimar Sinan in the 1530s.. You can see the square planned mosque built in the form of a complex with a madrasah, bath and mosque in İçkale.
Archaeological Museum Garden, Diyarbakır
#5 Diyarbakir Archeology Museum:
JITEM for a period in İçkale The building, which was used as a building, and the area with the Closed Prison and Courthouse next to it, was transferred from the military to the Ministry of Culture and restored and turned into a museum district of Diyarbakır.. Thus, Diyarbakir Archeology Museum, which was previously located in another part of the city, was moved here.. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find detailed information about the location and the museum itself.
The Prophet in İçkale. Make sure to note the Archeology Museum, which is right above the Süleyman Mosque.. In the Archeology Museum, you can see the finds of Diyarbakır and its surroundings in chronological order.. It has a very rich setup in terms of information and interactivity; the architecture is also beautiful. Entrance to the Diyarbakır Archeology Museum is 10 TL per person, free to Müzekart.
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#6 Church of Saint George:
right next to the Archaeological Museum The Church of Saint George, located in Diyarbakir, was one of the most impressive architectures in Diyarbakir.. The church, designed as an open top and without a dome, 2. made in the century. Since the region was under military rule for a long time, the church was also closed to visitors for years and thus managed to be protected for many years.
Hevsel Gardens, Diyarbakır
#7 Hevsel Gardens:
Once upon a time Diyarbakir’s 700 hectares of Hevsel Gardens, where all food needs are met, consists of fields one after the other on the banks of the Tigris River.. Hevsel Gardens, which has been under the protection of UNESCO together with the Diyarbakır walls since 2015, is the host of the largest bird paradise in Southeastern Anatolia, with its habitat that can meet the needs of different species.. The gardens take on different shades of green as of the spring months, thus creating beautiful views for Diyarbakır as well.
Diyarbakır Great Mosque
#8 Diyarbakır Grand Mosque:
Between Mardin Gate and Harput Gate The Great Mosque, located in Anatolia, is considered to be the oldest mosque in Anatolia.. The Great Mosque, each side of which is reserved for the worship of four different sects, has a square minaret like other mosques in the city.. The rectangular-planned architecture of the mosque, which has inscriptions from the Seljuk, Artuqid, Akkoyunlu and Ottoman periods on its walls, indicates that it was converted from a church.. Another feature of the Great Mosque is that it hosts the sundial made by Al-Jazari, who took the first steps in cybernetics.
Four-Legged Minaret, Diyarbakir
#9 Four-Legged Minaret:
Sheikh Mutahhar Mosque, built in the 1500s during the Akkoyunlu period, is famous for its four-legged minaret.. That’s why it’s also called the Four-Legged Minaret.. Representing the tolerance between the 4 sects of Islam, the Four-Legged Minaret is the only one in Anatolia in terms of its architectural features.. In addition, it is believed that the wishes of those who pass under this minaret 7 times will come true.
Hasan Pasha Inn, Diyarbakir
#10 Diyarbakir Hasan Pasha Inn:
The inn architecture we are accustomed to seeing in Anatolian cities, Diyarbakir One of the examples in Historical Hasan Pasha Inn. It was built as a two-storey building in the 1500s during the Ottoman rule.. The inn, which was built for the accommodation of caravans in the past, is now famous as one of the breakfast spots due to the cafes in it.. Although it is one of the most popular breakfast spots in Diyarbakir tours, it is difficult to say that it is well looked after.. Irregular signage and tarpaulin around every corner keep Hasan Paşa Han from its former glory.. We cannot recommend this place for breakfast, but you should definitely go and see it during the trip.. The black basalt stones used in its architecture add a different beauty to the building.
Sülüklü Han, Diyarbakır
#11 Diyarbakır Sülüklü Han:
One of the examples of inns you will see in Diyarbakır is named after the leeches extracted from the well in its courtyard. area Sülüklü Han. We can say that the inn, which was used as a headquarters during the War of Independence and serves as a cafe today, is one of the most beautiful meeting points in the city.. Sülüklü Han is the perfect place to take a menengiç coffee break during the trip.. Compared to Hasan Pasha Inn, we can say that this place is better preserved.. It doesn’t have a very large area; Therefore, it can be difficult to find a place regardless of the season.. This place is also famous for Syriac wine, don’t forget to find a place and try both coffee and wine..
Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum, Diyarbakır
#12 Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum House:
This typical Diyarbakır house, where the poet Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı was born and spent his childhood, was built in 1773.. The house, which was taken from the Tarancı family by the Ministry of Culture in 1973, restored and turned into a museum, was opened to visitors a year later.. At the Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum House, you can examine his belongings, family photographs, handwritten letters and books.. Museum is closed on Mondays, admission is free. It can be visited between 08:00 – 19:00 in summer and 08:00 – 17:00 in winter.
#13 Diyarbakır Culture House:
#13 Diyarbakır Culture House:
Diyarbakır Culture House, which was opened in an old Diyarbakir mansion next to the Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum House, has become an indispensable spot for touristic groups on their Diyarbakir trips.. There is a live music concert every day between 14:00 and 22:00 in the Culture House; In fact, it would be more accurate to say that everyone says it at once.. If you want to listen to local folk songs, you can take note of this place, its breakfast is also highly recommended.
#14 Ahmed Arif Literature Museum:
The literature museum, named after the poet Ahmed Arif from Diyarbakır, serves in a hundred-year-old Diyarbakır mansion.. The mansion, which was initially converted into a public library, later changed its name with the inclusion of Ahmed Arif’s personal belongings in the museum collection and opened to visitors in 2011.. Inside the Ahmed Arif Literature Museum, which is very close to the Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum House; you can see the personal belongings of the poet, his handwritten poems and photographs. The museum is closed on Sundays, admission is free. It can be visited between 09:00 – 17:00 on weekdays and 08:00 – 16:00 on Saturdays.
Diyarbakırevi, Menengic Kahvesi
#15 Gazi Mansion:
Samanoğlu Mansion Also known as Gazi Mansion, it was built during the Akkoyunlu period.. After Mustafa Kemal Atatürk came to Diyarbakir as the Corps Commander in 1916 and used it as a headquarters for about a year, the mansion began to be called Gazi Mansion.. You can visit the Gazi Mansion, which was bought by Diyarbakır Municipality in 1937 and given to Atatürk as a gift, free of charge.
#16 The Assyrian Ancient Church of the Virgin Mary:
Church of the Virgin Mary, which is open for active use 3. made in the century. In the Church of the Virgin Mary, where many additions took place over time; church, Mor Yakup sanctuary, four courtyards, classrooms and lodging units.. In fact, education was given in Syriac, old Turkish, Arabic and French until 1915.. The church, which has undergone different restoration works until today, has lost its general lines a little, but after its last restoration in 2005 with the support of the Assyrians, it regained its present form.. The church, which is one of the most important religious buildings of Diyarbakır and its surroundings, is located in Lale Bey Neighborhood, Main Street.. The entrance fee is 3 TL for adults and 1 TL for students; that is a very symbolic number. The family that maintains and protects the church lives in it.
Umut Cigercisi, Diyarbakir
#17 Malabadi Bridge:
Malabadi Bridge, which you will reach in approximately 1.5 hours from Diyarbakir center, is located at Artukoğulları at 1147 made during the. The bridge, which you can see over the Batman stream in the borders of Silvan district, is one of the important Anatolian architectures as an example of Artuqid art.. The bridge, on which there are stone reliefs consisting of human, animal and sun motifs, stands out with its two rooms at both ends for the accommodation of caravans, as it is located on the trade route.. We couldn’t go to the Malabadi Bridge because we didn’t have enough time, but we wanted to add it to the guide for your reference.
Malabadi Bridge, Diyarbakır Photograph: Kulturportali. gov.tr
DIYARBAKIR RECOMMENDATIONS
Although we could not try many places in terms of space in Diyarbakir, we were very pleased with all the places we saw in a short time.. Breakfast Edip Usta, with whom we started the day, has already taken its place among the unforgettable breakfasts with its dairy products and roasts.. You should definitely have the Hevsel Garden Home with its local products, Umut Livercisi with its liver and presentation that will make even those who do not eat liver, Sülüklü Han for a coffee break, and Diyarbakır house with its mansion architecture on your list.. You can go to Sıtkı Usta Kadayif for dessert and Morgen Coffee for new generation coffee.. When the weather is nice, don’t forget to take a breather in the tea garden on the shore of the On Gözlü Bridge.
We have come to the end of our Diyarbakir Places to Visit and Diyarbakir Travel Guide article with our Diyarbakir food and beverage recommendations.. You can reach our photos and stories about Diyarbakır from the account on Instagram with the hashtag #journaveldiyarbakır. Follow us, let’s travel together!
The other article of this trip:
MARDIN TRAVEL GUIDE | PLACES TO VISIT MARDIN
Breakfast Edip Usta, Diyarbakir