--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Mardin, Turkey | Wimup" description: "The ten best things to do in Mardin: the Artuqid madrasas, the Saffron Monastery, the Mardin Museum, Dara and Midyat, ranked and mapped above the Mesopotamian plain." url: https://wimup.com/city/mardin type: City guide updated: 2026-10-11 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Mardin Mardin, Turkey · Europe · By Wimup Editorial, 12 min read Mardin is a honey-coloured stone town stacked up a ridge in southeast Turkey, looking south over the flat Mesopotamian plain toward Syria. Artuqid madrasas, Syriac churches and vaulted lanes share one slope, and the monasteries of Tur Abdin lie within an hour. ## Quick answer Give the old town two days: the Zinciriye and Kasımiye madrasas, the Great Mosque and the Mardin Museum one day, the bazaars, the abbaras and Kırklar Church the next, with every sunset on a terrace over the plain. Spend a third day by taxi at the Saffron Monastery and Dara, and a fourth in Midyat and at Mor Gabriel. Avoid July and August, when the plain bakes. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Apr · May · Oct · Nov - **Ideal length:** 3–4 days - **Budget per day:** $50–100 - **Language:** Turkish, with Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac - **Getting around:** On foot in the old town, minibuses and taxis beyond - **Tourism board:** [↗ Website](https://mardin.goturkiye.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Mardin ### 1. Zinciriye Medresesi Madrasa · Medrese Mahallesi, above Birinci Cadde, Mardin The Artuqid ruler Sultan İsa finished this two-storey madrasa in 1385, and local tradition says Timur held him prisoner in it. Climb to the roof: the domes frame the best view in town across the plain. - **Time:** 45 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Walk up the stepped lane from Birinci Cadde rather than taking a taxi round ### 2. Kasımiye Medresesi Madrasa · Yenikapı, south of the old town, Mardin Begun under the Artuqids and finished by the Akkoyunlu, conventionally dated 1469, around a courtyard fountain and two domed tombs. It sits below the town, so its arcades frame the old town above it. - **Time:** 45 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** It teaches students again, so keep voices down and avoid class changeovers ### 3. Deyrulzafaran Monastery Monastery · A short drive east of the old town, Mardin The Saffron Monastery, also called Mor Hananyo, was for centuries the seat of the Syriac Orthodox patriarchs. Visits are by guided tour through the church, the crypt and the patriarchs' thrones. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Entry fee, guided tour - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** No bus goes there; book a taxi with waiting time, and dress modestly ### 4. Great Mosque (Ulu Cami) Mosque · Şar Mahallesi, below Birinci Cadde, Mardin Probably founded in the 11th century and shaped by the Artuqids, whose 1176 inscription survives at the minaret base. The minaret itself was rebuilt in 1888 and 1889. Reach it down the stepped lanes from the main street. - **Time:** 30 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Between prayer times - **Tip:** Cover shoulders and knees, and women bring a scarf Links: [Culture Ministry](https://mardin.ktb.gov.tr/TR-311735/ulu-cami.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Mardin Museum Museum · Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Mardin The Syriac Catholic patriarchate of 1895, three storeys of carved stone, now holding finds from the Bronze Age to the Ottomans. The top-floor archaeology rooms carry pieces from sites the Ilısu Dam later flooded. - **Time:** 1.5 hours - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Late morning - **Tip:** Look at the facade from the square first; it is half the visit Links: [Website](https://www.turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2148-mardin-museum/2148/4?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 6. Kırklar Church (Mor Behnam) Church · Old town, south of Birinci Cadde, Mardin A Syriac Orthodox church traditionally dated to 569, dedicated to Mor Behnam and his sister and later to the Forty Martyrs. It is still the community's church, and Easter is celebrated here. - **Time:** 30 minutes - **Cost:** Free, donations welcome - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Visit outside service times and dress modestly ### 7. Sakıp Sabancı Mardin City Museum Museum · Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Savurkapı, Mardin An Ottoman cavalry barracks restored by the Sabancı Foundation and opened in 2009. It tells the story of the town and its daily life, with the Dilek Sabancı Art Gallery in the same complex. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Small fee - **Best at:** Afternoon - **Tip:** Do it first: it explains everything you then see in the lanes ### 8. Dara Ancient City Ancient site · Oğuz village, about 30 km southeast of Mardin A Byzantine frontier fortress against Persia, with rock-cut tombs in its necropolis and cisterns big enough to outlast a siege. Most of the city is still unexcavated, so it is quiet. - **Time:** 2 hours - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Pair it with the Saffron Monastery in one half-day taxi Links: [Website](https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/22330-mardin-dara-archaeological-site/22330/4?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 9. Midyat old town Town · Midyat, about 60 km east of Mardin Tur Abdin's market town, a grid of carved stone mansions and the bell towers of Syriac churches. Its silversmiths still make telkari filigree. Ask the minibus to drop you in the old town, not the new quarter of Estel. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Combine it with Mor Gabriel, about 20 km further east ### 10. Mor Gabriel Monastery Monastery · Near Midyat, about 20 km east of the town Founded by tradition in 397, among the oldest working monasteries in the world, and still the heart of Syriac Christian life in Tur Abdin. Visits are guided and pause at midday. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Entry fee, guided tour - **Best at:** Mid-morning - **Tip:** Arrive before 11am or after lunch; the gate closes in between ## The old town of Mardin The street, the passages and the castle that give the town its shape. 1. **Birinci Cadde** (Street · Free · Cumhuriyet Meydanı to Savurkapı): The main street, widened in the late Ottoman years, carries the town along the slope. 2. **The abbaras** (Architecture · Free · Savurkapı): Vaulted passages under houses, linking lane to lane and shading them in summer. [Culture Ministry](https://mardin.ktb.gov.tr/TR-312302/abbaralar.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Mardin Castle** (Castle · Closed to visitors · Top of the old town): The citadel crowning the ridge is a military radar site, so admire it from below. [Culture Ministry](https://mardin.ktb.gov.tr/TR-317113/mardin-kalesi.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best mosques & madrasas in Mardin Four more buildings from the centuries when Mardin was a dynastic capital. 1. **Latifiye Mosque** (Mosque · 1371 · South of Cumhuriyet Meydanı): Built in 1371 under the Artuqids; the minaret was added in 1845. 2. **Melik Mahmut Mosque** (Mosque · 1360s · Gül Mahallesi): A 14th-century mosque named for the ruler buried inside it. 3. **Hatuniye Medresesi** (Madrasa · 1170s · Gül Mahallesi): A 12th-century Artuqid madrasa founded by a sultan's mother, an early iwan design. 4. **Reyhaniye Mosque** (Mosque · 1756 · Bazaar quarter): An 18th-century mosque with an octagonal minaret, set in the bazaar. ## Best churches in Mardin Three more of the churches that have stood beside the mosques for centuries. 1. **Virgin Mary Church** (Church · Syriac Catholic · Cumhuriyet Meydanı): The Syriac Catholic church beside the old patriarchate, now the Mardin Museum. 2. **Mor Hirmiz Chaldean Church** (Church · Chaldean · Birinci Cadde): A Chaldean church on the main street under a single large dome, rare for a church. 3. **Mor Mihayel Monastery** (Monastery · Syriac · Below the old town): A small monastery south of town, with the saint's grave facing the church door. ## Best restaurants in Mardin Mardin's own cooking, in old stone houses with the plain below. 1. **Cercis Murat Konağı** (Mardin cuisine · Book at weekends · Birinci Cadde): Mardin dishes revived in a 19th-century Syriac house with a terrace. 2. **Seyr-i Merdin** (Turkish · Terraces · Old town): A multi-level terrace restaurant built for the view south. 3. **Bağdadi** (Mardin cuisine · Old town): Start with the Mezopotamya meze platter. 4. **Antik Sur** (Turkish · Caravanserai · Old town): Dinner in the courtyard of a restored caravanserai. 5. **Kaburgacı Selim Amca** (Kaburga dolması · Old town): The address for kaburga dolması, the stuffed lamb ribs. ## Bazaars & crafts in Mardin The trades still working under the old arches, and what to take home. 1. **Coppersmiths' Bazaar** (Bazaar · Copper · Below Birinci Cadde): Trays, pots and lamps hammered under the arches, beside spice and coffee sellers. 2. **Revaklı Çarşı** (Bazaar · Arcaded · Old town): A 17th-century bazaar under arcades, busiest and most crowded at weekends. 3. **Jewellers' Bazaar** (Bazaar · Silver · Old town): Where to see telkari, the fine silver filigree of the region. 4. **Bıttım soap** (Souvenir · Shops along Birinci Cadde): Soap made from the oil of the wild bıttım tree, the town's standard souvenir. ## Midyat, beyond the old town What to see once you are in Midyat for the day. 1. **Midyat Guest House (Konukevi)** (Mansion · Views · Old Midyat): The finest mansion in town, at its highest point, a favourite with Turkish TV crews. 2. **Telkari workshops** (Craft · Silver · Old Midyat): Silversmiths making and selling filigree jewellery in the old town. 3. **The church towers** (Churches · Skyline · Old Midyat): Nine Syriac Orthodox bell towers rise over the roofs; few still hold services. ## Best day trips from Mardin Four more places within a two-hour drive. 1. **Hasankeyf** (Heritage · Batman · Batman Province, via Midyat): The town the Ilısu Dam flooded; its Zeynel Bey tomb now stands in a culture park. 2. **Savur** (Town · 47 km · North of Mardin): A small town of 19th-century stone houses on two hills, often called a little Mardin. 3. **Mor Yakup Church, Nusaybin** (Church · 4th century · Nusaybin, on the Syrian border): The 4th-century baptistery of the lost cathedral of Nisibis. [UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5901/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **Diyarbakır** (City · About 90 km · North of Mardin): Black basalt walls and the Hevsel Gardens, a World Heritage site since 2015. [UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1488/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Festivals & annual events in Mardin (2026) - **Nevruz** (21 Mar): The spring new year, marked with bonfires, music and dancing across the region. - **Ramadan Feast (Ramazan Bayramı)** (Lunar calendar): Three days of family visits and sweets after Ramadan, when the old town fills up. - **Syriac Easter** (Mar – Apr): Services at Kırklar Church and the monasteries, in Syriac, Arabic and Turkish. - **National Sovereignty and Children's Day** (23 Apr): A national holiday for the first Grand National Assembly in 1920, given to children. - **Mardin Biennial** (May – Jun): Contemporary art in the old town's historic buildings. The seventh edition ran in 2026. - **Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı)** (Lunar calendar): A four-day national holiday; book rooms and buses early. - **Victory Day** (30 Aug): The national holiday for the decisive battle of the War of Independence in 1922. - **Republic Day** (29 Oct): The anniversary of the republic's declaration in 1923, with flags along Birinci Cadde. ## Must-try dishes in Mardin, Turkey - **Kaburga dolması**: Lamb ribs stuffed with rice, meat and almonds, sewn shut and slow-cooked. - **Sembusek**: Thin dough folded into a half-moon around spiced minced meat and onion. - **İrok**: Mardin's fried içli köfte: a bulgur shell round a spiced meat filling. - **İkbebet**: The boiled cousin of irok, a large stuffed bulgur ball. - **Kibe**: Lamb tripe stuffed with meat, rice and mint, simmered for hours. - **Soğan kebabı**: Small onions grilled on skewers between pieces of minced lamb. - **Kiliçe**: A spiced festival pastry from the town's bakeries, baked for the feasts. - **Mırra**: Bitter coffee boiled down for hours and served a sip at a time. ## Mardin transport & airports - **Mardin Airport** (MQM): Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar Airport lies about 20 km from the centre, near Kızıltepe, with flights from Istanbul and Ankara. Buses and taxis reach the old town in about 25 minutes. - **Intercity coaches** (Otogar): Coaches run to Diyarbakır in under two hours and on to the rest of Turkey. Companies usually run a free shuttle from their town offices to the bus station. - **Minibuses** (Dolmuş): Frequent minibuses run to Midyat, Kızıltepe and Nusaybin. For Midyat, ask to be dropped in the old town rather than Estel, the new quarter. - **On foot and by taxi** (Local): The old town is a steep slope of steps and lanes, so walk it. Take a taxi for the Saffron Monastery, Dara and Kasımiye, and agree waiting time first. ## Mardin at a glance - **Country:** Türkiye (Turkey) - **Region:** Southeastern Anatolia, capital of Mardin Province - **Population:** About 130,000 in the city (2021); 194,073 in Artuklu district (end of 2023) - **Founded:** Ancient; Artuqid capital from the 12th to the early 15th century - **Nickname:** The city of tolerance - **Language:** Turkish, with Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac - **Currency:** Turkish lira (₺, TRY) - **Time zone:** UTC+3, no daylight saving - **Calling code:** +90 482 - **Airports:** Mardin Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar (MQM), about 20 km south - **Power:** 230V, 50Hz, plug types C and F - **Emergency:** 112 ## Interesting facts - Turkey put Mardin and its landscape on its UNESCO tentative list in February 2000. - The houses are terraced so the roof of each serves as the terrace of the one above. - Mor Gabriel, near Midyat, traces its founding to 397, among the oldest working monasteries. - The Mardin Museum occupies the Syriac Catholic patriarchate, built in 1895. - The 2026 Mardin Biennial drew 245,000 visits across six venues. ## Mardin travel FAQ ### Is Mardin worth visiting? Yes. Few Turkish towns keep a medieval skyline this whole: Artuqid madrasas, Syriac churches and stone houses on one slope above the plain. Add the Saffron Monastery, Dara and Midyat and it fills four days. ### How many days do you need in Mardin? Three to four. Two for the old town, its museums and bazaars, one for the Saffron Monastery and Dara by taxi, and one for Midyat and Mor Gabriel. Stay longer for Hasankeyf or Diyarbakır. ### When is the best time to visit Mardin? April, May, October and November. Spring turns the plain green and autumn is mild. July and August are very hot, and winter can bring cold winds and the odd snowfall to the ridge. ### How do you get to Mardin? Fly to Mardin Airport (MQM), about 20 km away, from Istanbul or Ankara, then take a bus or taxi up. Diyarbakır is a second option: coaches between the two cities take under two hours. ### Can you visit Mardin Castle? No. The citadel above the old town is a military radar site and closed to visitors. Its walls are best seen from the Zinciriye roof and from Birinci Cadde below. ## Nearby guides - [Gyumri](https://wimup.com/city/gyumri.md): Armenia · 10 picks - [Batumi](https://wimup.com/city/batumi.md): Georgia · 10 picks - [Kutaisi](https://wimup.com/city/kutaisi.md): Georgia · 10 picks - [All of Europe →](https://wimup.com/europe): 122 cities Part of the [Turkey guide](https://wimup.com/country/turkey.md) · [Europe](https://wimup.com/europe.md) ## Sources - [Mardin tourism board](https://mardin.goturkiye.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Great Mosque (Ulu Cami): Culture Ministry](https://mardin.ktb.gov.tr/TR-311735/ulu-cami.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Mardin Museum (official site)](https://www.turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2148-mardin-museum/2148/4?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Dara Ancient City (official site)](https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/22330-mardin-dara-archaeological-site/22330/4?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [The abbaras: Culture Ministry](https://mardin.ktb.gov.tr/TR-312302/abbaralar.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Mardin Castle: Culture Ministry](https://mardin.ktb.gov.tr/TR-317113/mardin-kalesi.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Mor Yakup Church, Nusaybin: UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5901/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Diyarbakır: UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1488/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.