Why Visit Diyarbakır?

Located in southeastern Turkey, Diyarbakır is a crossroads of civilizations and a rising cultural destination. Its impressive basalt city walls and the fertile Hevsel Gardens along the Tigris River were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015, highlighting the outstanding universal value of the city’s cultural landscape.

With atmospheric alleys, historical mosques, caravanserais and traditional houses, Diyarbakır offers an authentic travel experience far from mass tourism routes.

Top Places to Visit in Diyarbakır

1. Diyarbakır City Walls

Diyarbakır’s black basalt city walls are among the longest and best-preserved defensive walls in the world after the Great Wall of China. Stretching for almost 6 km with numerous towers and gates, they offer panoramic views over the city and the Tigris Valley and are part of the UNESCO-listed cultural landscape.

2. Hevsel Gardens

Situated between the city walls and the Tigris River, the Hevsel Gardens are fertile agricultural lands covering hundreds of hectares. For centuries they have provided food and water for the city and today they remain an important green oasis and bird habitat, ideal for nature walks and photography.

3. Sur District & Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii)

The walled old town, known as the Sur district, is the historic heart of Diyarbakır. Here you will find narrow streets, traditional stone houses and important monuments such as the Grand Mosque of Diyarbakır, one of the oldest and most significant mosques in Anatolia. 

4. Hasan Pasha Inn (Hasan Paşa Hanı)

Hasan Pasha Inn is a 16th-century caravanserai opposite the Grand Mosque. Built during the Ottoman era, it has a two-storey arcaded courtyard with a central fountain and today houses cafés, breakfast places and small shops – a perfect stop to soak up the local atmosphere over a traditional Turkish breakfast.

Local Food: What to Eat in Diyarbakır

Diyarbakır’s cuisine is rich, hearty and full of flavor. Meat dishes, spicy appetizers and syrupy desserts play the leading role.

• Diyarbakır liver kebab: Grilled liver, often served even at breakfast time.
• Stuffed ribs and içli köfte: Festive dishes filled with seasoned minced meat and bulgur.
• Burma kadayıf and kadayıf dolması: Crispy, pistachio-filled desserts soaked in syrup.
• Dishes with Karacadağ rice: Fragrant local rice used in many pilaf recipes.

How to Get to Diyarbakır

Diyarbakır is easily accessible by air and road. Diyarbakır Airport offers direct domestic flights from major Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya, and the city also serves as a convenient starting or ending point for wider Southeastern Turkey itineraries. 

Where to Stay in Diyarbakır

If you want to feel the city’s historic character, choose a boutique hotel in a restored mansion within the Sur district. Alternatively, modern hotels in the city center provide easy access to both the old town and the airport.

Practical Tips for Your Diyarbakır Trip

• Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for sightseeing.
• Wear comfortable shoes – you will walk a lot on cobblestone streets and along the walls.
• Plan your visit to the city walls and Hevsel Gardens around sunset for the most dramatic views.