A Guide to Mardin Türkiye (Turkey) – Best Things to Do

Mardin is located in southeastern Türkiye (Turkey), north of the border with Syria, and just west of the border with Iraqi Kurdistan. Thanks to its location, Mardin has hosted a mix of different cultures and religions, with thousands of years of history around every corner. In this guide we’ll summarise some of the best things you can do in the city. As always, we’ll also detail how to get to Mardin, where to stay, where to eat and if it’s safe to visit.

We spent 2 days in Mardin and it instantly became one of our favourite places in Türkiye. Whilst we could’ve easily stayed a bit longer to enjoy more of its impressive architecture, beautiful sunsets and delicious food, 2 days were enough to see most of the city’s main attractions.

Learn About Mardin in Türkiye (Turkey)

Mardin is located in the Artuklu District of the Mardin Province in Southeastern Türkiye / Turkey. It sits just north of the border with Syria and just west of the border with Iraqi Kurdistan.

The city’s name means ‘fortress’ and it’s one of the oldest settlements in Mesopotamia. Thanks to its location, Mardin has been home to many different cultures and religions over the centuries. Apparently, the first known civilisation in Mesopotamia was the Sumerians, followed by the Hurrians, the Elamites, the Babylonians, the Hittites, the Assyrians, the Romans and the Byzantines to name a few. Islam was introduced in 692AD. Many historic buildings, such as mosques and madrasas, were constructed during the Artukid period. The city was annexed by the Ottomans in 1517. Following the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, Mardin became the administrative capital of the province.

Today, the entire city is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tentative List.

Things to Do in Mardin Türkiye (Turkey)

Luckily, Mardin can easily be explored on foot, as most of the city’s main attractions are within walking distance.

1. Enjoy the Views from the Zinciriye Medresesi

One of the most visited places in Mardin is Zinciriye Medresesi, situated at the bottom of Mardin Castle. It is also known as Sultan Isa Madrasa. The large complex was built in 1385 and consists of a mosque, courtyard, a mausoleum and various other rooms. From the top, you’ll get the best views of Mardin and out across the Mesopotamia Plain.

Thanks to the building’s beauty and location, many people come up here to watch the sunset or for photoshoots. We saw a wedding shoot when we were up there, which just made our visit even more special.

Entry Fee is 20TL per person.

What is a ‘madrasa’? A madrasa is a religious school teaching Islamic principles and values, as well as other subjects such as science and philosophy.

2. See the Minaret of Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) from Every Angle

The most iconic landmark in Mardin is, without doubt, the minaret of Ulu Cami (Great Mosque). It’s hard to miss, as you can see it from literally anywhere in Mardin. The minaret has some beautiful inscriptions at its base, left by different rulers such as the Seljuk, Artuqid, Aq Qoyunlu and the Ottomans. Apparently, there used to be two minarets but the other one collapsed many years ago.

We loved the view of the minaret from Zinciriye Medresesi, Seyr-i-Merdin Cafe and from in front of Gazipaşa ilkokulu.

3. Go Inside Ulu Cami (Great Mosque)

After admiring the minaret from multiple locations across the city, we also recommend paying a visit inside the mosque too. It’s one of the oldest mosques in the area, dating back to the 12th century. The mosque was constructed by Qutb ad-din Ilghazi and, apart from the striking minaret, it also has a sliced dome. You can access the prayer hall through the large courtyard.

Note. It is an active place of worship. Therefore, if you want to enter, you’ll need to dress modestly and also cover your hair if you’re a female.

4. Visit Mardin Museum

If you want to learn more about Mardin’s history then head over to Mardin Museum. The museum is housed in a beautiful building built in 1895 on the orders of Ignatios Behnam Bannş, the Patriarch of Antakya. It used to be a church, and has had other functions too, before being converted into a museum.

Today, you can see different artefacts, coins, jewellery, and ceramics from the Bronze Age to the 20th century. We think the building itself is worth the visit alone.

Opening times and entry fees. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 8AM and 5PM. Currently the admission fee is 90 TL. Check the website for up-to-date information.

5. Sakip Sabanci City Museum

Another museum you could consider visiting is the Sakip Sabanci City Museum.

It is housed in a restored army barracks, built in 1889 by Hacı Hasan Paşa. The museum exhibits different artefacts relating to the history and architecture of Mardin. You can also check out the Dilek Sabanci Art Gallery on-site, which displays temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

6. Get Lost in the Narrow Streets of Mardin’s Old Town (Eski Mardin) 

One of our favourite things to do in a new place is to go for a wander around its streets. First, we walked up and down 1. Cadde, one of the main streets in Mardin that’s lined with shops and restaurants.

However, we had an even better experience when we wandered off the main street and purposefully got lost in the maze of side streets and alleyways. Mardin is basically a giant open air museum, with so much history around every corner of the city. Therefore, we highly recommend going for a wander around the back alley’s if you’re visiting Mardin.

7. See the Donkeys Collecting the Rubbish

As you make your way through the narrow side streets of Mardin you’ll notice something unusual: rubbish collecting donkeys. Now, this isn’t really a tourist attraction per se. And before your mind starts thinking about animal cruelty, it isn’t that either. Let us explain.

As you’ll quickly notice, the street’s of Mardin’s Old Town are very narrow and full of steps. This means that it would be very difficult to use an actual vehicle to collect rubbish. Therefore, donkeys, who can access areas vehicles would not be able to, work alongside humans to collect the waste from the streets of Mardin. They’re essentially employees of the municipality and work a few hours in the mornings and evenings for only about 7 or 8 years. According to some articles we’ve read, they even hold a ‘retirement’ ceremony for the donkeys who’ve completed their tenure.

If the architecture doesn’t make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, then seeing a rubbish collecting donkey definitely will.

8. Go Shopping in Mardin Bazaar

If you’ve been following our tour around Türkiye, then it won’t come as a surprise to you that we mention shopping as one of the best things to do in Mardin. Turkish Bazaars are pretty amazing and we definitely spent a good chunk of our time in Turkiye browsing through different markets, such as the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar in Istanbul.

As always, you can buy just about anything in Mardin’s Bazaar too. We saw plenty of traditional and, of course, more modern souvenirs, ceramics, Turkish lamps, rugs, spices and jewellery. Don’t forget to bargain a bit to get the best deals.

9. Stop by Mardin Protestant Church

An interesting religious building in Mardin has to the Protestant Church. This 160-year-old church is actually one of the oldest Protestant churches in Türkiye and the Middle East. It only re-opened in 2015 after 60 years of not having a congregation.

10. Visit Forty Martyrs Church (Kirklar Kilisesi)

Mor Behnam Church, also known as Kirklar Church or Forty Martyrs Church, is another religious building to add to your Mardin itinerary. The church was built in the 4th century in honour of Syriac Saint Behnam and his sister Saro.

In the 15th century it was renamed Forty Martyrs Church to commemorate the martyrs of Cappadocia. It is a small church with a courtyard, but still worth a quick visit in our opinion. Inside you’ll see a painting that portrays the story of the 40 martyrs.

11. Visit Other Beautiful Mosques in Mardin

Ulu Cami isn’t the only mosque you can visit in Mardin. Below we’ve listed a few other mosques you should consider checking out when walking around the city:

• Erkulu Mosque (Erkulu Cami)
• Sehidiye Mosque (Şehidiye Cami)
• Melik Mahmut Mosque (Melik Mahmut Cami)

12. Cats of Mardin

During our tour around Türkiye, we noticed large numbers of cats everywhere we went. We saw them sleeping on top of cars, motorbikes, curled up in shop windows and in restaurants, or just casually wandering the streets.

Türkiye has a long history of caring for cats that dates back to the Ottomans. Muslims consider cats an important pet because of their cleanliness. Their hunting skills are also useful in a huge city, to control the spread of mice and rats.

Nobody, and everybody, owns them at the same time. People do take care of them and we spotted bowls of food and drink placed in front of shops, restaurants and homes. This care for stray cats reminded us of the Cat Park in Lima’s Miraflores District.

How to Get to Mardin Türkiye (Turkey)

By Flying. The closest airport to Mardin is Mardin Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar Airport (MQM), located about 20km from the city. If you’re coming from abroad, the easiest way to reach Mardin is to fly to Istanbul first, then get a connecting flight to Mardin. You can also fly direct to Mardin from Ankara or Izmir.

By Public Buses. If you’re already in the country then travelling by bus is normally more affordable and better for the environment than flying. You can reach Mardin from many major tourist destinations such as Istanbul, Selcuk, Pamukkale (Denizli), Fethiye, Antalya and Cappadocia. Our go-to websites for checking bus operators, timetables and ticket prices are either Busbud or Flixbus.

By Car. If you want to have a road-trip, then you can always hire a car and drive all the way to Mardin.

Is It Safe to Visit Mardin in Türkiye (Turkey)

You’re probably wondering if it’s actually safe to visit Mardin, since it’s located so close to the Syrian border.

Mardin is generally a safe place to visit, and the main reason you won’t see as many western tourists here is likely because it’s quite far from the most popular tourist attractions of Istanbul, Ephesus Ancient City, Pamukkale, the Turkish Riviera or Cappadocia. However, it’s still quite a touristy place, especially for Turks themselves.

We felt absolutely safe during our visit, and people were nothing but friendly and helpful. As always, we recommend checking some Government and local news sites before you travel, just in case. Below we’ve also listed a few things to bear in mind before you visit.

• English isn’t as widely spoken in the very east of Türkiye, although you can still find plenty of people speaking English. It’s always worth having offline Google Translate on your phone.
• Although the majority of the population is Muslim, you can normally wear what you want in most of the touristy parts of Türkiye. That being said, the further east we travelled, the more we tried to blend in a bit more by wearing something a little more modest. If you want to visit mosques, then you’ll need to wear something that covers your arms and legs anyway. If you’re female, then you should also pack a headscarf. 

Where to Stay in Mardin Türkiye (Turkey)

If you’re only in Mardin for a short time, then we recommend staying close to the old town. This way, you’ll be within walking distance of many of the city’s top attractions, restaurants and cafes. Below are a few places you could consider booking:

• Dara Konagi is an 800-year old mansion close to some popular attractions. It offers breakfast and lovely city views.
• Mardius Tarihi Konak is a stunning 700-year old mansion that has a restaurant, garden and also offers incredible views of Mardin.
• Maridin Hotel is located close to popular attractions too. It has a garden, terrace, bar, a shared lounge and a restaurant.
• Mirsoum Han is also a great place for being close to the centre. The hotel offers breakfast and also has a terrace and garden.

Where to Eat in Mardin Türkiye (Turkey)

As with everywhere we visited in Türkiye, we didn’t have any trouble finding somewhere to eat a delicious meal in Mardin. Below are some of our favourite spots:

Seyr-i Merdin is probably the most popular restaurant in Mardin. The food is amazing and the views are incredible too. We came here around sunset, and it was a fantastic spot to watch it from.

AL HAYAAL cafe restaurant also served some great food. The views were lovely from their balcony as well.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Mardin Türkiye (Turkey)

Although we only spent 2 days in Mardin, the city became one of our favourite places in Türkiye for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s definitely not on most people’s Turkish itinerary when compared to places like Pamukkale and Cappadocia. However, there are still plenty of Turkish tourists that visit Mardin, so it’s not entirely a hidden gem either. Secondly, the city is absolutely beautiful. Thanks to its location, it has a fantastic mix of different cultures, religions and architectural styles. Lastly, for the same reason, the cuisine is incredible, which is why we could’ve spent a few extra days in Mardin just sampling more of the food.

Have you ever been to Mardin in Türkiye (Turkey) before? If so, what did you get up to and how long did you spend there? If not, would you add Mardin to your Türkiye (Turkey) itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.