Diyarbakır · 23 Places · Best April-May and October
Diyarbakır is the largest city in southeast Turkey, on the Tigris River, famous for its UNESCO-listed black basalt city walls and Hevsel Gardens, Ulu Cami, the caravanserai of Hasan Paşa Han and a rich Kurdish and Anatolian food culture. The old walled city of Sur is the heart of any visit.
Diyarbakır sits on a basalt plateau above the Tigris River in southeast Turkey. The walled Sur district holds Ulu Cami, Hasan Paşa Han, the Dört Ayaklı Minare and Surp Giragos Church, while the Ten Eyes Bridge and Hevsel Gardens spread out below the walls. Food is a major draw: kaburga dolması, ciğer and a long Diyarbakır breakfast, plus watermelon in summer. Domestic flights use Diyarbakır Airport (DIY), about 10 km from the centre. Summers are very hot, so spring and autumn are best.
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The 23 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
About 5.8 km of black basalt fortification wall with more than 60 surviving towers, four main gates and some 63 inscriptions, rebuilt by Romans, Abbasids, Seljuks, Artuqids and Ottomans. Part of the UNESCO-listed Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (2015); walkable on top only in some sections.
Irrigated market gardens between the walls and the Tigris that have fed the city since antiquity, listed with the walls as a UNESCO cultural landscape. Best seen from the wall viewpoints, the Ten-Eyed Bridge cafes and the paths near the river; stray dogs are reported on the approach roads, so daytime visits in a group are advisable.
The citadel of Diyarbakır, built over the Amida Mound, where excavators report about 8,000 years of settlement. The compound holds the Archaeology Museum, the Artuqid palace excavations, the Hz. Süleyman mosque with the tombs of the Companions, a Byzantine church and cliff-top views over the Tigris.
State archaeology museum founded in 1934 and housed in former military and government buildings of the Inner Castle. Holds more than 11,000 displayed objects spanning around 26 civilisations, from Paleolithic tools to Roman sculpture and Ottoman arms.
Seljuk-era Friday mosque dated to 1091-92, one of the oldest and largest mosques in Anatolia, with a colonnaded courtyard of reused Roman and Byzantine columns and an ablution fountain. Active place of worship at the heart of Sur.
Minaret of the early 16th-century Şeyh Mutahhar (Kasım Padişah) Mosque, standing on four basalt pillars so that visitors can walk beneath it.
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
A 5-star hotel with 167 rooms in the new Kayapınar business district, about a 10-minute drive from the airport. It has a pool, a spa with Turkish bath and sauna, a fitness centre, the Hevsel restaurant, a café and bar, and ballrooms and meeting rooms.
Check rates on Booking.comA 5-star hotel with 153 rooms that took over the former Divan Diyarbakır building in late 2023. It is one of the few city hotels with an open-air swimming pool and sits about 5 km from the airport.
Check rates on Booking.comAn international-brand hotel on Elazığ Boulevard in the northern Yenişehir district, rated 4.7 out of 5 on Tripadvisor from more than 600 reviews. It suits business travellers and visitors arriving by road from Elazığ.
Check rates on Booking.comA 182-room Hilton-brand hotel in the new commercial district of Yenişehir, set beside the Tigris. It has an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness centre and is the closest international-chain hotel to the walled city.
Check rates on Booking.comCafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
A well-known liver grill on Gazi Caddesi in Sur, just off the Ulu Cami and Hasan Paşa Hanı axis, serving charcoal-grilled lamb liver with onions, peppers and bread.
A heavily reviewed liver grill on Yoğurtçu Sokak in Sur, serving skewered lamb liver with onions, peppers and bread.
A liver grill on İskender Paşa Sokak near Dağkapı (the north gate of the walled city), serving charcoal-grilled lamb liver.
A liver grill on Lise Caddesi in Yenişehir, outside the walls, named by Turkish Airlines among Diyarbakır's liver specialists.
A specialist for kaburga dolması, Diyarbakır's rice-stuffed lamb rib dish, on Ali Emiri Caddesi; named by Turkish Airlines and listed by Enuygun for the dish.
A large meat restaurant in Kayapınar listed for kaburga dolması and grilled meats, with its own website.
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Diyarbakır is the main transport hub of Turkey's southeast. Diyarbakır Airport (DIY) lies in Bağlar district, about 6 km from the centre, and handles domestic flights plus some European seasonal routes. Intercity coaches leave from the otogar on the Şanlıurfa road, and the overnight Güney Kurtalan Express links the city with Ankara. In town, DiyarKart buses, private minibuses and metered taxis serve Sur, Yenişehir and Kayapınar, while the historic Sur core is best explored on foot.
Daily spend by tier in TRY (USD at 1 USD = 48.5 TRY), broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 600-1,000 TRY (~$12-21) | 2,500-5,000 TRY (~$52-103) | 6,000-12,000 TRY (~$124-247) |
| Food (per day) | 400-600 TRY (~$8-12) | 800-1,500 TRY (~$16-31) | 1,800-3,500 TRY (~$37-72) |
| Transportation | 100-200 TRY (~$2-4) | 300-500 TRY (~$6-10) | 900-1,500 TRY (~$19-31) |
| Activities | 0-300 TRY (~$0-6) | 300-700 TRY (~$6-14) | 1,500-3,000 TRY (~$31-62) |
| Daily total | 1,500-2,200 TRY (~$31-45) | 4,500-7,500 TRY (~$93-155) | 9,000-18,000 TRY (~$186-371) |
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C.
Diyarbakır has a hot-summer continental-Mediterranean climate with very hot, nearly rainless summers and cold winters. Spring and early autumn offer the best balance.
Check the US State Department, UK FCDO and Canadian advisories before departure; none names Diyarbakır, and the do-not-travel zones are within 10 km of the Syria and Iraq borders
Carry a passport or ID at all times, since police and gendarmerie checkpoints are routine in the southeast
Do not photograph military or police installations, which is illegal in Türkiye
Avoid political rallies and large gatherings, especially around Newroz on 21 March, and follow local news
Keep bags zipped in the Sur bazaar, Dağkapı and on minibuses
Use bottled water and avoid ice from informal stalls in summer
Summer highs of 39C and above call for midday rest, sun protection and 3 litres of water daily
Türkiye is seismically active; note exits at accommodation and drop, cover and hold on if the ground shakes
Emergency numbers: 112 for ambulance and general emergency, 155 for police, 156 for gendarmerie, 110 for fire
Yes, for history and food: Diyarbakır has the UNESCO-listed basalt walls, the Hevsel Gardens, Ulu Cami, historic hans and a distinct Kurdish and Anatolian cuisine. Allow two to three days.
Two days cover the walled city, the Tigris and the museums; add one day for Hasankeyf or Mardin.
April-May and October. July and August regularly reach 38-45°C, and winter can be cold with occasional snow.
Diyarbakır Airport (DIY) is about 10 km from the centre. Use the airport shuttle (50-100 TRY, ~$1-2) or a taxi (350-600 TRY, ~$7-12), 20-40 minutes depending on traffic.
Turkey's national rules apply. Many nationalities enter visa-free for up to 90 days and others need an e-Visa from the official e-Visa website; check before departure.
The city is visited by tourists, but it is in southeast Türkiye where government advisories are stricter. Stay on the central routes, avoid demonstrations, and check your government's current travel advice before departure.
