Mardin is a breathtaking hilltop city in southeastern Turkey, perched at 1,000–1,300 metres above the Mesopotamian plain. Its old city of honey-coloured limestone houses, ancient churches, mosques, and monasteries reflects centuries of coexistence among Syriac Christians, Kurds, Arabs, and Turks. Narrow bazaar lanes, ornate Artuqid-era stonework, and sweeping views over the Syrian border plain make Mardin one of Turkey's most distinctive and rewarding destinations.
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Old City Bazaar
Crafts, spices, copper, textiles, food products
Where: Çarşı Sokak, Old City
Tuesday Market (Yenişehir)
Fresh produce, clothes, household goods — used by locals
Where: Pazar Yeri, Yenişehir
Friday Market
Agricultural produce and livestock; mainly for locals
Where: Outskirts of new city