Mersin is a major Mediterranean port city and provincial capital on Turkey's southern coast, where ancient ruins, dramatic limestone gorges, sea castles and long sandy beaches stretch along the Cilician shore. The province spans from the industrial port to clifftop monasteries, Hellenistic temple cities and the birthplace of the Apostle Paul, making it one of the most historically layered destinations in Turkey.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Mersin through its food.
Mersin Hummus & Bazaar Morning Walk
Tarsus Culinary Heritage Walk
Narlıkuyu Seafood & Ruins Half Day
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Mersin's food scene.
Items tours
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Mersin home with you.
Mersin Home Cooking Class
3-hour cooking class in a local home (arranged via guesthouses in Mersin city center); covers Mersin-style hummus, lahmacun from scratch and a meze spread
Silifke Traditional Bread & Pastry
Village baking session in a family home near Silifke; make köy ekmeği (village bread), tarhana (fermented grain paste) and börek
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Order hummus before 10:00 at a lokanta — the morning pot is freshest and often sells out by noon
In Narlıkuyu, ask the waiter to show you the day's fish in the display ice before ordering; choose by eye and confirm the price per gram
Try 'etli hummus' — hummus topped with spiced ground lamb — only found in a few Mersin lokantas and not offered on tourist menus
Midye dolma (stuffed mussels) taste best from carts near the Mersin promenade where turnover is highest; avoid carts with visibly old product
Raki is Turkey's traditional partner for seafood; ask for 'yılan balığı meze' (eel meze) at Narlıkuyu restaurants in season