6 Best Things to Do in Mardin, Turkey

Mardin is a unique city perched on top of a hill overlooking the plains of Mesopotamia. Some of the best views that we have ever seen are from right here.

When the sunsets, the colours are mind-blowing, and with a glass of sour pomegranate wine in hand, I’m not sure it gets much better!

The old part of the city is made with the iconic Artuqid sandstone architecture that will make you feel like you’re wandering a labyrinth in a Moroccan medina. Visit Mardin for the views, the architecture, and its uniqueness.

This guide will give you all the best things to do in Mardin as well as where to eat and how to get there.

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A Brief Mardin History

During the late bronze age, Mardin was part of the Assyrian Kingdom and was known as Izala, named after the hill that the town is built upon.

The city was then known as Marida during Roman times, from the Aramaic for ‘fortress’, which was perched atop of the hill.

The city changed hands between many different dynasties and empires, until 1103 when the Artuqid dynasty was in control. Many of the buildings that are so characteristic of Mardin are buildings from this time period.

In the 13^th century, the Mongol Empire invaded, before the Ottoman Empire in the 16^th century.

During World War 1, Mardin was one of the sites where the Armenian and Assyrian genocides were carried out. In 1923, with the founding of the Republic of Turkey, Mardin came under Turkish rule.

How to Get to Mardin

Mardin has an airport (MQM) which is serviced by Istanbul airport. Flight time is about two hours, and return flights are inexpensive, so it makes it pretty accessible point of eastern Turkey.

Mardin is also connected to nearby cities by regular buses.

Buses we got in and out of Mardin:

Is it Safe in Mardin?

We felt absolutely safe and comfortable throughout the entirety of our three days in Mardin. No problems whatsoever in 2023.

Locals were warm and welcoming. Mardin has a mix of cultures and religions, meaning that I didn’t feel awkward with what I was expected to wear as a woman (like I did in very religious Sanliurfa).

The other element of note regarding safety, is the risk of earthquakes. I am writing this after the catastrophic earthquake hit this area of Turkey and Syria, while we visited before the earthquake.

Mardin was not affected as badly as the neighbouring cities, but the reverberations were still felt strongly here. Southeast Turkey sits on top of a fault line which means that the whole region is susceptible to earthquakes and tremors.

Things to Do in Mardin

Walk the Labyrinth of Historic Streets

I could spend a whole day just exploring every nook and cranny of the maze of Mardin’s back streets. When I use the word ‘maze’, I really do mean maze, and we found that Google Maps won’t be able to help you out too much.

Narrow paths lead you past decorated doors, classic Artuqid sandstone architecture, and to breath-taking viewpoints of the endless plains of Mesopotamia.

Points of note were Ulu Cami, Erkulu Cami, Sehidiye Cami, Zinciriye Medresesi and the post office, but just wandering these characterful and historical streets was much more interesting for me.

Savour the Coffee and the Phenomenal View from Harabee Kitap Cafe

📍 Medrese, Hisarcık 248 Sk

High up the hillside next to Zinciriye Medresesi is a quirky little cafe, serving some of the best menengic coffee (check out our Turkish coffee guide).

Everyone was queuing up to get into the Medresesi, and see the views from there, whereas no one was in this cafe. We had the whole place to ourselves and it really is something special.

Coffees are served in the cutest little sets with water and chocolate pebbles (essentially posh smarties). Sip slowly and be astounded by the view.

View Mardin from Outside of the City

Mardin is built on top of a hill, with housing, mosques, and shops all built up the hillside with a fortress at the top.

Once you’ve admired Mardin from the inside, take a step back to see its beauty from afar. We walked out to about here. It took maybe twenty/thirty minutes and it’s a pretty gentle walk, but is definitely worth the wander.

Time Your Visit with the Bulgur Festival

The first International Bulgur Festival was hosted by Mardin in November 2022, and guess where we just happened to be on this exact weekend?

We hadn’t planned it, but the festival ended up being one of the highlights of our Mardin trip. Chefs showcased their bulgur-based dishes, competing against others. Many different dishes, along with drinks were handed out to everyone to get a taster.

We had no idea what was going on (everything was in Turkish), but suddenly locals were approaching us with huge plates of food and cutlery. Everyone sat around the main Cumhuriyet Square eating the bulgur dishes.

When everyone had finished, the music started and the traditional dancing started. It was such a wholesome event, and everyone was happy, welcoming, and having a really good time.

Indulge in a Turkish Breakfast Spread at Mardin Galatist Kafe & Kahvalti

📍 Ulucami, Cumhuriyet, No:313

Another place with phenomenal views across the plains of Mesopotamia, Mardin Galatist Kafe & Kahvalti serves a great breakfast spread with unlimited tea. The perfect start to the day! Read more about Turkish breakfast spreads.

Grab a Falafel Wrap at Falafel Ammo Hamza

📍 Şar, 1. Cadde No:416

Crunchy and beautifully spiced falafel with salad and sauces and wrapped in a flatbread. Lovely.

Enhance the experience by taking it back to your apartment, sitting on the terrace, opening a bottle of pomegranate wine, and watching the sun go down. We tried to catch sunset each evening, because it is honestly stunning!

Check out our guide to our favourite Turkish veg foods.

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