Eastern Turkey Travel Guide

Eastern Turkey covers a huge area, from the Mesopotamian plains on the Syrian border to the high plateau around Kars and Mount Ararat. It is much less visited than Istanbul or the coast, and the travel is slower, but it holds some of the most important archaeological sites in the world and cities with a very different character from the west.

Why visit Eastern Turkey

The southeast is where settled life began. Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe near Sanliurfa are around 11,000 to 12,000 years old. Harran, with its beehive houses, is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Mount Nemrut carries the giant stone heads of a 1st-century BC king. Further east, Mardin is a honey-coloured stone town looking over the Mesopotamian plain, and nearby Midyat and the Tur Abdin plateau hold Syriac Christian monasteries still in use, including Mor Gabriel, founded in 397. In the northeast, the ruins of Ani, a medieval Armenian capital, stand on the edge of a gorge on the border with Armenia.

How many days you need

The distances are long, so it is better to pick one area. Sanliurfa, Gobeklitepe and Mount Nemrut need 2 to 3 days. Mardin and Midyat need 2 to 3 days; see our 3-day Mardin and Midyat tour from Istanbul. Kars and Ani need 2 days; see our private Ani ruins and Kars tour. A full loop takes 10 days or more, as on our Ancient Civilizations of Southeastern Turkey tour.

Best time to visit

It depends on the area. The southeast (Urfa, Mardin) is best from March to May and late September to November; July and August regularly pass 40°C. The northeast (Kars, Ani, Van) is best from June to September; winter there is long and cold, often below -20°C, though Kars under snow has its own appeal. Mount Nemrut's summit is generally visited from spring to autumn.

Getting there from Istanbul

Fly. Istanbul has direct flights to Sanliurfa, Mardin, Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Van and Kars, most taking about 2 hours. Between cities, a private car and driver is the practical way to move. The Eastern Express, a sleeper train from Ankara to Kars, takes more than a day and is popular in winter, but it is a travel experience in itself rather than a quick connection.

Top experiences

• Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe, the world's oldest known monumental sites.
• Sunrise or sunset on Mount Nemrut among the stone heads.
• The old town of Mardin and the Deyrulzafaran monastery.
• The Syriac monasteries and stone mansions of Midyat.
• The churches and walls of Ani above the Arpacay gorge.
• The 10th-century Akdamar Church on an island in Lake Van.
• Ishak Pasha Palace near Dogubayazit, with Mount Ararat behind.

Where to stay

Sanliurfa, Mardin (stone mansion hotels in the old town), Kars and Van are the usual bases.

What to eat

The southeast is Turkey's strongest food region: Urfa and Adana kebabs, Gaziantep baklava and pistachios, Mardin's stuffed lamb ribs. In Kars, try the aged gravyer cheese and roast goose; in Van, the famous breakfast spread.

Practical tips

• Dress modestly, especially in smaller towns and religious sites.
• Some areas near the borders have security checkpoints; carry your passport.
• Check current travel advisories before booking.

Our longest route, the 21-day Turkey private tour, includes the east. See all Eastern Turkey tours.