This article was published before the earthquake of February 6, 2023 and will always be here to remember the heritage of Şanlıurfa. 💚
Have you heard it said that the element for the geography of Şanlıurfa is water? There are many reasons for this. One of them is Şanlıurfa’s famous health-giving waters and the legends surrounding it. Şanlıurfa is a city adorned with stories that have been told for thousands of years. It has been home to various kingdoms and civilizations. Naturally, it has absorbed and shaped different cultures over time. Even the fact that Şanlıurfa is called the “City of Prophets” seems to give us a clue about how far back its history and structures go.
Let us remind you before we start this article: Don’t forget to download the Piri Guide mobile app to visit Şanlıurfa step by step with your personal and digital tour guide!
How to Get to Şanlıurfa?
It is quite easy to reach Şanlıurfa both by land and by air. Buses depart from many cities to reach the city. There are also flights to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, so you can easily prefer air transportation. It is also possible to fly directly to Şanlıurfa from European cities in certain periods. If you prefer railway transportation, you can choose from TCDD flights. Şanlıurfa is approximately 1270 km from Istanbul and 820 km from Ankara.
Şanlıurfa GAP Airport is located 35 km from the city center. Although you can rent a car and take a taxi, Havaş buses also depart from the airport regularly. You can reach the center in 45 minutes from here. Havaş buses will be in the area approximately 25-30 minutes after your flight lands. If you arrived by bus, you can take public transportation or the shuttle buses provided by the bus companies to go to the city center.
When to Visit Şanlıurfa?
When to go to Şanlıurfa depends a bit on what you want to do in the city. Considering the climate, the best time to go to Urfa is in spring. The winters are quite cold and the summers are scorching. If you say, “We are going to go a little higher up to Nemrut”, we recommend you to go in April-May. However, it would be an ideal choice to visit Urfa in the fall months. We advise you to go to Şanlıurfa in spring rather than summer or winter.
You have chosen when to go, the tickets are almost ready… So let’s take a closer look at what you can visit in Şanlıurfa!
Şanlıurfa Travel Guide
Balıklıgöl
When it comes to Urfa, the first thing that comes to mind is undoubtedly Balıklıgöl. It is known that in ancient times, people erected temples around water sources for the goddess they believed in. Although it is not certain whether any temple in this neighborhood was erected for the same purpose, there is the Church of the Virgin Mary where Balıklıgöl is located. The minaret you will see here was actually a church tower in the past. But it was converted into a minaret in the 800s, precisely during the Abbasid period.
As for Balıklıgöl, this place has a very interesting story. According to the legend, the carp that you can still see in Balıklıgöl were once pieces of wood. One day, the cruel ruler Nemrut set fire to Prophet Abraham for breaking idols. When Abraham was thrown into the fire, the fire turned into water and the wood turned into carp fish. Since that day, Balıklıgöl is known as a sacred area.
You will see the Rizvaniye Mosque in the area where the lake is located. Its wooden door, which is still in use, has rich floral decorations on it. While you are here, we recommend you to visit the külliye area, which has embroidered arches and is used as a handicraft center.
Sanliurfa Castle
Urfa Castle is definitely one of the symbolic places of Şanlıurfa. Although only the walls have survived to the present day, the two surviving columns reflect the history in a wonderful way. Unfortunately, the tower itself was closed to visitors years ago for security reasons. If you ask us, try your luck to climb up to the castle by going to the security there.
The Gumruk (Customs Inn) Han
Once you pass the famous Halıcılar Bazaar, you will be greeted by Gümrük Han. Gümrük Hanı was built in 1566 by Behram Pasha for a caravanserai during the reign of Kanuni. In 2001, it was restored in accordance with the original. When you enter the bazaar, you can find many things from copper coffee pots to various kinds of fabrics. This is also a good spot for lunch. While you are here, don’t forget to talk to the locals and listen to the Urfa pepper isot and mırra coffee from them. Gümrük Han is a great place to take a breather under the centuries-old plane trees and sip a cup of coffee after some shopping and sightseeing.
Urfa City Museum
This building, also known as Mahmutoğlu Tower, was built during the Crusader Counties and turned into a museum in 2008. Its name comes from the Mahmutoğlu family, who were the gate masters during the last period of the Ottoman Empire. There is even an interesting story about this place. It is said that in 1919, when Urfa was occupied by the British, a British commander wanted to rent the tower. However, Mahmutoğlu Mustafa Aga strongly opposed this and rejected the offer.
The tower also has a five-line inscription written in Armenian on three stones side by side. According to the inscription, Mahmutoğlu Tower was built between 1022-1023. There was also the eastern gate of the city near the tower, but it has not survived to the present day.
The Museum Of Cuisine
Şanlıurfa is a city where the concept of “Halil İbrahim Table” comes from in hospitality. That’s why Sanliurfa people love to eat and feed. The Culinary Museum, located in the center of the city, is built in an old Urfa mansion. It is possible to come across many houses made of limestone stone in its surroundings. The biggest reason for using this stone is, of course, the hot climate of Şanlıurfa and the fact that limestone is preferred for thermal insulation.
At the Kitchen Museum, you have the opportunity to get to know both the food culture and home life of the city. In Urfa houses, there are sitting places called iwan, which face towards the courtyard and have a small pool in the middle. Inside the museum, you can see the iwan where most of the home life takes place. Another striking feature of Şanlıurfa architecture that you will come across during your visit to the museum is the bird taxis. These bird houses, called matar in the local language, are placed to feed different kinds of pigeons as part of a tradition.
Harran Gate
When we look at various sources, we see that there were a total of 4 city gates in the history of Şanlıurfa. However, unfortunately, there is no other gate that has survived except the Harran Gate. Harran Gate, which has survived to the present day, also had names such as the Gate of the House of the Sun and the Gate of the Son of God in the past. When you step inside the Harran Gate, you are greeted by the old city street structure of Urfa. There is also a Greek inscription on the gate. Since the inscription is not fully legible, it is not known when the gate was built or perhaps repaired. The general opinion is that the gate was built in the 5th century.
If you want to visit Göbeklitepe while you are in Şanlıurfa, you may also be interested in our Göbeklitepe travel guide.
