Fresh Air › Instead of Cappadocia
Mardin
Mardin sits on a limestone ridge above the Mesopotamian plains and is one of the most remarkable cities in Turkey. The old city is built from honey-coloured stone, with houses stacked up the hillside above the plain in a way that photographs beautifully and feels genuinely ancient. The cultural mix is extraordinary — Syriac Christian, Arab, Kurdish, Armenian, and Turkish communities have all shaped the architecture and culture. The surrounding plains contain some of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world.
Why visit
An extraordinary honey-coloured hilltop city with Syriac, Armenian, Kurdish, Arabic, and Turkish layers of history, ancient monasteries in the surrounding plains, and a unique cultural identity.
Crowd level
Growing Turkish domestic tourism but very few international visitors. Genuinely undiscovered by most Western tourists.
Best time
Spring (April-May) or autumn; summers are extremely hot
Getting there
Fly to Mardin Airport from Istanbul or Ankara. The old city is on a steep hillside.
Tradeoffs
Very hot in summer. The political situation in southeastern Turkey requires checking current advisories. Not a typical tourist city.
Direct comparisons
Layers
Region
At a glance
- Country
- Turkey
- Region
- Southeastern Anatolia
- Fresh Air Score
- 83/100
- Cost level
- $
- Distance from Cappadocia
- 620 km