Warnings & Tips

There is air transportation to all cities in the region except Kilis. The provinces with the highest number of flights to the region are Gaziantep and Diyarbakır. All city centers in the region are connected by divided roads. Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa cities can be reached by toll highway. The city centers that can be reached by train are only Diyarbakır and Batman. There is no public transportation between the districts after 17.00 in winter and 19.00 in summer.

All museums are closed to visitors on Mondays as they are everywhere in Turkey. In the area you can get museum cards from just a few museums. You are advised to get your museum card before arriving in the area. The archaeological sites are open to visitors every day. They can be visited until 19.00 in summer and 17.00in winter. Many of the archaeological sites do not have services such as toilets and grocery stores where you can meet your personal needs. There is no public transportation to many archaeological sites. You can reach these places by taking a private car, private tour or taxi.

Since summer is extremely hot and dry, spring and autumn are the best times to visit. Since the winters are warm, two-day city and provincial routes can be easily made on weekends. In the summer, be sure to bring moisturizing cream, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and personal hygiene items with you; choose comfortable, loose, light colored and linen clothes. Never be exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Be especially careful with children, make them drink plenty of water and keep them in the shade. Choose breathable walking or sneakers or sandals. Prefer morning, afternoon and evening hours when scheduling your open-air visits. Do not move as much as possible during lunch hours. Spend time in sheltered places.

Almost all of the food culture in the region is on meat. Those who are vegetarian can prefer salads, appetizers, side dishes and breads that are brought with these dishes. Although the food cultures of Mesopotamian cities seem very similar, they are actually very different from each other. We recommend that you try only the unique dishes in every city (Beyran in Antep, Tirit in Urfa, Sembüsek in Mardin, kaburga dolması in Diyarbakır, perde pilavı in Siirt, etc.). Do not eat kebab everywhere. There are very few bars and restaurants in the area where you can get alcohol. There are hotels that do not serve alcohol. Please be careful when making a reservation.

Not only mosques but also Assyrian Churches should not be entered with inappropriate clothes. Women should cover their heads with a scarf in mosques and churches, if any. Mosques, churches and synagogues should be as quiet as possible and no photographs should be taken or strolled in these structures without permission from the clergy or officials concerned.

Don't forget to bring a fleece sweater, fleece blanket, or coat to use on the summit of Mount Nemrut. The water of the Euphrates River is very cold, its depth is very high and its current is extremely strong. It is advisable not to swim. Swimming in all of the dam lakes in the area is dangerous and prohibited. Care should be taken where tent camping is desired. Especially scorpion and centipede species can be fatally toxic. You can negotiate all your purchases in the region. The most authentic products are found in the old bazaars.