What to see in Midyat: a two-day route

Midyat is the right base for the region: Mardin, Hasankeyf and Dara are each about an hour away. Splitting two days like this works well.

Day one — Midyat and around

Morning: a walk through old Midyat. The filigree workshops open early; that is the best hour to watch silver wire being woven by hand.

Afternoon: Mor Gabriel Monastery, founded in 397 and the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monastery in the world. Visiting hours are limited — confirm before you go, and dress with shoulders and knees covered.

Evening: a sıra gecesi. After a day on your feet, an evening spent sitting down is welcome.

Day two — Dara and Mardin

Morning: ancient Dara. A rock-cut necropolis, an enormous cistern and waterworks. There is little shade: go early and take water.

Afternoon: old Mardin, terraced in stone above the Mesopotamian plain. Parking is difficult; walking into the centre is easier.

Alternative: Hasankeyf. The cave dwellings on the Tigris and the relocated monuments fill a day on their own, which pushes Mardin to a third day.

Practical notes

Midday is very hot in summer; load the plan onto the morning and late afternoon. Closed shoes help at the monastery and the archaeological sites. Free parking is available around the hotel.

We describe each of these places separately on our Explore page.