Mardin itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · TürkiyeJune–September
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 31
- Per day
- ≈ 1,400 TL
- First stop
- 08:30
Short answer
The TripWalkers Mardin itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 31 stops, hour by hour, for June–September. The first three days:
- Day 1 Old Mardin
- Day 2 Deyrulzafaran and Kırklar
- Day 3 Dara and Savur
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 4 and 5 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 1,400 TL a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 08:30–18:30
Old Mardin
Culture
Zinciriye Medresesi
Mardin's highest madrasa; from the domed terrace you look over the Mesopotamian plain. Cool in the morning.
≈ 50 TL per personCulture
Mardin Grand Mosque
Artuqid minaret in the middle of the bazaar.
FreeShopping
Mardin Coppersmiths' Bazaar
Copper, almond candy and Mardin soap; donkeys still carry goods along the stone lanes.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Cercis Murat Konağı
Syriac-Mardin cuisine in a stone mansion; order the stuffed ribs (kaburga dolması) in advance. Terrace views.
≈ 900 TL per person- 3 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Kasimiye Madrasa
Twin-domed madrasa with a courtyard pool; the plain turns red at sunset.
≈ 50 TL per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Seyr-i Merdin KafeTerrace café for coffee and Mardin pastry (Mardin çöreği).
- Mardin MuseumArchaeology museum in the former patriarchate; an indoor option instead of the madrasa.
Day 2 · 08:30–19:00
Deyrulzafaran and Kırklar
Culture
Deyrulzafaran Monastery
1,500-year-old Syriac monastery; guided tour covers the sun temple and patriarch tombs. Take the first group in the morning.
≈ 150 TL per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Kırklar Church
Active Syriac church in Old Mardin; quiet courtyard.
FreeFood
Antik Mardin Sofrası
Ikbebet, sembusek and dobo in a mansion restaurant.
≈ 700 TL per person- 3 h · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Şahkulubey Mansion
Stone mansion and courtyard; walk on through the bazaar lanes.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Mardin Castle Viewpoint
The castle is military, but the viewpoint at its foot is open; city and plain at sunset.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Mardin Kebapçısı Yusuf UstaMardin kebab and içli köfte (stuffed bulgur meatballs).
- Sakıp Sabancı Mardin City MuseumCity museum; an indoor option.
Day 3 · 08:30–16:00
Dara and Savur
Culture
Dara Ancient City
30 km from Mardin; Roman cistern, necropolis and rock tombs, known as the "Ephesus of Mesopotamia".
≈ 100 TL per personFood
Dara Village Breakfast
Mardin breakfast in a village house; crumbled cheese and bulgur with eggs.
≈ 300 TL per person- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Savur
Stone town nicknamed Little Mardin; castle, mansions and mulberry orchards.
FreeFood
Savur Kahveci Konağı
Mırra (bitter coffee) and mulberry molasses in a mansion.
≈ 150 TL per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Kızıltepe Grand MosqueArtuqid mosque; an alternative to Savur.
- Dara Kahve EviMırra in the village.
Day 4 · 09:00–17:00Day trip
Midyat
Landmark
Midyat Konukevi
The mansion from the TV series Sıla; terrace and stonework. Midyat is 1 hour away.
≈ 50 TL per personShopping
Midyat Old Bazaar
Telkari (silver filigree) masters and Syriac wine.
FreeCulture
Mor Barsavmo Church
Midyat's active Syriac church.
FreeFood
Midyat Kasr-ı Nehroz Restaurant
Syriac cuisine in a stone mansion; try perde pilavı (pastry-wrapped rice) and alluciye.
≈ 600 TL per person- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Mor Gabriel Monastery
One of the world's oldest active monasteries (397); guided tour, mosaics. 20 km from Midyat.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Midyat Gelüşke HanıLunch at the caravanserai.
- HasankeyfNew Hasankeyf and the castle; an alternative to Mor Gabriel (1 hour).
Day 5 · 09:00–15:30Day trip
Nusaybin and Mor Yakup
Culture
Mor Yakup Church Nusaybin
4th-century church and the excavation of the School of Nisibis; on the Syrian border.
FreeCulture
Nusaybin Zeynel Abidin Mosque
Tomb and mosque, next to the church.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Nusaybin Çarşı Lokantası
Town eatery serving ribs and pilaf.
≈ 300 TL per person- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Girnavaz Mound
Assyrian mound near Nusaybin; excavation site.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Nusaybin KahvaltıcısıBreakfast.
- Mardin Dara Road ViewpointViews over the plain; an alternative to the mound.
Day 6 · 09:30–18:00
Mansions and soap
Shopping
Mardin Soap Workshop
See how terebinth (bıttım) soap is made, and shop.
FreeCulture
Mardin Protestant Church
Restored church, now a cultural centre.
FreeLandmark
Mardin Abbaras
Vaulted lanes running beneath houses; cool passages.
FreeFood
Mardin Leyli Kahvaltı
Mardin breakfast with clotted cream and honey, plus sembusek.
≈ 400 TL per person- 3 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Şehidiye Madrasa
Madrasa with a minaret and a tea garden; sunset.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Mardin Mırra EviMırra and almond candy.
- Latifiye MosqueArtuqid mosque; an alternative to Şehidiye.
Day 7 · 09:30–12:45
Bazaar and a gentle farewell
Shopping
Mardin Badem Şekercisi
Almond candy, Mardin soap and telkari souvenirs.
FreeLandmark
Mardin 1. Cadde
Old Mardin's main street; one last walk.
FreeFood
Mardin Kahvaltı Konağı
Farewell breakfast; terrace.
≈ 400 TL per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Mardin Maristan KafeCafé in an old Artuqid hospital; mırra and a terrace.
- Emir Hamamı MardinArtuqid-era hammam; a scrub-and-foam farewell.
Good to know: 6 things that make a Mardin trip easier
- Mardin Airport is 20 minutes from the city. A car is useless in Old Mardin, so walk. For Midyat, Dara and Nusaybin, use a car or minibus.
- Order the stuffed ribs (kaburga dolması) in advance at Cercis Murat. Mırra is a bitter coffee, and the cup is handed back. Almond candy and terebinth soap make good souvenirs.
- Summer temperatures top 40°C: sightsee from 08:30 to 12:00 and after 17:00, rest in mansion courtyards at midday, and carry 3 litres of water.
- Respect service times at Syriac churches and monasteries. Deyrulzafaran is by guided tour only, and short sleeves are not allowed.
- The streets of Old Mardin are steep and paved with stone; wear comfortable shoes and cool off in the abbaras.
- Sunset at Kasimiye is Mardin's most famous moment; arrive 1 hour early.
Spending: ≈ 9,700 TL per person for 7 days
- Food6,000 TL
- Entry and tours600 TL
- Local transport2,500 TL
- Other600 TL
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Mardin?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 4 and 5; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Mardin cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 1,400 TL per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Mardin?
The first stop is at 08:30. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.