Southeastern Anatolia · Plate code 63
Şanlıurfa
Şanlıurfa is home to Göbeklitepe, one of the oldest known temple sites in the world, and Karahantepe. Balıklıgöl, associated with the Prophet Abraham, Harran with its beehive houses, partly submerged Halfeti and the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum are its highlights, and Urfa kebab, isot pepper and şıllık dessert are famous.
Explore this province →Detailed guides
Historic · Haliliye
Göbeklitepe
One of the oldest known temple sites in the world; UNESCO World Heritage.
Religious · Eyyübiye
Balıklıgöl (Pool of Abraham)
A pool associated with the Prophet Abraham, with fish held sacred.
© Zhengan · CC BY-SA 4.0Historic · Harran
Harran
A very ancient settlement with conical beehive houses and a castle.
© Vincent Vega · CC BY-SA 4.0Historic · Haliliye
Karahantepe
A site of the same era as Göbeklitepe, with structures cut into the bedrock.
© Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0Nature · Halfeti
Halfeti
A partly submerged town on the Euphrates; boat trips.
No places in this category.
Highlights
Places
Göbeklitepe
Balıklıgöl
Harran
Halfeti
Karahantepe
Tastes
Urfa kebab
Şıllık dessert
Local food and products
- Dish
Urfa kebab
A mild kebab of hand-chopped meat on skewers.
- Product
Isot
Dark Urfa pepper dried in the sun.
- Dish
Şıllık
Thin crêpes rolled with walnuts and soaked in syrup.
- Dish
Çiğ köfte
Köfte kneaded with isot and bulgur.
When to go
Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) are best; summers are very hot.
Getting there
- Airports
- Şanlıurfa GAP Havalimanı (GNY)
- Bus terminal
- Şanlıurfa bus terminal has services to Türkiye's major cities and the region; minibuses go to Harran and Halfeti.