Şanlıurfa is one of the most valuable cities in Anatolia with its deep-rooted historical and cultural wealth. Şanlıurfa is a unique city that must be visited and seen. There are beautiful natural places and historical buildings in the list of places to visit in Şanlıurfa.
Places to Visit in Şanlıurfa
Şanlıurfa is a great historical Anatolian city. The city is also located on Mesopotamian lands. This precious city should be on the list on your Southeastern Anatolia tour. Şanlıurfa is known as the city of prophets. Make sure you spend 2 days in Şanlıurfa. Even though I came across new roads, high-rise buildings and a wonderful view of the city when I got down to the city bus station, I also wanted to see the old architecture where I could breathe that historical and mystical smell of the region.
As I moved towards the old city and began to see the real architecture and stone houses, I murmured to myself that I had come to the place I was looking for. Stone streets, historical places of worship, Şanlıurfa Castle, lands where you feel you belong to many religions as you enter the streets. This is Şanlıurfa, welcome to the land of beautiful people.
Things to Do in Urfa
Balıklıgöl is one of the places to visit in Şanlıurfa city center. Balıklıgöl is about 150 meters long. Carp fish live in the lake. Halil Ur Rahman Mosque built by Saladin’s nephew and the cave where Prophet Abraham was born are also located in this place. At the same time, the Patience Authority of the Prophet Eyüp is located here. It is believed that the water that comes out of here heals the patients. The castle you see when you raise your head in Balıklıgöl was built on a Neolithic settlement mound in 9500 BC.
On the other hand, the Şanlıurfa Museum just above Balıklıgöl is the great pride of our country. Its wonderful architecture outside, and inside, thousands of artifacts from the Neolithic age to the Bronze Age, from the Romans to the present are exhibited. The museum also has the distinction of being the largest museum of our country. I would like to sincerely say that I was impressed in a Vatican Museum in the countries I have visited so far and I was impressed in the Şanlıurfa Museum. You can visit the museum with Müzekart free of charge or for 10 TL. There is also a large restaurant in the museum. The prominent stone mansion is definitely the Sakıp’s Mansion. The mansion attracts attention with its courtyard, room structures and architecture.
Şanlıurfa Travel Guide
You can visit Göbeklitepe with a 20-minute drive from the city center. This place is one of the most special underground excavation sites in the country and also the oldest known largest temple in history. Its closeness to the earliest times of humanity will excite you. Göbeklitepe was recently renovated and opened to visitors. If you don’t have a private car, getting here is a bit of a challenge. You can visit for free with Müzekart.
I think you should definitely see the Cupola Houses in Harran on the Harran Plain when you visit Urfa. This place is one of the first settlements in the world. The original lifestyle continues in these houses. When you enter the area where the cupola houses are located, there are structures that will surprise you in terms of architecture. The decor inside still preserves the culture of those times. You can wear old-time clothes, take photos, drink Mırra, and sit in old houses. Harran Castle and the ruins of the Historical Harran University are among the places to be seen in this region. You can rent a car in Şanlıurfa on Yolcu360 and reach here in approximately 50 minutes.
Click for What is Göbeklitepe? / History of Göbeklitepe
Şanlıurfa Museum
Şanlıurfa has a very important place in terms of places to visit. The city is home to a great historical civilization. The city is in the heart of Mesopotamia regionally. Artifacts collected from the history of the city are exhibited in the Şanlıurfa Museum today. You should definitely visit the Şanlıurfa Museum. This museum is an amazing place. The exterior of the museum is designed with a wonderful architecture made of cut stone.
There are cafeteria areas where you can relax and drink your coffee when you are tired. There is also a restaurant outside the museum. The artifacts in the Şanlıurfa Museum were unearthed as a result of the works in the local mounds and old settlements. These cultural assets are displayed in separate showcases in chronological order. The actual animations in the museum were really impressive.
Historical artifacts belonging to the Assyrian, Babylonian and Hittite periods are exhibited in the first hall on the ground floor. In the second and third halls belonging to the archaeological period, historical artifacts such as vessels from the Neolithic period, cutting tools, bowls from the Chalcolithic period, patterned ceramics, burial jars seals and figural pots pieces, animal figures, seals, jewelry and metal items from the Old Bronze Age are exhibited. There are also important artifacts from the Roman period close to today. While visiting the museum, I was surprised that such great works were here. However, Şanlıurfa is one of the most excavated places in our country. Because this is the Mesopotamian lands. There is a great history in this geography.
Entering the museum is free with a Müzekart. If you do not have a Müzekart, you can witness the traces of history and have pleasant moments with a fee of 8 TL. There are many halls in the museum so that you can relax and have a drink. Moreover, a very stylish restaurant was built in the garden of the museum. The museum has the distinction of being the largest museum in our country. In this respect, the museum is a great pride for our country.
It is really big and beautiful enough to compete with many museums in Europe. I congratulate everyone who contributed to this. It is an important place that I will definitely want you to see. Şanlıurfa Museum is as important as Halfeti, Harran and Balıklıgöl, which are the most important values of the city. Explore these places and tell everyone. This important historical site must find the value it deserves.
What to Do in Şanlıurfa?
Another of the most important places to visit in Şanlıurfa is Halfeti. I reached Halfeti after a 1.5 hour drive from the city center. The view you will see in Halfeti will fascinate you. Halfeti was flooded with the construction of Birecik Dam. That’s why you need to take a boat tour to visit this place. You can visit Halfeti with a 1-hour boat tour. You can tour Halfeti by renting boats for 10 TL per person or a small boat for 100 TL. I think this place is one of the places that should be visited in Şanlıurfa. The region has an excellent history.
Now I will tell you where you can eat in Urfa. My suggestion is Cevahir Han with its different concept and historical place. You will have fun in Sira Night with live music while eating your meal. You know, the voices of musicians from Urfa are famous. Shish Kebab, Urfa Kebab, Eggplant Kebab, Borani Soup, Isot Meal are among the tastes I can recommend to you. For dessert, I recommend Şıllık. Then I say don’t leave without drinking a Mırra. Also, I recommend you to try the Keme Kebab. Another food suggestion in Halfeti is that I would like you to try the lake fish Shabout. It is a delicious fish.
7 things must do in Şanlıurfa
- You should visit Balıklıgöl.
- You should try the Keme Kebab.
- You should visit the Şanlıurfa Museum.
- You should see Harran.
- You should tour Halfeti by boat.
- You should try the Eggplant Kebab.
- You should attend the Sira Night.
I wish you to discover…
Add comment