Diyarbakir features beautiful Arabian architecture, Kurdish culture and an atmospheric Old City. Spend your time visiting historic mosques, attending traditional Dengbej music performances and devouring sumptuous local cuisine.
Things to do in Diyarbakır
Diyarbakir is surrounded by ancient city walls dating back to the Roman and Byzantine eras. The stretch near the Mardin Kapisi gate is adorned with intricate carvings and inscriptions. Ascend the walls of the Ic Kale keep for sweeping views over the Old City.
Discover the Kurdish tradition of song and storytelling at Dengbej Evi. The cultural centre hosts regular performances and offers you a unique chance to experience the music's melancholy melodies and mesmerising chants. After taking in a show, enjoy refreshments in the lantern-strung tea garden.
The Cahit Sitki Taranci Museum celebrates the legacy of one of Turkey's most beloved poets. It's housed in a two-storey black basalt building and is filled with original furnishings, letters and manuscripts. The Archaeology Museum is another cultural highlight, showcasing artefacts found at the nearby Neolithic site of Cayonu.
Start your day right at Diyabakır Kahvalti Evi, one of the city's top breakfast haunts. It's housed in the tree-shaded courtyard of a historic mansion and serves up local cheeses, spicy sausages and Turkish-style eggs. On Saturday nights the cafe hosts live Kurdish music.
Getting Around
Diyarbakir is easy to explore on foot, especially around the Old City. It's also serviced by local buses and taxis. The "otogar" main bus station is 10 kilometres outside the city centre. Diyarbakir Airport is a 10-minute drive away and offers flights to Istanbul and Ankara.