Things to Do in Samsat: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Samsat

• 3 Historic
• 2 Nature
• 1 Attraction

1 🌳 Nature

View of Atatürk Dam Lake

The view of Atatürk Dam Lake, which surrounds the district on three sides.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Ruins of the Ancient City of Samosata

Samosata, the capital of the Kingdom of Commagene in antiquity, lies beneath the waters of Atatürk Dam Lake. Works recovered through rescue excavations carried out before the dam was built are displayed in the Adıyaman Museum.

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3 📸 Attraction

New Samsat Settlement

The new settlement, founded after the old Samsat was submerged by the Atatürk Dam, was built with modern town planning. Its location on the lakeshore adds a distinct appeal to the district.

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i Photo: Radosław Botev (CC BY 3.0 pl) · Source

4 🏛️ Historic

Samsat Mound

Archaeological excavations on the site of old Samsat have uncovered layers from the Bronze Age to the Roman period. The mound is an important record of the settlement history on the banks of the Euphrates.

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5 🌳 Nature

Atatürk Dam Lake Shore (New Samsat)

A peninsula in New Samsat, on the shore of Atatürk Dam Lake, surrounded by the lake on three sides.

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6 🏛️ Historic

Old Samsat

Palaces, aqueducts and castles have been found in archaeological excavations in old Samsat and its surroundings.

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While you are in Samsat, you can also see the highlights of Adıyaman province. These places are in other districts.

• Mount Nemrut — On a 2,150-metre summit at Kâhta, the tomb-sanctuary built by Antiochus I of Commagene in 62 BC, with its giant tumulus of crushed stone and the statues of gods on its east and west terraces, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The lion horoscope on the west terrace is considered the oldest known horoscope; sunrise is watched from the east terrace and sunset from the west.
• Arsameia (Old Castle) — On the east bank of the Kâhta Stream, 63 km from Adıyaman, Arsameia was one of the important centres of the Commagene royal family.
• Kâhta Castle (New Castle) — Rising on the rocky hill opposite Arsameia, the castle was taken from the Byzantines by the Seljuks in 1085 and changed hands often during the Mamluk–Mongol wars.
• Cendere Bridge — Built over the Cendere Stream in the name of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus (193–211), his wife and his sons, the bridge is known as the widest arch bridge built by the Romans, with an arch span of 34.2 metres.
• Karakuş Tumulus — This monumental tomb on Gösterge Hill, 12 km north of Kâhta, was built for Isias, the mother of King Mithridates II, and for the women of the royal family.
• Sesönk Tumulus — Standing on a high rock at Besni, this tumulus, about 2,060 years old, is a Commagene monumental tomb similar to Karakuş.

Practical Information for Visiting Samsat

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

6 places

• 🥩

  Çiğ Köfte

  Raw kofte made by hand-kneading fine bulgur and isot pepper, Samsat's favourite local dish. It is served with lettuce and lemon.

• 🐟

  Lake Fish

  Freshwater fish caught in Atatürk Dam Lake, served grilled or fried in a pan. It is the most popular menu item at lakeside restaurants in Samsat.

• 🫓

  Lahmacun

  Thin dough topped with a minced meat mixture and baked in a stone oven, lahmacun is prepared in Samsat's bakeries using the traditional recipe.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Samsat

• 🏛️

  Samosata Heritage

  Samsat carries the heritage of the ancient city of Samosata. The capital of the Kingdom of Commagene has its place in history as the birthplace of famous thinkers such as Lucian.

• 🏘️

  Memory of Displacement by the Dam

  The submersion of old Samsat under water with the construction of the Atatürk Dam has left deep marks on the collective memory of the district's people. This forced migration is the most important event in the region's modern history.

• 🎣

  Fishing Culture

  With the formation of Atatürk Dam Lake, a fishing culture has developed in Samsat. Fishing and cooking fish on the lakeshore have become part of the district's daily life.

Local Products

• İsot Pepper — Isot pepper grown in Samsat's sunny climate is dried by traditional sweating and offered in markets as the emblematic product of Adıyaman.
• Dam Lake Fish — Freshwater fish obtained from Atatürk Dam Lake are an important part of Samsat's natural products.
• Pekmez (grape molasses) — Pekmez made from grapes by traditional methods is an essential product of Samsat's winter preparations.

Economy

Samsat's economy rests on agriculture, fishing and livestock farming. Thanks to Atatürk Dam Lake, cotton, wheat and vegetables are grown on land whose irrigation has increased. Lake fishing is an important livelihood. Small livestock farming also contributes to the district's economy.

How to Get to Samsat

Samsat is about 55 km from Adıyaman city centre and is reached by road. The nearest airport is Adıyaman Airport (65 km). Regular minibus services run from Adıyaman to Samsat.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Adıyaman

Samsat: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Samsat Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Adıyaman The province's 14 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Adıyaman

• Adıyaman Central District 7 places Adıyaman Castle (Hısn-ı Mansur), Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) and Adıyaman Museum
• Besni 6 places Besni Castle, Old Besni (Eski Kahta) Ruins and Besni Grand Mosque
• Çelikhan 4 places Abdulharap Stream and Çat Dam, Akdağ and Çelikhan Highland Pastures
• Gerger 5 places Roman Settlement Area, Euphrates River Banks and Gerger Rock Tombs
• Gölbaşı 9 places Azaplı Lake, Gölbaşı Lake (İnekli Lake) and Gölbaşı Castle
• Kahta 9 places Mount Nemrut, Cendere Bridge and Karakuş Tumulus
• Sincik 5 places Sincik Castle, Sincik Highland Pastures and Rock Tombs
• Tut 5 places Tut Castle, Tut Rock Tombs and Tut Valley