Things to Do in Sason: 8 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Sason

• 3 Historic
• 5 Nature

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

• Hasankeyf Upper Castle — A castle founded as a frontier fortress under the Roman emperor Constantius II (4th century) and furnished with palaces and mosques in the Artuqid and Ayyubid periods; because it stands above the dam water, it has been preserved and turned into an open-air museum.
• Hasankeyf Culture Park — A park set up on the bank of the Tigris in New Hasankeyf; the Zeynel Bey Tomb, the minaret of the Er-Rızk Mosque, the Artuqid Hammam, the Sultan Süleyman and Koç mosques, the Imam Abdullah Zawiya and the Kızlar Mosque, all moved from their old sites before the Ilısu Dam, are displayed here.
• Zeynel Bey Tomb — A cylindrical tomb built by the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan for his son Zeynel Bey, who died in the Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473, the work of the Iranian architect Pir Hüseyin; with its turquoise-glazed brick decoration it is unique in Anatolia.
• Hasankeyf Museum — A museum displaying about 4,000 items found in the Hasankeyf excavations, from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages and the Roman, Artuqid and Ottoman periods; it was fully opened to visitors in 2019 in New Hasankeyf.
• Ilısu Dam Lake — The reservoir of the Ilısu Dam on the Tigris, which began to hold water in 2019 and started generating energy in 2020; boat tours are run in front of Hasankeyf and stand out for their sunset views.
• Mount Raman — A mountain 1,288 metres high, very close to the centre of Batman; oil was found here in 1940 by the MTA (Mineral Research and Exploration Directorate) for the first time in Türkiye, changing the fate of the city.

Practical Information for Visiting Sason

Suggested time

1-2 days

Best time to visit

Summer months (June-September)

Places to visit

8 places

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  Sason Balı (Sason honey)

  Sason Balı was registered as a protected designation of origin on 1 September 2025 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1765). Product group: honey. Registered by: Sason Kaymakamlığı.

• 🥩

  Büryan Kebabı (pit-roasted lamb)

  Lamb cooked for hours in a tandır pit, Büryan Kebabı is a traditional dish also widely eaten in Sason.

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  Sason Peyniri (Sason cheese)

  A traditional cheese made from the milk of sheep grazing on the Sason plateaus, known for its salty, firm texture. Matured in goatskin bags, it is the best-known dairy product of the region.

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  Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

  Lamb ribs are filled with rice and minced meat, then baked in the oven. It is a traditional dish for special occasions. Local families prepare this dish for special days, and it is a symbol of hospitality.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Sason

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  Plateau Culture

  Plateau life is a tradition that has been maintained in Sason for generations. Families who migrate to the plateaus in summer continue traditional livestock farming and cheese making.

• 📜

  The Sason Epic

  Sason is the setting of 'Sasna Tsrer' (The Daredevils of Sasun), one of the most important epics of Armenian literature. The epic is part of the region's multi-layered cultural heritage.

Local Products

• Sason Çileği (Sason strawberries) — Sason Çileği was registered as a protected designation of origin on 10 February 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 667). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Batman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Sason Peyniri (Sason cheese) — Sason cheese, made from plateau sheep's milk using traditional methods, gains its distinctive flavour through maturing in goatskin bags.
• Bal (honey) — Honey made from the rich flora of the Sason mountains, known for its light colour and floral aroma.

Economy

Sason's economy is based on livestock farming and agriculture. The mountainous terrain is suitable for small livestock. Plateau cheese and honey production are important sources of income. Grain and pulse cultivation is also carried out.

How to Get to Sason

Sason is 70 km from Batman provincial centre. Transport is by road. There are regular minibus services from Batman. Because of the mountainous terrain, travel can become difficult in winter. The nearest airport is Batman Airport (75 km).

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Batman

Sason: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Sason Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Batman The province's 9 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Batman

• Batman Central District 6 places Raman Mountain, Batman Stream and Batman Museum
• Beşiri 5 places Beşiri Castle, Beşiri Grand Mosque and Batman Stream Valley
• Gercüş 5 places Mor Yakup Monastery, Gercüş Castle and Gercüş Stone Houses
• Hasankeyf 9 places Ilısu Dam Lake, Hasankeyf Ancient City and Hasankeyf Castle
• Kozluk 9 places Kozluk Castle, Kozluk Hot Springs and Kozluk Grand Mosque