Things to Do in Kocaköy: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Kocaköy

• 1 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 2 Nature

While you are in Kocaköy, you can also see the highlights of Diyarbakır province. These places are in other districts; Kocaköy is about 55 km from the provincial centre.

• Diyarbakır City Walls — Black basalt walls made up of the Inner Castle and the Outer Castle; the Dağ Kapı (Harput Gate), Urfa Kapı, Mardin Kapı and Yeni Kapı are the main entrances.
• Hevsel Gardens — About 700 hectares of farmland between the walls and the Tigris; with more than 180 bird species, it is the largest bird paradise in Southeastern Anatolia.
• Diyarbakır Grand Mosque — A mosque formed in 639 when the city's largest church was converted into a mosque and repaired in 1091 under Malik-Shah; it is considered the Anatolian counterpart of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and is known in the Islamic world as the 'fifth sacred sanctuary' (beşinci harem-i şerif).
• Ten-Eyed Bridge (Tigris Bridge) — A ten-arched basalt bridge over the Tigris, 3 km south of Mardin Kapı, built in 1065 in the Marwanid period according to its inscription; it links the city with Bağıvar.
• Hasan Paşa Caravanserai — Opposite the Grand Mosque, a caravanserai with black-and-white stone banding, built in 1572–1575 by Governor Hasan Paşa, son of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa; today its courtyard breakfast rooms make it the city's meeting place.
• Four-Legged Minaret (Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque) — The minaret of the mosque built in 1500 by the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Kasım Bey, rising on four monolithic stone columns; it is the only example in Anatolia.

Practical Information for Visiting Kocaköy

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

4 places

• 🫓

  Ciğer Kebabı (lamb liver kebab)

  Prepared by threading lamb liver onto skewers and grilling it over charcoal. This dish has an important place at local tables and is prepared using traditional recipes. As an important part of Kocaköy's gastronomic identity, it is a favourite with visitors.

• 🥟

  İçli Köfte (stuffed bulgur balls)

  Prepared by boiling bulgur dough with a filling of minced meat, onion and walnuts. Made from recipes passed down through generations, this dish is an important part of the region's culinary culture. Prepared by local people on special occasions, it is a symbol of hospitality.

• 🍲

  Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

  Prepared by boiling crushed wheat and meat for a long time, then pounding them. Made with local ingredients, this dish reflects the region's gastronomic richness. Pounding the wheat and boiling it with meat for hours is a process that requires patience.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kocaköy

• 🌾

  Geleneksel Köy Yaşamı (Traditional Village Life)

  Traditional farming and livestock culture is maintained in Kocaköy. This tradition is passed down through generations as an important element of the local people's cultural identity.

• 🤝

  Toplumsal Dayanışma (Social Solidarity)

  The tradition of communal work (imece) and social solidarity is still kept alive in Kocaköy's villages.

Local Products

• Buğday (Wheat) — Wheat is grown on the plains of Kocaköy.
• Hayvancılık Ürünleri (Livestock Products) — Small livestock farming takes place in the district. Milk and dairy production is an important source of income.

Economy

Kocaköy's economy is based on agriculture and livestock. Wheat, barley and lentils are the main agricultural products. Small livestock farming is an important source of livelihood.

How to Get to Kocaköy

Kocaköy is 55 km from Diyarbakır city centre. Minibus services run from Diyarbakır.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Diyarbakır

Kocaköy: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Kocaköy Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Diyarbakır The province's 15 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Diyarbakır

• Bağlar 3 places Bağlar Parkları ve Yeşil Alanları, Bağlar Bazaar and Bağlar Camileri
• Bismil 5 places Dicle Nehri Kıyıları, Bismil Ovası and Bismil Grand Mosque
• Çermik 5 places Çermik Hot Springs, Çeteci Abdullah Paşa Madrasa and Çermik Hammam
• Çınar 9 places Zerzevan Castle, Şikeftan Mağaraları and Çınar Ovası
• Çüngüş 5 places Fırat Nehri Valley, Karakaya Dam and Çüngüş Bridge
• Dicle 5 places Dicle Valley, Dicle Castle and Dicle Grand Mosque
• Eğil 6 places Dicle Dam Lake, Eğil Castle and Eğil Rock Reliefs
• Ergani 6 places Çayönü Mound, Ergani Bakır Madeni and Ergani Castle
• Hani 6 places Şeyh Ahmed Efendi Tomb, Hani Castle and Hani Grand Mosque
• Hazro 4 places Hazro Castle, Hazro Mountains and Hazro Grand Mosque
• Kayapınar 4 places Kayapınar Parkları, Kayapınar Alışveriş Merkezleri and Kayapınar Camileri
• Kulp 9 places Kefrum Castle, Kanîkan Mağaraları (Kanîkan Caves) and Kale-i Ulya
• Lice 3 places Lice Castle, Lice Yaylaları (Lice Plateaus) and Lice Ulu Camii (Lice Grand Mosque)
• Silvan 6 places Silvan Castle, Malabadi Bridge and Hasuni Caves
• Sur 12 places Diyarbakır Surları ve Hevsel Bahçeleri (Diyarbakır City Walls and Hevsel Gardens), Diyarbakır Ulu Camii (Diyarbakır Grand Mosque) and Hz. Süleyman Mosque
• Yenişehir 4 places Diyarbakır Havalimanı Çevresi (Around Diyarbakır Airport), Yenişehir Parkları (Yenişehir Parks) and Yenişehir Camileri (Yenişehir Mosques)