Things to Do in Sur: 12 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Sur

• 3 Historic
• 2 Ancient City
• 7 Religious

🏺 Ancient Cities 2

4 🏺 Ancient City

Diyarbakır Surları ve Hevsel Bahçeleri (Diyarbakır City Walls and Hevsel Gardens)

The Diyarbakır City Walls, about 5 km long, are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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i Photo: ToprakM (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

5 🏺 Ancient City

On Gözlü Köprü (On Gözlü Bridge)

A historic bridge.

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🕌 Religious Buildings 7

i Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source

6 🕌 Religious

Diyarbakır Ulu Camii (Diyarbakır Grand Mosque)

Known in the Islamic world as the fifth Harem-i Şerif (Haram al-Sharif), the Diyarbakır Grand Mosque.

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i Photo: Sralp2 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

7 🕌 Religious

Hz. Süleyman Mosque

A mosque with 27 tombs of Companions of the Prophet (sahabe) in its courtyard.

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8 🕌 Religious

Hazreti Süleyman Mosque

A mosque in the İçkale (Inner Castle). It is important because the conquest of Diyarbakır is said to have begun from this point in the time of Caliph Umar.

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9 🕌 Religious

Meryem Ana Kilisesi (Meryem Ana Church)

Belonging to the Syriac Orthodox Church, it is described as the most beautiful Syriac church in Diyarbakır.

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10 🕌 Religious

Şeyh Mutahhar Camii (Dört Ayaklı Minare) (Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque, Four-Legged Minaret)

Built in 1500 by Aq Qoyunlu Kasım Bey, known for its minaret on four columns.

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11 🕌 Religious

Saint George Kilisesi (Saint George Church)

The church in the north-eastern corner of the İçkale (Inner Castle), which is now used as an art gallery.

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12 🕌 Religious

Surp Giragos Ermeni Kilisesi (Surp Giragos Armenian Church)

A five-aisled Armenian church that burned in 1880 and was rebuilt on the same site in 1883.

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Inner Castle and Diyarbakır Archaeology Museum — A museum complex opened in 2015 by converting 14 registered buildings in the Inner Castle; it has a collection of 36,000 artefacts from the Neolithic to the Ottoman period, and Amida Mound, the Artuqid Arch and the Hz.
• Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum — A traditional Diyarbakır house dated 1733, where the poet was born in 1910; with its summer, winter, spring and autumn sections, it was turned into a museum in 1973.

Practical Information for Visiting Sur

Suggested time

2-3 days

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

12 places

• 🥩

  Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

  Lamb ribs are filled with a stuffing of rice, mince and spices, then baked in the oven. It is one of the most distinctive dishes of Diyarbakır cuisine.

• 🫓

  Diyarbakır Ciğer Kebabı (Diyarbakır lamb liver kebab)

  Prepared by threading lamb liver onto skewers and grilling it over charcoal. Served with lavash bread, onion and parsley, this liver kebab can be tasted in the historic streets of Sur.

• 🍲

  Meftune (aubergine, pepper and mince stew)

  Prepared by baking aubergine, pepper, tomato and mince in a clay pot (güveç). It is a vegetable dish specific to the summer months in Diyarbakır cuisine.

• 🍉

  Diyarbakır Karpuzu (Diyarbakır watermelon)

  Diyarbakır watermelons are famous for their huge size. Watermelons weighing over 50 kilograms become the symbol of the city in the summer months.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Sur

• 🏛️

  Çok Kültürlü Miras (Multicultural Heritage)

  For thousands of years, Sur was home to different civilisations such as the Assyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Artuqids and Ottomans. Mosques, churches and historic buildings reflect this multicultural heritage.

• 🌿

  Hevsel Bahçeleri (Hevsel Gardens)

  The Hevsel Gardens on the banks of the Tigris have been continuously farmed for 8,000 years. Placed under protection as part of the UNESCO World Heritage, the gardens are the green lungs of the city.

Local Products

• Diyarbakır Karpuzu (Diyarbakır watermelon) — Diyarbakır watermelon is world-famous for its large size and sweet aroma. Watermelons grown in the Hevsel Gardens can weigh over 50 kg.
• Bakır İşlemeciliği (Copperwork) — Copperwork has been practised for centuries in the historic bazaars of Sur. Handmade copper vessels, trays and decorative objects are produced.

Economy

Sur is the historic centre of Diyarbakır, and its economy is based on tourism, trade and handicrafts. Copperwork, jewellery and traditional crafts are practised in the historic bazaars. Cultural tourism is developing thanks to the UNESCO World Heritage status.

How to Get to Sur

Sur is the historic core of Diyarbakır city centre. Diyarbakır Airport is 8 km away. There are direct flight connections from Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir. The intercity bus terminal provides connections to all major cities.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Diyarbakır

Sur: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Sur 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
• Kocaköy 4 places Kocaköy Castle, Kocaköy Doğal Alanları and Kocaköy Grand Mosque
• 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
• Yenişehir 4 places Diyarbakır Havalimanı Çevresi (Around Diyarbakır Airport), Yenişehir Parkları (Yenişehir Parks) and Yenişehir Camileri (Yenişehir Mosques)