Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source 7 places to visit in the Nizip district of Gaziantep: Zeugma Ancient City (Belkıs), Rumkale (Hromgla) and Nizip Fevkani Church. Plan your trip to Nizip with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Nizip is the largest district of Gaziantep province. The district covers 944 km², lies at an altitude of 533 metres and has a population of 152,660. The district is highly developed in agriculture and agriculture-based industry.
Mediterranean plants such as citrus, olive and palm grow easily. Antep pistachio and olive groves are widespread, and there are more than 100 medium-sized factories and workshops processing these products.
The history of Nizip district goes back to 2000 BC. In the Old Hittite period (18th century BC) Mursili I, and in the Hittite Empire period (13th century BC) Suppiluliuma I, brought it under the Hittite state. In 1517 Yavuz Sultan Selim added Nizip to Ottoman lands.
Soaps made from the olive oil produced in Nizip are famous. In the 1960s, 90% of Türkiye’s soap needs were produced in the district’s soap factories. Soap, Antep pistachios, Nizip olives, lentils, wheat, barley and viticulture are the main sources of income, and olive oil production is widespread.
Nizip was added to the Ottoman Empire in 1516. In 1839 the Ottoman army and the forces of Mehmet Ali Pasha, governor of Egypt, fought at Nizip. In AD 256 the Sasanian king Shapur I captured and destroyed Zeugma. In the Roman period, Zeugma became a city whose mosaics rivalled the finest examples in the world.
Zeugma Ancient City lies on the bank of the Euphrates within the boundaries of Belkıs village in Nizip district, Gaziantep province. The Belkıs ruins, about 8 km from Nizip and to its north-east, date from the Byzantine period.
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Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source An ancient city 8 km from the district, a settlement with continuous occupation since prehistoric times. It is one of the places where the Euphrates was easiest to cross, and it covers 20,000 decares. A third of it was submerged when the Nizip-Birecik Dam filled in 2000.
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Photo: Argilli (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source A castle rising where the Euphrates meets the Merzimen Stream. It was used as a seat of the Catholicosate during the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Rumkale, which lies among the waters of the Birecik Dam, is reached by boat, and its view is breathtaking.
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Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source A Syriac church built in the 19th century. With its stonework and architectural details, it is an important witness to Nizip's multicultural past. It hosts cultural events following restoration works.
View on mapAn old bazaar from the Ottoman period, noted for its arched streets and stone buildings. It is still a living trading centre with coppersmiths and shops selling traditional handicrafts.
View on mapAn ancient city built on hills about 10 km east of Nizip district; also known as Belkıs.
View on mapA church building from the Byzantine period, located in the district centre.
View on mapRemains from the Byzantine period are reported in these villages.
View on mapWhile you are in Nizip, you can also see the highlights of Gaziantep province. These places are in other districts; Nizip is about 45 km from the provincial centre.
A product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected geographical indication.
A kebab made by adding Antep pistachios to minced meat and cooking it on a skewer. It is a regional dish closely associated with Nizip's pistachio production.
A hot soup made with lamb, rice and garlic. It is one of Gaziantep's most famous morning dishes, served in traditional restaurants in Nizip in the morning.
Prepared by filling thin dough with Antep pistachios and cream and cooking it on a griddle. Katmer made with fresh pistachios from Nizip's pistachio gardens is an essential part of breakfast.
A Nizip simit coated with küncü (sesame paste) instead of sesame seeds. Crisp outside and soft inside, it is one of the region's favourite street foods.
A type of olive specific to this region; olive oil production is widespread.
Antep pistachios, collected from gardens in Nizip and sold unprocessed.
The mosaics removed from the Zeugma Ancient City within Nizip's boundaries are among the most valuable Roman-period mosaics in the world. The 'Çingene Kız' (Gypsy Girl) mosaic has become the symbol of the Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum.
Pistachio farming in Nizip is a tradition that has continued for centuries. The pistachio festivals and harvest events held every year are an inseparable part of the district's cultural identity.
Nizip is one of the largest districts of Gaziantep, and its economy is based on the production and trade of Antep pistachios. Pistachio processing plants, olive oil factories and agriculture-based industry are the main sources of income. The district also has cultural tourism potential thanks to the Zeugma Ancient City.
Nizip is 45 km from Gaziantep city centre and 95 km from Şanlıurfa. It lies on the Gaziantep–Şanlıurfa road. Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport is about 65 km away. Regular bus and minibus services connect it to Gaziantep.
The 7 highlights in Nizip are: Zeugma Ancient City (Belkıs), Rumkale (Hromgla), Nizip Fevkani Church, Nizip Historic Bazaar, Zeugma (Belkıs) Ancient City, the Byzantine church in Nizip town centre and Orul (Sekili), Mızar (Uluyatır) and Çardak villages.
Nizip Zeytinyağı, Nizip Fıstık Kebabı, Beyran Çorbası and Katmer are the standout dishes on Nizip's tables.
Nizip is known for Nizip Mızar Havucu and the Zeugma Mosaic Heritage. It has a product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected geographical indication.
Nizip is 45 km from Gaziantep city centre and 95 km from Şanlıurfa. It lies on the Gaziantep–Şanlıurfa road. Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport is about 65 km away. Regular bus and minibus services connect it to Gaziantep.
Suggested visit length: 1-2 days. Best time to visit: spring and autumn (April-May, September-October).