Things to Do in Belen: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Belen

• 2 Historic
• 2 Nature
• 1 Other

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

• Hatay Archaeology Museum — One of the largest mosaic collections in the world, with Roman and Byzantine mosaics excavated from ancient Antioch and its surroundings; founded in the 1930s, the museum moved into its new building in 2014. It is famous for works such as Oceanus and Tethys, the Abandoned Ariadne and the skeleton mosaic.
• Church of St Peter — A cave church carved into the rock on the western slope of Mount Stauris, 13 metres deep; according to Christian tradition it is where the first Christians of Antioch met in secret, and it is counted among the oldest churches in the world.
• Habib-i Neccar Mosque — One of the oldest mosques in Antakya; it is believed to have been built on the site of an old temple and church after the Arab conquest of the 7th century.
• Titus Tunnel — A water tunnel and channel cut into the rock in the Çevlik neighbourhood of Samandağ in the time of the Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus (1st century AD) to protect the harbour of ancient Seleucia Pieria from floodwater; it is about 1.4 km long.
• Harbiye (Daphne) Waterfalls — Small waterfalls and springs flowing among laurel trees at Harbiye, south of Antakya; in antiquity this was Daphne, the sacred grove of the cult of Apollo.
• Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Complex and Payas Castle — At Payas, on the pilgrimage road, a complex of caravanserai, mosque, madrasa, hammam and bedesten that Sokullu Mehmet Paşa had Mimar Sinan build in the 16th century; it is visited together with the neighbouring Payas Castle and the Cin Tower on the shore.

Practical Information for Visiting Belen

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn (March–May, September–November)

Places to visit

5 places

• 🍽️

  Belen Kömürçukuru Pekmezi (Kömürçukuru grape molasses)

  Belen Kömürçukuru Pekmezi was registered as a protected geographical indication on 28 July 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 814). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: İskenderun Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• 🍖

  Belen Tava (Belen tava stew)

  A traditional dish of the district, Belen tava is made by baking lamb with vegetables in a clay pot.

• 🥣

  Hummus

  Hummus, made by mashing chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice and olive oil, is an essential part of Belen's meze tables.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Belen

• 🛤️

  Historic Pass Heritage

  The Belen Pass has been the most important crossing point between Anatolia and Mesopotamia since ancient times. Alexander the Great, Roman legions and Crusader armies all used this pass.

Local Products

• Belen Tava (Belen tava stew) — Belen Tava was registered as a protected geographical indication on 3 October 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1645). Product group: dishes and soups. Registered by: Hatay Governorship.
• Belen Olive Oil — Olive oil obtained from olive groves on the slopes of the Amanos Mountains, Belen's most important agricultural product.
• Defne Soap — Soap produced from laurel oil by traditional methods, one of Belen's natural products.

Economy

Belen's economy is based on agriculture and trade. Olive, citrus and vegetable production are the main sources of income. Due to its location on the Amanos Pass, the transport and logistics sector is also important.

How to Get to Belen

Belen is 35 km from Antakya and 15 km from İskenderun. It lies on the Adana-Hatay road. Hatay Airport is approximately 55 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Hatay

Belen: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Belen Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Hatay The province's 12 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Hatay

• Altınözü 3 places Yarseli Dam, Kuseyr River and Asi River
• Antakya 8 places Habib Neccar Mountain, Asi River and Hatay Archaeology Museum
• Arsuz 10 places Amanos Mountains, Arsuz Ancient City and Arsuz Beach
• Defne 6 places Harbiye Waterfalls, Defne Forests and Harbiye Waterfalls (Daphne)
• Dörtyol 6 places Nur Mountains, İlk Kurşun Anıtı (First Bullet Monument) and Dörtyol Coast
• Erzin 5 places Erzin Coast, İssos Aqueducts and Erzin İçmeleri (Erzin spring waters)
• Hassa 8 places Amanos Mountains, Akbez Castle and Amanos Dağları Nature Park
• İskenderun 6 places İskenderun Seafront and Promenade, Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Complex and Arsuz Beach
• Kırıkhan 6 places Amik Plain, Kırıkhan Castle and Kırıkhan Bazaar
• Kumlu 5 places Amik Plain View, Kumlu Plain Bird Watching Area and Kaletepe Mound
• Payas 5 places Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Complex, Payas Kalesi (Cin Kulesi) and Payas Coast
• Reyhanlı 4 places Reyhanlı Çarşısı (Reyhanlı Bazaar), Amik Ovası Manzaraları (Views of the Amik Plain) and Yenişehir Gölü (Yenişehir Lake)
• Samandağ 7 places Titus Tunnel (Vespasian Tunnel), Mount Musa (Jebel Akra) and Vakıflı Village
• Yayladağı 9 places Yayladağı Border Gate and Panoramic View, Topraktutan Village (Türkiye's Southernmost Point) and Yayladağı Mountain Forests