Things to Do in Defne: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Defne

• 2 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 3 Nature

While you are in Defne, 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.
• Bakras Castle — A medieval castle on a steep hill at Belen, controlling the pass that links Antakya with Cilicia; in the Crusader period it was one of the Knights Templar's important bases.

Practical Information for Visiting Defne

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

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

Places to visit

6 places

• 🧀

  Künefe

  Künefe, made by placing fresh cheese between thin strands of kadayıf, baking it and sweetening it with syrup, is the most popular dessert in Defne too.

• 🍖

  Kağıt Kebabı (paper-wrapped kebab)

  Prepared by wrapping lamb with vegetables in greaseproof paper and baking it. It is one of the distinctive flavours of Hatay cuisine.

• 🌶️

  Sürkü (Sürk)

  Sürkü, made with pepper paste, walnuts and spices, is an essential flavour on Defne's breakfast tables.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Defne

• 🌿

  Apollo and Daphne Myth

  Harbiye, considered in Greek mythology to be the place where the water nymph Daphne, fleeing the love of the god Apollo, turned into a laurel tree, is known around the world because of this legend.

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  Hatay Culinary Culture

  Defne is one of the important centres where the rich culinary culture of Hatay is kept alive. The traditional restaurants in Harbiye serve local flavours to visitors.

Local Products

• Hatay Defne Soap — Hatay Defne Soap was registered as a protected geographical indication on 16 October 2017 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 219). Product group: other products. Registered by: Samandağ District Governorship.
• Defne Soap — Soap produced from laurel oil by traditional methods, the best-known and most valued natural product of the district.
• Defne Oil (laurel oil) — Essential oil obtained from laurel leaves, used in cosmetic and health products.

Economy

Defne is a district covering the southern part of Antakya. Agriculture, tourism and the service sector are the main economic activities. The Harbiye Waterfalls make up a significant share of tourism revenue. Soap production continues as a traditional craft in Defne.

How to Get to Defne

Defne lies adjacent to Antakya city centre. It is 20 km from Hatay Airport. It is connected to Antakya by public transport and minibus services.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Hatay

Defne: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Defne 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
• Belen 5 places Belen Pass, Amanos Mountains and Bakras Castle
• 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