Getting to Know Malatya
Malatya lies in the west of Eastern Anatolia, in the fertile Malatya Plain on the western bank of the Euphrates. The name of the city is thought to derive from the Hittite word melid, meaning “honey”. Arslantepe Mound (ancient Melid), 7 km to the north-east, is one of the most important excavation sites in human history, with layers running from the Chalcolithic period to the Late Hittite era. Its palace complex, dated to the end of the 4th millennium BC, bears the earliest traces of state organisation, and the oldest known swords in the world were found here. Arslantepe was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 26 July 2021.
The city, which took the name Melitene in the Roman period, stood on the site of present-day Battalgazi (Old Malatya) until the 19th century. The walls of Old Malatya, the Grand Mosque built around 1224 during the reign of Alâeddin Keykubad I, and the 17th-century Silahtar Mustafa Paşa Caravanserai are traces of this period. In 1838, after the army of Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt used the city as winter quarters, the townspeople moved to the Aspuzu vineyards where present-day Malatya stands, and the new city grew up there.
Malatya is known around the world for its apricots: the province has millions of apricot trees, and in 2017 Malatya apricots were registered in the European Union as a protected designation of origin. The earthquakes of 6 February 2023 caused great destruction in the city centre and in the districts; the Battalgazi Grand Mosque was also heavily damaged, and the rebuilding of the city is continuing.
When to Go
Malatya has a continental climate: winters are cold, and summers are hot and dry. Averages from the General Directorate of Meteorology, 1929–2025:
| Month |
Avg. high |
Avg. low |
Rainfall |
Rainy days |
| January |
3.3 °C |
−3.2 °C |
42 mm |
10 |
| February |
5.6 °C |
−2.0 °C |
41 mm |
10 |
| March |
11.7 °C |
2.3 °C |
49 mm |
10 |
| April |
18.5 °C |
7.6 °C |
55 mm |
10 |
| May |
24.0 °C |
12.0 °C |
46 mm |
9 |
| June |
29.7 °C |
16.3 °C |
17 mm |
4 |
| July |
34.0 °C |
20.0 °C |
4 mm |
1 |
| August |
34.0 °C |
20.0 °C |
4 mm |
<1 |
| September |
29.2 °C |
15.6 °C |
8 mm |
2 |
| October |
21.4 °C |
10.0 °C |
36 mm |
6 |
| November |
12.6 °C |
4.0 °C |
42 mm |
8 |
| December |
5.6 °C |
−0.7 °C |
40 mm |
10 |
The best times to visit are April–May and September–October. Apricot trees blossom in late March and early April; the apricot harvest takes place in late June–July, and the apricot festival is held at this time. In July–August daytime temperatures exceed 34 °C.
How to Get to Malatya
By air: Malatya Airport (MLX) is about 30 km north of the city; there are regular flights from Istanbul and Ankara.
By rail: Malatya lies at the junction of the Ankara–Diyarbakır and Adana–Elazığ lines; the Güney Kurtalan Express and the Fırat Express pass through the city.
By road: Malatya lies at the junction of the roads to Elazığ (about 100 km), Kayseri (about 350 km) and Adıyaman–Kahta; the northern approach to Mount Nemrut can also be made via Malatya.
Malatya Area by Area
- Merkez (Yeşilyurt and Battalgazi): Malatya Museum, the apricot market and İnönü House; in Battalgazi, the walls of Old Malatya, the Grand Mosque, Silahtar Mustafa Paşa Caravanserai and Arslantepe Mound.
- Darende: Somuncu Baba Complex, Tohma Canyon and Günpınar Waterfall.
- Yeşilyurt and Akçadağ: Levent Valley, apricot orchards and highland pastures (yayla).
- Arapgir: Historic stone houses, Arapgir manusa weaving and a rich local cuisine.
- Doğanşehir and Pütürge: Lake Sürgü, cherry orchards and mountain villages.
- Hekimhan and Kale: Caravanserais and Karakaya Dam Lake on the Euphrates.
Suggested Itineraries
Day 1 — Arslantepe and Battalgazi: In the morning, Arslantepe Mound and the visitor centre; then the walls of Old Malatya, the Grand Mosque and Silahtar Mustafa Paşa Caravanserai (check their condition after the earthquake). In the evening, the apricot market and analı kızlı köfte.
Day 2 — Darende: Somuncu Baba Complex, a walk along Tohma Canyon and Günpınar Waterfall.
Day 3 — Levent Valley: The canyons and viewpoints of Levent Valley in Akçadağ; apricot orchards on the way back.
Malatya Cuisine
Malatya cuisine is known for its köfte and pastry dishes. Malatya apricots, Malatya apricot kernels and Malatya foam pestil are the signature products of the province. Dishes with a registered geographical indication include Malatya analı kızlı köfte (tiritli köfte), Malatya kağıt kebabı, Malatya içli köftesi, Malatya hırçikli köfte, Malatya ıspanaklı ekşili köftesi, Malatya tevek yaprağı sarması, Yeşilyurt kiraz yaprağı sarması, Malatya simit pilavı, Malatya ayranlı soğuk çorba, Malatya kurabiyesi, Malatya yassı kadayıfı and Polat içli köftesi. Arapgir’s dolaması, kakuk, deli kız baklavası, tandır kebabı, balıklı pilavı and köhnü üzümü, Akçadağ’s armudu (pears), kömbesi and pilavı, Hekimhan cevizi (walnuts), Battalgazi haşhaşlı dut pestili and Malatya dalbastı kirazı (cherries) are also registered.
Handicrafts
Akçadağ carpets, Arapgir manusa weaving, Malatya checked bed linen and Arapgir wooden-nailed shoes are handicrafts with a registered geographical indication.
Practical Tips
- Rebuilding is continuing in the city after the 2023 earthquakes; some historic buildings and museums may be closed.
- When buying dried apricots, tell apart the naturally sun-dried (dark-coloured, sun-dried) kind from the sulphured (pale yellow) kind.
- Darende can be reached from Malatya in about 1.5 hours; Günpınar Waterfall is 8 km west of Darende.
