Things to Do in Akçadağ: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Akçadağ

• 1 Historic
• 2 Nature
• 1 Attraction

While you are in Akçadağ, you can also see the highlights of Malatya province. These places are in other districts; Akçadağ is about 40 km from the provincial centre.

• Arslantepe Mound — A mound 7 km north-east of Malatya, spanning the Chalcolithic period to the Late Hittite era.
• Battalgazi Grand Mosque — A mosque in Old Malatya built around 1224 by the architect Yakub bin Ebubekir during the reign of Alâeddin Keykubad I. It is famous for its tile-decorated iwan, which represents the Iranian Great Seljuk mosque tradition in Anatolia.
• Silahtar Mustafa Paşa Caravanserai — One of the great caravanserais of Anatolia, built in Battalgazi in the 17th century by Silahtar Mustafa Paşa; it is being preserved through restoration.
• Somuncu Baba Complex — The complex around the tomb of the Sufi Somuncu Baba, known for baking and distributing loaves (somun) in Bursa and who died in 1412, in Darende; it stands on the bank of Tohma Canyon.
• Tohma Canyon — A canyon in Darende carved into the limestone by the Tohma Stream.
• Günpınar Waterfall — A waterfall tumbling from a rock face on a fault line, 8 km west of Darende and 118 km from Malatya; the surroundings are a picnic area.

Practical Information for Visiting Akçadağ

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring (apricot blossom) and summer months

Places to visit

4 places

• 🍽️

  Akçadağ Pilavı

  Akçadağ Pilavı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 8 July 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1610). Product group: dishes and soups. Registered by: Akçadağ Municipality.

• 🍖

  Kağıt Kebabı (lamb baked in paper)

  Lamb cooked with vegetables wrapped in greaseproof paper and baked in the oven. Prepared by local people on special occasions, this dish is a symbol of hospitality.

• 🥣

  Analı Kızlı Çorbası (meatball and chickpea soup)

  Traditional Malatya soup made with small meatballs and chickpeas, an indispensable part of winter tables.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Akçadağ

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  Apricot Culture

  Apricot farming in Akçadağ is a tradition maintained for generations. Drying apricots at harvest time is part of the district's cultural identity.

Local Products

• Akçadağ Armudu (Akçadağ pears) — Akçadağ Armudu was registered as a protected geographical indication on 7 July 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1609). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Akçadağ Municipality.
• Akçadağ Halısı (Akçadağ carpet) — Akçadağ Halısı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 8 March 2019 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 422). Product group: carpets and kilims. Registered by: Malatya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.
• Akçadağ Kömbesi (Akçadağ pastry) — Akçadağ Kömbesi was registered as a protected geographical indication on 16 April 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 726). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough products, desserts. Registered by: Akçadağ Municipality.

Economy

Akçadağ's economy is based on apricot farming. Production and export of dried apricots are the main source of income. Livestock farming is also practised.

How to Get to Akçadağ

Akçadağ is 40 km from the Malatya provincial centre. It lies on the Malatya–Elbistan road.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Malatya

Akçadağ: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Akçadağ Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Malatya The province's 9 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Malatya

• Arapgir 6 places Arapgir Mansions, Arapgir Castle and Kemaliye Bridge
• Arguvan 3 places Arguvan Castle, Euphrates Valley and Kızık Village Sacred Fish Park
• Battalgazi 9 places Silahtar Mustafa Paşa Caravanserai, Pınarbaşı Picnic Area and Kernek Waterfall
• Darende 7 places Tohma Kanyonu (Tohma Canyon), Günpınar Şelalesi (Günpınar Waterfall) and Somuncu Baba Külliyesi (Somuncu Baba Complex)
• Doğanşehir 6 places Pınarbaşı Picnic Area, Erkenek Valley Waterfall and Sürgü Castle
• Doğanyol 3 places Euphrates River View, Doğanyol Mosque and Karakaya Dam
• Hekimhan 6 places Hekimhan Caravanserai, Hasan Çelebi Mound and Taşhan
• Kale 3 places Kale District Castle, Banks of the Euphrates and Kömürhan Bridge
• Kuluncak 5 places Eşref Mound, Kabak Abdal Tomb and Kuluncak Castle
• Pütürge 4 places Euphrates River Valley, Pütürge Castle and Perieş (Dilbersen) Castle
• Yazıhan 5 places Hasan Patrik Mosque, Yazıhan Caravanserai and Tohma Stream Valley
• Yeşilyurt 6 places Malatya Museum, Levent Valley and Yeşilyurt Castle