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8 places to visit in the Harran district of Şanlıurfa: Harran Beehive-Domed Houses, Harran Archaeological Site and Harran University Ruins. Plan your trip to Harran with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Harran is a district of Şanlıurfa province. It lies close to the Syrian border, 44 km from Şanlıurfa. It is one of the ancient settlements of Northern Mesopotamia and one of the oldest cities in the world that is still inhabited.

Name and Meaning

The name of the city first appears on cuneiform tablets found at Ebla, dating to around 2250 BC. The name comes from the word ‘haran-u’, meaning ‘journey’ or ‘caravan’ in Sumerian and Akkadian.

History

Around 2000 BC, Harran was one of the most important centres of the pagan belief of Mesopotamia. In the middle of the 2nd millennium BC, a treaty between the Hittites and the Mitanni was witnessed by the moon god Sin and the sun god Shamash in Harran. Incorporated into the Assyrian Empire in 857 BC, Harran became the refuge of Ashur-uballit II, the last Assyrian king. Harran was conquered in 640 during the caliphate of Umar (Ömer) by İyâz b. Ganm, and the Sin temple, dedicated to the pagan gods, was converted into a mosque. During the caliphate of II. Mervân, Harran became the capital of the Umayyad State.

University

Harran University in Şanlıurfa takes its name from this district.

History and Culture

Harran is considered one of the oldest cities in Northern Mesopotamia. A cuneiform tablet recording a treaty was found in the Temple of Sin in Harran. Harran was an important centre of Sabianism, the worship of the moon, sun and planets. Harran Kümbet Houses were registered as an archaeological and urban conservation area in 1979. Harran has been on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites since 2000. The Harran Ulu Mosque was built during the reign of the Umayyad caliph II. Mervan.

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Places to Visit in Harran

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Harran Beehive-Domed Houses

The mud-brick houses with conical domes, the symbol of Harran, are living examples of an architectural tradition thousands of years old. Beehive-shaped domes provide natural ventilation in the hot climate.

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Harran Archaeological Site - Harran Photo: Herbert Frank from Wien (Vienna), AT (CC BY 2.0) · Source
Historic

Harran Archaeological Site

The ancient city of Harran, dating to the 3rd millennium BC, is one of the oldest settlements in the world. The city, where Abraham (Hz. İbrahim) is believed to have lived, is also famous for the temple of Sin, the moon god.

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Historic

Harran University Ruins

The remains of Harran University, one of the first universities in the Islamic world, bear traces of the educational centre founded in the Umayyad period in the 8th century.

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Historic

Harran Castle

The castle in the centre of the ancient city was built and repaired in different periods. Its walls and towers still stand.

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Historic

Harran Ulu Mosque (Cennet Mosque)

A historic mosque from the Umayyad period on the north-eastern slope of Harran Mound.

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Historic

Harran Kümbet Houses

Traditional tomb-houses built of brick with conical domes.

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Historic

Han El-Ba'rur Caravanserai

An Ayyubid-period caravanserai on the Harran-Baghdad road.

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Historic

Şuayb Ancient City

An ancient city dating to the Late Roman period, known for its rock-cut tombs and courtyard houses.

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Places to Visit Around Şanlıurfa Province

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While you are in Harran, you can also see the highlights of Şanlıurfa province. These places are in other districts; Harran is about 44 km from the provincial centre.

  • Göbekli Tepe — A Neolithic cult centre near the village of Örencik in the Haliliye district, dated to about 9600–9500 BC and the oldest known monumental structure.
  • Karahantepe — A Neolithic settlement 46 km from the city centre, contemporary with Göbekli Tepe; it is known for its 250 standing stones and special buildings carved into the bedrock, and excavations began in 2019.
  • Balıklıgöl — Made up of two lakes known for their sacred fish, where the Prophet Abraham is believed to have been thrown into the fire.
  • Şanlıurfa Castle — The castle rising above the city was built in the Osroene period; its present walls were built by the Abbasids in AD 814. Today it serves as an open-air museum.
  • Halfeti — A district on the banks of the Euphrates, known for its old settlement drowned under the waters of the Birecik Dam; 80 per cent of the district is under water.
  • Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum — In its present modern building since 2015, the museum has one of the largest indoor exhibition halls in Türkiye and a 4.5-km visitor route; finds from Göbekli Tepe and Karahantepe are displayed here.

Practical Information for Visiting Harran

Suggested time
Half a day - 1 day
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November)
Places to visit
8 places

What to Eat in Harran

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  • Urfa Kebabı

    Urfa kebab, made from minced lamb grilled over charcoal, is served in Harran in its traditional recipe.

  • Çiğ Köfte

    Raw meatball made with fine bulgur and isot pepper, an essential local delicacy in Harran too.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Harran

  • Ancient Civilisation Heritage

    With a history of more than 5,000 years, Harran is one of the oldest settlements in the world. It bears traces of Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Roman and Islamic civilisations.

  • Tradition of Beehive-Domed Houses

    Harran's beehive-domed houses are living examples of a thousands-year-old architectural tradition. These houses have become a tourism symbol of the district.

Local Products

  • Cotton — The Harran Plain, irrigated by the GAP project, is one of the largest cotton-producing areas in Türkiye.
  • İsot — Isot, Şanlıurfa's protected geographical indication product, is also produced in Harran.

Economy

The economy of Harran is based on agriculture. Cotton, wheat and maize are produced on the Harran Plain, which is irrigated by the GAP project. Tourism is also an important source of income.

How to Get to Harran

Harran is 44 km from Şanlıurfa city centre. The district is reached by road via Şanlıurfa.

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Harran: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Harran?

The 8 highlights of Harran are Harran Beehive-Domed Houses, Harran Archaeological Site, Harran University Ruins, Harran Castle, Harran Ulu Mosque (Cennet Mosque), Harran Kümbet Houses, Han El-Ba'rur Caravanserai and Şuayb Ancient City.

What is there to eat in Harran?

Urfa Kebabı and Çiğ Köfte are the standout flavours on Harran's tables.

What is Harran famous for?

Harran is known for cotton and its Ancient Civilisation Heritage. The Harran Plain, irrigated by the GAP project, is one of the largest cotton-producing areas in Türkiye.

How do I get to Harran?

Harran is 44 km from Şanlıurfa city centre. The district is reached by road via Şanlıurfa.

How much time should I set aside to visit Harran?

Suggested visit length: half a day - 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and autumn (March-May, September-November).

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