Things to Do in Hilvan: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Hilvan

• 2 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 2 Nature

While you are in Hilvan, you can also see the highlights of Şanlıurfa province. These places are in other districts; Hilvan is about 60 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 Hilvan

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

5 places

• 🍖

  Urfa Kebabı

  Urfa kebab, made by grilling minced lamb over charcoal, is also served in Hilvan using the traditional recipe.

• 🌶️

  Çiğ Köfte

  Çiğ köfte, made with fine bulgur and isot pepper, is an essential flavour of Hilvan too.

• 🍽️

  Çorba-dev (ayran çorbası), akbandır katmeri, mehlute

  Three dishes presented as specialities of Hilvan; combined into a single entry.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Hilvan

• 🏡

  Kırsal Yaşam Geleneği

  Hilvan is a district that maintains its traditional rural way of life. This tradition is passed down through generations as an important element of the local people's cultural identity.

Local Products

• Buğday ve Pamuk — Wheat and cotton are widely grown in Hilvan.

Economy

The economy of Hilvan is based on agriculture and livestock. Wheat, cotton and barley are the main crops.

How to Get to Hilvan

Hilvan is 60 km from Şanlıurfa city centre and 30 km from Siverek.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Şanlıurfa

Hilvan: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Hilvan Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Şanlıurfa The province's 11 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Şanlıurfa

• Akçakale 3 places Akçakale Castle, Akçakale Plain and Ayn-el Arus (Halil-ür Rahman Spring)
• Birecik 6 places Birecik Castle, Kelaynak Üretim İstasyonu and Fırat Nehri Kıyısı
• Bozova 4 places Atatürk Dam Lake Shore, Bozova Castle and Atatürk Dam Lake shore
• Ceylanpınar 4 places Ceylanpınar State Breeding Farm, Ceylanpınar Plain and Ceylanpınar Agricultural Enterprise Gazelle Reserve
• Eyyübiye 7 places Balıklıgöl (Halil-ür Rahman Lake), Göbekli Tepe and Urfa Castle
• Halfeti 9 places Sunken City (Old Halfeti), Rumkale and Euphrates River Boat Tour
• Haliliye 4 places Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, Karaköprü Dam and Surroundings and Harran University Campus
• Harran 8 places Harran Beehive-Domed Houses, Harran Archaeological Site and Harran University Ruins
• Karaköprü 3 places Karaköprü Dam, Karaköprü Parks and Karaköprü pomegranate statue
• Siverek 9 places Karacadağ, Siverek Castle and Historic Siverek Bazaar
• Suruç 2 places Suruç Mound and Suruç Plain
• Viranşehir 4 places Viranşehir Mound (Höyük), Viranşehir Castle and Tella Martyrion (Dikmeler)