Sanliurfa City Guide

Sanliurfa City Guide

Located at the Southeast Anatolia Region, Sanliurfa having a history tracing back to 7000 B.C. has a 789 km border with Syria at its south. The city is the 7th largest city with an area of 18.584 km2 and the 9th biggest city with a population of 601.293 in Turkey. It is regarded as the city of prophets. Ibrahim Prophet was born here. Eyup Prophet lived here. The city was blessed by Jesus.

Tourist Attractions

Sanliurfa is the oldest center of polytheism. The seed of monotheism was sowed at this city.
Ibrahim known as the forefather of Judaism, Christianity and Islam was born and threw into the fire at Sanliurfa. The city is among the few cities placed at the Euphrates-Tigris Basin known as the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization. Sanliurfa is named as the museum city with its archeological, historical, cultural presence and sight. If you want to learn and understand the yesterday you should visit Sanliurfa.

Standing as one of the districts of the city, Historical Harran City is placed at 44 km southeast of Sanliurfa and is the most valuable element of the city's historical treasury. Harran is one of the oldest settlements and trade centers in the history. Every year, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists come here. You should anyhow experience this place when visiting the city.

Gobeklitepe is one of the crucial archeological structures in the city. It is a settlement belonging to the Neolithic term. This field covering an area of 80.000 m2 has a history tracing back to 9.500 B.C.

Balikli Lake at the southwest of the center of the city is another historical place. The lake known as the place where Ibrahim Prophet was thrown into the fire by King Nemrut is visited by thousands of tourists every day. You should not make the mistake of missing this historical location.

Culture & Entertainment
Handicrafts and authentic folk music constitute the fabric of the city culture.

Furriery, felt making, copper working, the work of jewellery, handloom and quarrying are well developed as the main authentic elements of art peculiar to the city.

Karacadag Skiing Center at Karacadag is one of the favourite places in winter. If you come to Sanliurfa in winter you should pay a visit here.

Also, nature tourism is, as a consequence of the natural benefactions, considerably well developed in the city. Birecik district is a recreating place harbouring different kinds of birds such as kelaynak, gazelle, lizards. Fırat River and Birecik Dam edges and Ceylanpinar district are wonderlands waiting for the ones among you wishing to become a united whole with the nature.

Food & Drink

The city cuisine is comparatively rich and delicious. In addition to the large and tasty menu of Sanliurfa, Halilibrahim convention of the city is well known in Turkey. The local people are fond of sharing with their guests. This custom takes root from Ibrahim Prophet. He did not to eat his meal without sharing with any guest.

Sanliurfa is famous with its kebabs in Turkey. Kebab with meat, kemeli kebab, ciger kebab, tike kebab, kazan kebab, tas kebab, Urfa kebab, balcanli kebab are examples from the rich kebab menu of the city. Also, Bostana is a popular lettuce peculiar to the city.

Yogurt soup, hamurlu, pit pit, cagala asi, agzi yumuk, arpa (wheat) lebeni, aya kofte, ciger kebab, cig kofte, comlek, dolmali kofte, renkli kebab, wheat pilaf with tomato, duvakli pilaf, elma asi, has has kebab, icli kofte, zucchini oturma, kadayif sweet, lentil kofte, potato kebab, aubergine kebab, pirpirim kavurma (roasted purslane) and many more are the local foods of the city.

Shopping

Sanliurfa is teemed with historical bazaars. Kazzaz, Sipahi, Koltukcu (armchairs), Pamukcu (cotton selling), Oturakci, Kinaci, Picakci, Kazanci, Neccar, Isotcu, Demirci (blacksmith), Culcu, Cadirci (tent), Sarrac, Attar, Tenekeci (tinsmithes), Eskici, Kececi (makers of felt), Kasap (butcher) and too many more bazaars are available in the city.