From Wikitravel

Diyarbakır (Kurdish and Zaza: Amed; Turkified form of Diyarbekir is also common in colloquial Kurdish) is the largest city in Southeastern Anatolia, on the banks of Tigris, one of the greatest rivers of Middle East.

[edit] Get in

Turkish Airlines [1] offers daily domestic flights from Istanbul (IST) and Ankara to Diyarbakir (DIY).

There are trains three times a week from Istanbul (Güney Express) via Ankara and a number of other cities on the way, including Kayseri, Sivas, and Malatya among others. There is also another daily train from Ankara (4 Eylül Mavi Treni), which takes the same route with Güney Express. On its way back to Istanbul, Güney Express, which comes from Kurtalan and Batman about 2 hours further east from Diyarbakır, departs from Diyarbakır on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays around noon. Trains to Istanbul get really overcrowded during early August because of huge numbers of seasonal workers taking the train to get to hazelnut orchards around Adapazarı and Eastern Marmara on the way (short of two hours from Istanbul—the last stop of the trains), and it is impossible to find a ticket during that season without booking/buying the ticket in advance. Even if you can find a ticket, the ride is very uncomfortable, and because of the huge numbers of passengers getting off the train in almost each stop—even if it is in the middle of nowhere, where normally no one ever gets on or off—to replenish their water from station fountains, trains are extremely delayed, and it takes almost two full days to get to Istanbul. Avoid if you are not deadly on budget.

When traveling from Diyarbakir to west by bus be prepared for several ID check ups at military checkpoints.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

The old city containing the mosque is a little run down but enclosed in some magnificent walls. It is like a village in the middle of the city with village mentality; goose running around, women having cay in front of their houses and kids shouting to foreigners the few English words they know. To avoid problems, dress modestly. There is extensive development outside including a pleasant park. It's called Gazi Köske and it contains many teahouses and traditional bed-like constructions, where you sink into cushions and drink tea while overlooking the Dicle river below.

• Ulu Camii (The Great Mosque), Gazi Cd (In the centre of the Old Town, near the main crossroad). The oldest mosque in Anatolia, converted from a church in 639. Rebuilt in 11th century. Free.  edit
• Kervanseray, Gazi Cd (Opposite the Great Mosque). Old caravanserai, now used as a place for cafes, bookstores, and souvenir shops. Free.  edit
• Meryem Ana Kilisesi (Virgin Mary Church), Ana Sokak 26, Suriçi (In the Old Town, close to Melik Ahmet Cd, signposts indicate where the church is). Limited visiting hours, posted on the entrance. A Syrian Orthodox church founded in 3rd century. If you are lucky, the priest will sing you a fragment of the Bible in Aramaic. Free.  edit
• Ruined Armenian church, (Next to the Virgin Mary Church, signposts indicate where the church is). Free.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

You can go for a walk on the old city wall. Get onto it at the northern gate and walk anticlockwise to Mardin Gate. Great views of the surrounding area and the city and it's free. Single tourists might be conspicuous, however, and should beware of pickpockets.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

There are many teagardens in Ofis and along the Basalt city walls, where you can meet locals. People in Diyarbakir are very open towards foreigners and you'll have a hard time paying for your own tea.

• Mahya Kahve Evi (Mahya Coffee House), Dicle sokak 2a (In Ofis, just off the main street where buses run from bus station to city center), (mahyakahveevi@gmail.com). Open till late at night. This coffeehouse, name of which means "mosque lamp made of coloured glass", has over 70 varieties of coffee and a nice interior. The owners and customers are very friendly and easygoing.  edit
• Tigris Cafe Nargile Salonu, Camii Sk. (now apparently called Sanat Sokak) Cüneyt Bey Apt Altı 16/B (In Ofis, near Yeşil Camii), ☎ +90 412 228 28 84. Apart from nargilas, you can drink there delicious menengiç kahvesi, which is a very sweet milk based drink, a local speciality. The Tigris also has European style toilets available if you should be desperate.  edit
• Hasan Paşa Hanı, Kıbrıs Cd. Coffee and tea.  edit
• Ninova Cafe, Sanat Sokağı (At Ofis, ask for the Sanat Sokağı; it's on the middle), [2]. 11:00-23:00. Coffee, tea, menengiç coffee, hot wine etc. cheap.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are many clean and reasonably comfortable hotels with air con, etc. There is an engaging hotel in the old han building.

One cheap option is Divan Otel at Gazi Cad. # 9.

• Village home stays, Yuvacali Koyu Hilvan, ☎ +90 533 747 1850 / +90 414 553 3842 (alisontanik@nomadtoursturkey.com), [3]. checkin: flexible; checkout: flexible. Offers village home stay in the huge rural area that stretches from Diyarbakir southwards to Sanliurfa. An opportunity to experience rural life in Turkey's southeast. Pick ups from central Diyarbakir or the airport at minimal prices, and free pick up from the centre of Urfa, Urfa bus station or Urfa airport. Sleep on handmade woollen matresses under the stars just as the locals do, learn how to make village bread, join in with the milking and the cheese making, enjoy food that is not only home cooked but also home grown and see how local people really live. An English speaking guide is available whenever required. A range of packages are available from accommodation only to full board and excursion packages. From 20TL.  edit

• Hotel Surkent, Hz. Suleyman Cd, 19 (Close to the wall and center.), ☎ +90 412 228 1014. checkout: 11AM. It is a clean place, well located and with a very reasonable price. 30 TL single room in January 2011.  edit
• Aslan Hotel, Kıbrıs Cd. Budget-friendly hotel. 30 TL/night/single.  edit

• Hotel Ekin (not 'Hotel Evin' as one popular guide book calls it). The hotel is very clean, good views from the breakfast lounge at the top. The windows are good and have to be due to the traffic noise and frequent honking of municipal buses in front of the hotel. It's easy to get into the newer part of the city. The best locations for nighttime cafes etc is called Ofis. This area is about 20 minutes walking distance from the hotel and safe at night. Go to the big junction to the right of the hotel and cross over to the other side of the city walls. A single room sets you back about 50 TL which is pretty good value. (Official price is 60 TL but the hotel usually offers the reduction itself. You might also negotiate an appropriate rate.).  edit

[edit] Stay safe

Diyarbakır is rough. At first glance, it seems not a very welcoming city, actually it is the contrary. Lıfe in this city is hard for so many people. It is not advisable at all to walk alone during the night time, especially in the old quarter. Taking some precautions during the visit is advisable, just common sense. Don't hang around in dark areas; try not to look like the typical tourist, etc.

The main shopping road, Gazi Caddesi, in the old quarter also houses two pricey hotels (one of them being the "Green Park") what might lead you to expect that the area is safe. Be warned! The lower end of the street toward the Mardin Kapı, the Mardin Gate, is pretty dark and can be dangerous at night. Do not become prey to pickpockets who seem to hang around there. Your life won't be in danger but your pockets might be emptied more quickly than you can shout Polis! And the narrow alleys quickly turn into a labyrinth when you are under duress. Don't let this scare you off, just take some precautions.

The modern part of Diyarbakir is very much safer.

[edit] Get out

• Hasankeyf — village to east, downriver on Tigris, with lots of medieval Islamic architecture and pleasant vistas
• other destinations in eastern and southeastern Turkey.

• Mardin and Şanlıurfa are both a day's trip from Diyarbakir

• Karacadag, the forerunner of domesticated wheat originated in the mountains of Karacadag. Cultivation of wheat in the area dates back to approximately 8,800 BCE. Today Karacadag is home to seasonal nomads. Explore the ancient villages populated by Turkmen and Kurdish tribes.

• See where the first animals in the world were domesticated as mankind started settled farming at Çayönü around 40km north-west of Diyarbakir. The site is hugely important for neolithic research and dates from 7200 to 6600 BC.

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