One city, three days: Gaziantep

Let’s go: History of Gaziantep

Gaziantep, in the westernmost part of Türkiye’s Southeastern Anatolia Region, has been an important trade and cultural center throughout its history. Excavations revealed settlements dating from the Neolithic era and the area was continuously inhabited under the Hittite, Assyrian and Persian empires. As a border town during the Roman and Byzantine eras, Gaziantep came under Seljuk rule in the early eleventh century, subjecting it to sieges by various Crusader armies. The Mamluks later ruled Gaziantep, which became a part of the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the fourteenth century. Known as Antep or Ayıntap, following the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, the city was given the title of “gazi” (veteran) to commemorate the heroism of its people during the War of Independence.

History around every corner: Places to visit in Gaziantep

The region’s baklava and kebabs are legendary, but there are numerous sites of historical interest as well.

Historical sites in Gaziantep

While Gaziantep is a mid-sized city, it has more than its share of interesting sites and sights, including ancient cities, historical structures and museums.

Gaziantep Castle

Sitting atop a hill in the city center, at the southern end of the Allenben Stream, Gaziantep Castle is believed to be about six thousand years old. The walled citadel, with twelve towers along its ramparts, also features a mosque and an Ottoman-era Turkish bath. A walkway allows visitors to stroll around the castle and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Rumkale

About sixty kilometers from the city center is Rumkale, a hilltop fortress at the intersection of the Euphrates River and Merzimen Stream. Set on a peninsula at the border of Gaziantep Nizip district, Rumkale is usually accessed via boat, from Şanlıurfa – Halfeti, or from the Yavuzeli district, which is twenty-five kilometers from Gaziantep. Believed to date from the Roman era, the citadel features structures believed to be from the Urartu, Babylonian, Sumerian, Seljuk, and Ottoman eras. In addition, the Saint Nerses Church and the Barşavma Monastery, water cisterns and the remains of wells and moats can be seen in the castle.

Coppersmith Bazaar

The art of copper smithing has been practiced in Gaziantep for about five hundred years and continues today. The oldest shopping and trade center in the city, the Coppersmith Bazaar retains its vibrancy and historical ambiance. The Bazaar is in the Şahinbey district of Gaziantep, less than a kilometer from Gaziantep Castle.

Gümrük Inn

Near Gaziantep Castle is the Gümrük Inn, built by Hacı Ömer Efendi between 1873-1878. Erected to serve traveling traders, the inn had guest quarters on the upper floor, while the ground floor contained a depot and a barn. The traditional Ottoman-style building is now used as a production and sales center for the preservation of regional handicrafts, such as silversmithing, mosaic, glass blowing, weaving and beadwork (making prayer beads)

Carchemish Ancient City

Straddling the border of Türkiye and Syria, the Carchemish Ancient City is about seventy kilometers from the Gaziantep city center, near the Carchemsih district on the west coast of the Euphrates River. Dating from the Early Copper Age, Carchemsih Ancient City was under the rule of the Aplahanda Kingdom, as well as the Mitanni, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, New Babylonian, Achaemenitian, Macedonian, Seleucid, and Roman empires; the golden age of Carchemsih occurred under Hittite rule and the city was completely abandoned after the Middle Ages.

Zeugma Ancient City

While the mosaics of Zeugma Ancient City, among the world’s most beautiful and evocative, are believed to be mostly Hellenistic in origin, Zeugma experienced its golden age during the Roman era and some of the mosaics reflect this heritage. The mosaics extracted from the archaeological site of the ancient city, which covers an area of twenty-five hundred square meters, are displayed in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.

Zincirli Bedesten

Also known as the “Black Step Bedesten”, the Zincirli Bedesten was built by Darendeli Hüseyin Pasha in the first quarter of the 18th century. The still-intact oval-roofed structure now caters to visitors with more than seventy shops offering a variety of items, from spices to souvenirs. The Bedesten is in the Şahinbey district, about a ten-minute walk from Gaziantep Castle.

Gaziantep Museums

As well as displaying rare artifacts and stunning art, Gaziantep’s museums offer visitors a concentrated look at the city’s historical depth. Keep reading to find out more!

Zeugma Mosaic Museum

Opened on September 9, 2011, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum is the second largest mosaic museum in the world. Set in the Şehitkamil district, the museum is a significant attraction for visitors from around the world, who come to view the gorgeous mosaics recovered from Zeugma Ancient City, including the famous “Gypsy Girl” mosaic. The museum is also known for its architecture and technological facilities, in which some of the two-thousand-year-old mosaics can be seen in an intact form thanks to images produced via a laser system.

Gaziantep Atatürk Remembrance Museum 

The Atatürk Remembrance Museum was built to commemorate the arrival in Gaziantep of the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and his joyful welcome by the heroic people of Gaziantep. Set in a traditional Antep-style house, the museum is located in the Bey neighborhood: Although Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was originally from Thessaloniki, he was registered in the population of Gaziantep’s Bey neighborhood according to the decision made by the city council. The museum contains personal items belonging to Atatürk as well as the Independence Medal presented to the city of Gaziantep.

Gaziantep Defense and Heroism Panoramic Museum 

Set in the vaults below Gaziantep Castle, the museum was built by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality to depict the resistance in Antep during the War of Independence. Featuring sculptures, reliefs and printed media, the museum presents a moving and instructive exhibit of the struggles of that time.

Gaziantep Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum

Gaziantep’s deep-rooted multicultural structure is certainly evident in its cuisine. Local products, cooking techniques and the tools deployed to create the city’s signature dishes are valuable elements passed down through generations. In addition to presenting the history of many of the region’s foods, the museum offers information on various lesser-known dishes. The Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum is in the Şahinbey district, about a five-minute walk from Gaziantep Castle.

The capital of baklava: Dining in Gaziantep

The cuisine of Antep includes but is not limited to 290 original food varieties. Gaziantep, a key destination in terms of Turkish and world cuisine, was also the first Turkish city to join the UNESCO Creative Cities List in the field of gastronomy.

There is much to eat in Gaziantep: the city’s iconic baklava, along with kebab varieties, soups and local products not found anywhere else. We’ve listed a few dishes below – all are worth sampling!

• Beyran soup
• Kibbeh
• Baklava
• Şıh-ıl mahşi (zucchini stuffed with minced meat and nuts)
• Small rice meat balls with yogurt
• Arabic-style meatballs with tzatziki sauce
• Ali Nazik kebab
• Eggplant kebab
• Siveydiz (stew of lamb, leeks, onions, condensed yoghurt and eggs.)
• Katmer
• Spiced ground lamb wheat burger
• Cartlak kebab (a type of liver kebab)
• Ka’ak (A type of savory cookie)

For more details on dining in Gaziantep, get inspired by our blog on Gaziantep flavor routes!

Gaziantep Tahmis Café

In the Şahinbey district, the historical Tahmis coffee house was built in 1635 by Mustafa Ağa bin Yusuf, the Banner Lord, to provide a revenue stream for the Mevlevi Lodge Foundation. The café has retained its popularity due to the quality and flavor of its coffee, which is still prepared in the traditional way.

Important Gaziantep notes

Both the city of Gaziantep and the surrounding regions promise a truly exceptional experience, with its museums, historical sites and, of course, its food. If your appetite is whetted, click here to buy a Gaziantep flight ticket. And keep reading to discover more tips and suggestions on planning your trip to Gaziantep!

Transportation in Gaziantep

Gaziantep has a robust public transportation system consisting of municipal buses, minibuses and trams; the Gaziantep metro card is valid for all public transportation vehicles and a daily use card is offered for tourists. Taxis are also available.

A wise suggestion: When visiting the city, pick up a few boxes of baklava and pistachios as gifts for loved ones!

Have a delightful trip!