Mersin itself is primarily a commercial port, but its province (İçel) extends west along a spectacular coastline of limestone cliffs, turquoise coves and ancient ruins. The region was known as Cilicia in antiquity — a kingdom famous for its pirates, its position on the route from the Levant to Rome, and as the birthplace of St Paul.
The coast west of Mersin — Kızkalesi, Anamur, Taşucu and the Cilician plain — packs in more ancient history per kilometre than almost anywhere in Turkey, yet remains relatively unknown to international tourists.
- Region
- Mediterranean / Cilicia
- Ancient name
- Cilicia Pedias
- Known for
- Kızkalesi, Tarsus, Cilician coast, port
- Nearby
- Adana (65 km), Hatay (170 km)
Kızkalesi (Maiden's Castle)
Kızkalesi is one of the most dramatic images in Turkish tourism — a perfectly preserved Byzantine sea castle rising from the water 200 m offshore from a sandy beach. Built in the 12th century by the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, the castle is reached by rowboat from the shore. On the beach itself stands the twin land fortress of Korykos, making this one of the few double-castle systems (land + sea) surviving intact in the Mediterranean.
Tarsus
Tarsus, 30 km east of Mersin, was one of the most important cities of the ancient world — a centre of learning (Strabo visited), a Roman provincial capital, and the birthplace of the Apostle Paul (c. 5 BCE). Key sites: the St Paul’s Church (on the traditional site of his family home), the Kırkkaşık Bedesteni(15th-century covered bazaar), Cleopatra’s Gate (where Cleopatra is said to have entered the city to meet Mark Antony), and the Roman road.
Heaven and Hell Sinkholes
The Cennet ve Cehennem(Heaven and Hell) sinkholes, 3 km north of Kızkalesi, are two vast natural chasms in the Cilician limestone plateau. “Heaven” (Cennet) is 250 m long and 70 m deep, with a Byzantine church at its base and a sacred spring. “Hell” (Cehennem) is a sheer 128 m pit with no entrance — the mythical entrance to the underworld where Zeus imprisoned Typhon.
Anamur Castle
Mamure Kalesi in Anamur, 130 km west of Mersin, is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Turkey — a 12th-century fortress built by the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, with 39 towers, a moat and a mosque inside. Just 7 km west of the castle, the ancient city of Anemurion (1st–7th centuries CE) lies largely unexcavated on coastal cliffs — a ghost city with intact streets, baths and mosaics.
The Cilician Coast
The 300 km coast between Mersin and Alanya is one of the least-touristed stretches of the Turkish Mediterranean — beautiful beaches, dramatic limestone headlands, and ancient ruins at almost every cove. Taşucu is the departure point for ferries to Northern Cyprus. Silifke has an important Byzantine museum and a dramatic castle. The drive alone is worth the journey.
Mersin in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Mersin
3Fly from Istanbul to Adana Şakirpaşa Airport (1.5 hrs) then take a bus 65 km west to Mersin (1 hr). Alternatively fly directly to Mersin Çukurova Airport (new airport, opened 2023). Buses from Istanbul are 12–14 hours overnight.
Yes — Kızkalesi is on the coast road 65 km west of Mersin, directly accessible by bus or car. The beach is sandy and popular, the land castle is free to enter, and boats to the sea castle are cheap (a few euros return). A half-day trip from Mersin or Adana.
Mersin's most famous dish is tantuni — a flatbread wrap of rapidly stir-fried beef or lamb with herbs, unique to the city. It's street food, fast and cheap, eaten standing up at tiny kiosks. Mersin also has excellent fish restaurants and a thriving hummus culture influenced by nearby Hatay.