Diyarbakır is one of the most dramatically sited cities in Turkey — encircled by 5.5 kilometres of black basalt walls dating from the Roman period, standing on a cliff above the Tigris River. The walls, along with the ancient Hevsel Gardens below them (continuously cultivated for 10,000 years), form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inside the walls, the city is a maze of basalt lanes and courtyard houses, centred on the Ulu Cami — the oldest mosque in Anatolia, built from an early Byzantine church by the Marwanid emirs in 1091. Diyarbakır is also famous for its extraordinary watermelons, some growing to 50 kg.
Known for: Black basalt city walls (UNESCO) · Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) · Hevsel Gardens (UNESCO) · Tigris River · Diyarbakır watermelons
- Region
- Southeastern Anatolia
- Famous for
- Basalt walls & Tigris
- Best seasons
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- UNESCO
- Diyarbakır Fortress & Hevsel Gardens
Diyarbakır on the live map
Explore Diyarbakır and all of Turkey on the live intelligence map — tap a city node to fly in.
What Diyarbakır is known for
The city walls walk (Surlar) takes 2–3 hours along the full 5.5 km perimeter, with towers, basalt bastions and views over the Tigris gorge and Hevsel Gardens below. The Ulu Cami's courtyard combines mosque, minaret, clock tower and ablution fountain in a harmonious medieval ensemble. The Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı House, Ziya Gökalp Museum and Armenian Sur Church (Surp Giragos) add cultural depth.
- UNESCO Black Basalt City Walls — 5.5 km Roman-era fortification.
- Ulu Cami — oldest mosque in Anatolia (1091).
- Hevsel Gardens — 10,000-year continuously cultivated garden.
- Diyarbakır watermelons — up to 50 kg, Turkey's largest.
Getting around
Diyarbakır has an airport with domestic flights. The walled old city (Sur) is walkable; the walls perimeter is a 2–3 hour walk. Most sites are within the walls or a short taxi ride.
On the platform
Diyarbakır is joining Türkiye Gez as we expand into a Turkey-wide city intelligence platform. This guide is the launch foundation — live transport data, an interactive map and deeper neighborhood content roll out city by city, on the same architecture that powers Istanbul today.
Frequently asked questions
About Diyarbakır
1Its UNESCO black basalt city walls (5.5 km, Roman era), the Ulu Cami (oldest mosque in Anatolia), the Hevsel Gardens and enormous Diyarbakır watermelons.