Hatay (Antakya) was ancient Antioch — the third city of the Roman Empire, first city where followers of Jesus were called Christians, and a cosmopolitan trading metropolis on the Silk Road. Its Archaeology Museum holds the largest and finest collection of Roman floor mosaics in the world.
The province is also Turkey's most gastronomically diverse — Levantine, Arab, Alawi, Armenian and Turkish traditions overlap in a cuisine of stuffed grape leaves, hummus, fried liver, Antakya künefe (cheese pastry in syrup) and dozens of regional specialties unavailable elsewhere in Turkey.
Known for: Hatay Mosaic Museum · Ancient Antioch · St Peter's Cave Church · Levantine cuisine · Harbiye (Daphne)
- Region
- Mediterranean
- Famous for
- Mosaics & Levantine food
- Best seasons
- Oct–Apr
- UNESCO bid
- Hatay gastronomy city
Hatay on the live map
Explore Hatay and all of Turkey on the live intelligence map — tap a city node to fly in.
What Hatay is known for
The Hatay Archaeology Museum is unmissable — room after room of Roman hunting, banquet and mythological mosaics in extraordinary condition. The St Peter's Cave Church, carved into the cliff just outside the city, is where Peter preached; it is one of the oldest churches in Christianity. Harbiye (ancient Daphne) is a shaded canyon of waterfalls 8 km south.
- Hatay Archaeology Museum — world's finest Roman mosaic collection.
- St Peter's Cave Church — one of the oldest Christian sites in the world.
- Antakya old town — synagogue, mosque and church in one neighbourhood.
- Hatay cuisine — Levantine, Arab and Turkish fusion at its richest.
Getting around
Hatay Airport is 25 km from Antakya city. The old town and museum are walkable; a car helps for Harbiye, Samandag beach and the Amanos mountains.
On the platform
Hatay 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 Hatay
2The world's finest Roman mosaic collection (Hatay Archaeology Museum), ancient Antioch, the St Peter's Cave Church, and Turkey's most diverse Levantine cuisine.
Antakya's signature dessert: shredded wheat pastry filled with salty white cheese, soaked in sugar syrup and served hot — a speciality of Hatay origin found across the region.