A city ringed by 5.8 km of old stone walls, with the Hevsel Gardens running down to the Tigris. Together they show the region's history from Roman times to today.
Inscribed 2015DiyarbakırCultural
Video
Türkiye's Hidden Treasure: Diyarbakır | Go Türkiye (Go Türkiye). Watch on YouTube.
Plan your visit
- Getting there: Fly to Diyarbakır Airport (DIY), about 7 km from the centre. A taxi takes about 12 minutes and the airport bus about 15. Most visitors stay in or near Sur, the old city, and walk to the walls.
- How long: Allow half a day, or two days for the whole old city.
- Best time: April to June and September to November are the most comfortable. Go at sunset for Hevsel Gardens.
- Tickets and hours: Inner castle museum: 08:30 to 19:00 (1 May to 1 October), otherwise 08:30 to 17:00. EUR 3 for foreign adults. Check the current price and hours on the official page.
- Tip: Check UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
- Tip: Hevsel is working farmland, so stay on paths and viewpoints. Some wall stretches may be view-only.
- Nearby: The Ten-Eyed Bridge over the Tigris is near the gardens. Ulucami (Grand Mosque) is in Sur.
UNESCO listingOfficial visitor pageDirections in Google Maps
Header photo: The basalt walls of Diyarbakır — Photo: Radosław Botev via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 pl
Inscription details checked on 8 November 2026 with UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Prices, hours and transport change, so check the official page before you go.
