Join our private daily excursion from Mardin and spend a full day uncovering the layered history of Diyarbakir, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Mesopotamia. This fully guided day tour takes you along mighty basalt fortifications, into centuries-old mosques and out to a settlement that witnessed the very dawn of farming. With comfortable air-conditioned transport and a professional English-speaking guide, this Mardin day trip is an easy and rewarding way to explore the region in a single day.
The mighty walls of Diyarbakir are masterpieces of medieval military architecture, decorated with inscriptions and reliefs from many eras. Although their exact origins remain uncertain, they were renewed in 349 by order of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine, and they still encircle the old city today. Your daily tour then continues to Cayonu, near Ergani, about 65 km northwest of Diyarbakir. Archaeological research has shown this settlement to be among the very first places where humans abandoned nomadic life, making it a site of world importance for understanding the birth of agriculture and village life.
Back in the city, the Great Mosque awaits. Following the Islamic conquest of Diyarbakir, the province's largest Christian temple was transformed into a mosque in 639, and the building was later restored in 1091 under the Great Seljuk Sultan Meliksah. Its courtyard fountain and inscriptions from various periods make it a remarkable monument built of dark stone. You will also visit the Behram Pasha Mosque, commissioned by the 13th Ottoman governor and celebrated for its ornate pulpit, and the Sheikh Matar Mosque, whose minaret stands on four monolithic stone columns. Local belief holds that passing between these columns seven times makes a wish come true.
This day tour from Mardin includes hotel or meeting-point pick-up and drop-off, all entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary and a relaxed physical pace suitable for all ages. Please note that lunch and personal expenses are not included, so you may wish to bring some extra funds for the day.
| Tour type | Private · day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | Full Day |
| Price | From €295 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 5 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours · TÜRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Daily Diyarbakir City Tour from Mardin Your day begins in the morning with a pick-up from your hotel in Mardin or from our designated tour meeting point, followed by a comfortable drive in an air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicle towards Diyarbakir. On arrival, the city tour opens with the legendary Diyarbakir City Walls, a 5.5 km ring of black basalt rising 7–8 metres high. These fortifications, renewed in 349 by order of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine, are considered the longest city walls after the Great Wall of China and are adorned with inscriptions and reliefs from many civilisations. Next, the journey continues about 65 km northwest to the Ergani district, where you explore the ancient settlement of Cayonu. Dating back some 9,000 years to the polished stone age, this site has been identified as one of the earliest settled communities in human history. Returning to the city, you visit the Great Mosque of Diyarbakir, known as the fifth Harem-i Serif in the Islamic world. Created in 639 when the city's grandest Christian church was turned into a mosque after the Islamic conquest and repaired in 1091 under Sultan Meliksah, it impresses with its courtyard fountain and period inscriptions. The tour then moves on to the Behram Pasha Mosque, a fine example of Ottoman architecture built by the 13th Ottoman governor, famous for its exquisitely decorated pulpit. Your final stop is the Sheikh Matar Mosque, an Akkoyunlu work from 1500 whose minaret rests on four monolithic stone columns; tradition says that walking through them seven times grants a wish. In the late afternoon you are transferred back to Mardin and dropped off at your hotel or the meeting point, bringing your memorable day to a close.
Mardin → Diyarbakir → Mardin Walls → Mosques → Cayonu
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
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Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!