Gaziantep is the food capital of Turkey. This ancient city in the southeast, close to the Syrian border, is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy — a place where pistachios, baklava, kebabs and lahmacun reach a level you will not find anywhere else in the country. It is also a serious archaeological destination, home to the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and the mosaics of a Roman city that now lies beneath the waters of the Euphrates.
Most travellers pass through Gaziantep on the way to Göbeklitepe or Şanlıurfa. Give it a full day — ideally two — and come hungry. This guide covers what to see, what to eat, and how to get there.
In 2015 Gaziantep became a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the first in Turkey. The city has more than a hundred registered dishes, many of them invented here. The local pistachio — Antep fıstığı — is the finest in the country, and the baklava made from it is the benchmark by which all Turkish baklava is judged. Eating in Gaziantep is not a side activity; it is the reason to come.
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum (Zeugma Mozaik Müzesi) opened in 2011 and is one of the largest mosaic museums in the world. Its centrepiece is the haunting Gypsy Girl (Çingene Kızı) mosaic, whose eyes have become the city's emblem. The mosaics come from Zeugma, a wealthy Roman frontier city on the Euphrates that was partly submerged by the Birecik Dam in 2000. The rescue excavations recovered floor mosaics of extraordinary quality from the villas of the Roman elite. Allow two hours.
Gaziantep Castle sits on a hill in the old town, with origins going back to the Roman and Byzantine periods and later rebuilt by the Seljuks and Ottomans. It was badly damaged in the February 2023 earthquakes and has since been restored and reopened. The climb is short and the view over the city is the best in Gaziantep. Nearby, the Liberation War Museum (Şahinbey) and the narrow lanes of the old quarter are worth a wander.
The historic bazaars cluster around the castle. Bakırcılar Çarşısı (the Coppersmiths' Bazaar) is the most atmospheric — hammered copper trays, pots and coffee sets are still made by hand. Elmacı Pazarı is the produce and spice market, and the Zincirli Bedesten is a restored 15th-century covered market selling textiles and antiques. Buy pistachios, dried fruit and baklava here rather than at the airport.
For dessert, künefe and fıstıklı kadayıf are both local specialities. The best restaurants are around the old town and along the streets near the castle.
Most visitors stay in the city centre (Şahinbey), within walking distance of the bazaars, the castle and the Zeugma Museum. Business-class hotels offer the best value, with modern rooms at prices well below Istanbul. Staying near the museum makes the food trail easy to walk. See Turkey Hotels for the wider picture.
Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport (GZT) has frequent flights from Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir — the quickest option. By road, Gaziantep is about two hours from Şanlıurfa and around three from Mardin, which makes it an easy stop on a southeast Turkey itinerary. Long-distance buses connect the city with most of the country. See Flights to Turkey for flight advice.
Gaziantep fits naturally between Şanlıurfa and the far southeast. Most travellers pair it with Göbeklitepe (the Neolithic temples), Mardin (the city on a hill) and Antakya (Antioch) (ancient Antioch), all within a few hours by road. If you would rather not drive, Turkey tours cover the region by air-conditioned coach.
One full day covers the Zeugma Museum, the castle and the bazaars; two days let you eat properly and take a day trip to Halfeti or Yesemek.
Yes. The city is a normal, busy Turkish city and welcomes visitors. As anywhere in the region, check your government's current travel advice before you go.
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are ideal. Summers are very hot — over 40°C is common in July and August.
Pistachios, pistachio baklava (buy from a specialist, not the airport), copperware from Bakırcılar Çarşısı, and Antep pepper flakes (pul biber).
Tell us where you want to go and get a personalised itinerary in seconds.