Halfeti
An old town partly submerged by a reservoir on the Euphrates, where the minarets of a mosque rise above the water. A boat trip is the classic way to explore it.
Halfeti lies about 75 km northeast of Gaziantep, in Şanlıurfa Province. After the Birecik Dam created its reservoir in 2000, much of the old town was flooded, and residents moved to a new town uphill. The riverside old town with its stone houses and the minaret of the mosque of the submerged village of Savaşan, rising out of the water, have made it a popular scenic spot in southeastern Turkey. The pier has many tour boats, typically running 1 to 2 hours, passing the submerged villages, with the option to stop at Rumkale to visit the castle. Boat fares are negotiated per boat or per person. Riverside boathouse restaurants and cafés serve local specialties, including black rose (Karagül) and its products. Driving or a private car takes about 1.5 hours. By public transport, you must travel through Birecik and transfer to a minibus, with few departures, so an early start is recommended. Note: searching 'Halfeti' in navigation apps will point to the inland new town; the tourist area is the old riverside town.
Opening hours
Open all day; cruises operate during the day
Nearby sights
- Rumkale
- Zeugma Ancient City
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum
- Gaziantep Mevlevi Lodge Museum
- Tahmis Coffee House
- Coppersmiths Bazaar
- Zincirli Bedesten
- İmam Çağdaş