Gaziantep Travel Guide - Best Places to Eat, Drink and Travel

Time does not pass quickly in Gaziantep. The streets are not hurried, and people speak without beating around the bush, but always with a greeting. This city teaches you to pause and take a breath, even in the midst of a crowd. In an age where everything is covered up, Gaziantep still wants you to know what you eat, where you walk, and who you meet. It's not just about history; here, there is the sound of copper, the smoke of the tandir, and the trunk of an old plane tree resting in the shade. Gaziantep is a city that welcomes thousands of local and foreign visitors every year with its deep-rooted history, rich culture and unique cuisine. Thanks to its location close to Mesopotamia and the Euphrates-Tigris basin, it has been an important crossroads throughout history. The first traces of settlement date back to the Chalcolithic Age, and it bears the traces of many civilisations, from the Hittites to the Persians, and from the Romans to the Ottomans. It is a special city that earned the title of ‘Gazi’ for its resistance during the War of Independence. It offers visitors not only history but also an impressive city experience. When you stay in the city centre, you can reach many important points on foot. You can start your tour at the bazaars. The narrow streets filled with handmade copper products, carpets, spices and traditional flavours will take you on a journey through time. Gaziantep Castle, the old Antep houses in Bey Mahallesi and the historic baths are also worth seeing. The city is also rich in museums. The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Archaeology Museum, War Museum, Kitchen Museum, and Glass Museum are must-see stops on your itinerary. The Antep cuisine is another reason to visit this city. In addition to meat dishes such as eggplant kebab, garlic kebab, and simit kebab, local delicacies such as plum stew and Arabic meatballs should not be missed. Of course, you can't leave without trying baklava. Made with real Antep pistachios and thin layers of dough, this dessert is a must-try. Visiting Gaziantep in the spring or winter months will provide a more comfortable travel experience. Temperatures can be quite high in the summer months.

Places to Visit in Gaziantep

Zeugma Mosaic Museum: Zeugma, the world's second largest mosaic museum, is one of Antep's most impressive attractions. The famous “Gypsy Girl” mosaic that greets you as you enter is both impressive and captivating. In addition, mosaics and archaeological artifacts from the Roman period are displayed in halls where you can spend a long time. Excavations in recent years have unearthed the ruins of the ancient city of Zeugma. The city is located approximately 10 kilometers from the Nizip district of Gaziantep. It is situated right on the banks of the Euphrates River. The uncovered ruins and mosaics are displayed at the Zeugma Open Air Museum, the world's largest open-air museum and mosaic museum. 

Panorama 25 December Museum: This museum brings Gaziantep's struggle for liberation to life. Through photographs, oil paintings, visual designs, and artifacts from the period, you can follow the epic resistance of the people of Antep step by step. Upon entering, you find yourself immersed in an atmosphere steeped in history.

Gaziantep Hamam Museum: Built in 1577, this Ottoman bathhouse was restored in 2015 and turned into a museum. Inside, there are wax figures, towels from the period, tools related to bathhouse culture, and historical information. It vividly depicts what a bathhouse experience was like in the past.

Udma Cheese Museum: Established to introduce Gaziantep's unique cheeses to the world, this museum allows you to see the production process and taste a variety of cheeses. It also has a market selling local products and a restaurant where you can taste carefully prepared dishes from the Antep cuisine.

Rumkale: Located in the Yavuzeli district, about an hour away from the city center of Gaziantep, Rumkale is a fascinating place built on a peninsula along the banks of the Euphrates River. With its traces from ancient times and historical structures, it is like a gateway to another era. To reach the castle, you need to take a pleasant boat trip from Halfeti or Kasaba Village. As you travel on the water, the scenery is so beautiful that it enchants you even before you reach the castle.

Where to Eat in Gaziantep? 

The best kebab addresses in the city are Halil Usta, Haydar Usta, and İmam Çağdaş, located across from Camlı Kahve (Glass Coffee).

One Special Recommendation: You can't leave here without trying gourmet delights like baklava, küşleme, and beyran soup. Along with these, don't miss out on tasting sweet katmer, dried eggplant stuffed with meat, lamb liver kebab (known locally as cağırtlak), and yuvalama soup. For these wonderful flavors, we recommend the restaurant called Aşina Gaziantep Cuisine.

The best baklava addresses in the city are İmam Çağdaş and Koçak Baklavacısı in Uzunçarşı. Apart from kebabs, you should try unique flavors like "Chickpea Wrap" and "Katmer" at Habeş Usta or visit Zekeriya Usta for Katmer. Other restaurants you should visit include Üçler Kebap, Metanet Esnaf Lokantası, and Evirgeç Mantı. For a coffee break, head to ‘Tahmis Kahvesi’. This coffee shop has a history dating back to the 1650s, and its building still preserves its old texture. The atmosphere is delightful, with 500-year-old lamps inside. There are even old photographs from past eras.

Lastly, I recommend trying the kebab restaurants under the Castle; you can also visit Çulcuoğlu or ask for directions to Karakabir :)

One of the best ways to explore Gaziantep is to walk around the city without taking any transportation. As blogger Oğuz Yeni Hayat suggests, you can start your day early in the morning with beyran and katmer, and then spend the day wandering the streets, soaking up the spirit and flavours of the city. If you think, ‘That's too heavy a start for me,’ you can begin your day with a fresh börek at Elmacıpazarı Güllüoğlu. It's hard to resist the baklava in the display case anyway. Starting the day with a sweet treat isn't a bad idea.

From there, take a few steps to Tahmis Kahvesi for a quick break with tea or coffee... Then you can set off on foot towards Halil Usta. Well-seasoned küşleme, kuşbaşı, kebabs served with thin lavaş… If you think a walk would do you good after all that, head to Hışvahan. For those who want to shake off their fatigue, it offers a historic atmosphere, a quiet courtyard, perhaps a digestif, or just peace and quiet. For dessert, stop by Zeki İnal and top off your day with a small şöbiyet. Afterwards, you can return to Elmacıpazarı to shop and browse local products. For dinner, the recommendation is clear: Harun Usta's Dukat. Start with walnut-stuffed lahmacun, followed by a beautifully cooked onion kebab a delicious taste that will linger on your palate before you bid farewell to the city. Is it just about food? Of course not. Gaziantep is also open to exploration with its nature. Outside the city, there are walking trails, meadows, and quiet areas overlooking the Euphrates. If you have time, you can go on a picnic or pitch a tent and spend the night under the stars. You can even go fishing or enjoy a quiet morning hunt. In this city famous for its handicrafts, you can also buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Copperware, hand-woven rugs, silver jewellery, and even traditional flat-soled shoes each one carries a memory whispered to you by the city. Of course, don't forget the baklava, pistachios, and peppers. Tastes fade, but memories linger. 

Gaziantep Accommodation Recommendations

Anadolu Evleri: When you stay at Anadolu Evleri, you feel as if you are traveling back in time to Gaziantep's past, surrounded by the coolness of stone walls and the tranquility of the courtyard.

Zeynep Hanım Mansion: At Zeynep Hanım Mansion, waking up surrounded by Antep's traditional stone architecture and sipping your coffee in the courtyard allows you to feel the spirit of the city in its most authentic form.

If you wish to visit Gaziantep, you can easily reach it by road or air. This year, especially the upcoming spring months, could be a great opportunity to explore and get to know Gaziantep. I suggest you start planning now. Have a good trip.

For accommodation recommendations, you can check out our Gaziantep Hotels page.