Understand
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Tarsus was so-named by the Hittites around 1700 BC, when it was already ancient. It stands on the Çukurova or Cilician plain, with sea access and routes inland, so it commands trade routes. Little is known of its early years as the modern city has paved over everything, but it was important during the Roman Empire. After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, the empire was divided between a triumvirate, a trio of rulers, and Mark Antony got the eastern portion including Cilicia. Cleopatra VII of Egypt had been Julius Caesar's unofficial consort and needed to ally with the new man, so she visited and lushed up his court.
The town's other famous citizen was Saul or Paul, born here circa 5 AD. Like many, he had a Hebrew or Jewish name (Saul, שָׁאוּל, Sha'ûl) and a Graeco-Roman name (Paulos, Παῦλος) and used whichever fitted the company. From a pious Pharisee family, he was sent to Jerusalem for his education, then was later employed persecuting the Christian converts in that area. He never met the living Jesus, but circa 36 AD had a vision of the resurrected Jesus while on the road to Damascus to do more persecuting. He was overwhelmed and struck blind for three days, and when he recovered he was baptised and became a fervent Christian apostle and missionary. Most of what we known of him is from the New Testament "Acts", of which he wrote a quarter to a half himself, and he set his stamp on early Christian creed and practice. He died in Rome circa 65 AD, probably beheaded, and is now among the foremost Christian Saints.
Get in
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1 Çukurova Airport (COV IATA) 15 km east of town is the region's principal airport, replacing Adana which closed in 2024. It has daily flights from Istanbul (both IST and SAW), Ankara, Izmir and other Turkish cities (including Ercan in Northern Cyprus) and seasonal holiday flights mostly from Germany and Russia. The airport has the usual facilities including car hire. Hourly buses run to Tarsus (45 min) and Adana.
Tarsus is on Highway D400, which runs the length of Turkey's Mediterranean coat then continues away east to the border with Iran. It's now bypassed to the north by E982, so inter-city buses rush past on that. From the west change for a dolmuş at Mersin, from other directions change at Adana.
2 Tarsus Otogar the bus station is 5 km east of town centre. You'll need another dolmuş or a taxi to get there.
No trains until 2026 on the Adana-Tarsus-Mersin railway as a tunnel and spur to the airport is built. Adana in turn is cut off from the railway network by other engineering work, at least until 2027.
Get around
[edit]The city sprawls but the main sights are within walking distance. You need a taxi to reach the waterfall.
See
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- Merkez the main square is bland, but Old Mosque (Eski Cami) is adjacent. It's a substantial church converted to a mosque.
- Makam-ı Şerif Mosque south side of the square is one of the several places where the prophet Daniel is supposed to be buried.
- 1 Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), 3424th Sk. Built in its present form in 1579 (the Ramadanid era) over a 9th century predecessor - the Ramadanids were vassals of the Ottomans. Enter from the north via the marble gate; the clock tower is an odd feature. East side of the mosque are the tombs of Al Ma'mun a 9th century caliph, of Luqman for whom the 31st surah of the Quran is named, and (allegedly) of Seth the third son of Adam and Eve, in which case it's in remarkably good condition.
- Saint Paul's Church, 3407th Sk (100 m south of Grand Mosque), ☏ +90 324 613 1865. Daily 08:30-18:00. Originally built in 1102 but the present structure is from 1867. It's now only used as a church on special occasions. Adult 120 TL.
- Old town streets with traditional Ottoman houses stretch north of Adana Blv to St Paul's Well.
- 2 St Paul's Well is in a small garden on 37th Sk accessible daily 08:30-17:00. Houses in the Biblical era didn't have running water, so citizens had to draw from wells like this one, which goes down 38 m. For a suitable baksheesh, attendants will serve you with water similar to that quaffed by Saul / Paul.
- 3 Tarsus Museum, Atatürk Cd 28, ☏ +90 324 613 1865. Daily 08:00-19:00. Extensive museum opened in 2020 which takes a couple of hours to explore. Adult 60 TL.
- Roman road (Antik / Roma yolu) is a 50 m stretch of basalt paving slabs next to the museum.
- 4 Cleopatra Gate is the only survivor of the ancient city gates. This was more accurately the Port Gate leading to the harbour, then much closer as the sea has receded by 20 km. Any visitor from afar would approach by sea rather than endure the roads, including Cleopatra VII when she came in 41 BC to square matters with Mark Antony, one of the Roman triumvirate that succeeded Julius Caesar.
- 5 Tarsus Waterfall is in the north suburbs. Since 1984 the Berdan Dam upstream now captures most of the river flow for irrigation and hydro-electricity, so the waterfall is a sorry trickle except after prolonged heavy rain.
Do
[edit]- Hamams are traditional Turkish baths. The most central is Yeni Hamam 50 m east of Grand Mosque on 3406th Sk, open daily 06:30-22:00.
- Tarsus Şehir Stadı is the main sports arena, 1 km west of city centre. The town soccer team Tarsus İdman Yurdu play down in the amateur leagues.
Buy
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- Forty Teaspoons Bazaar (Kırkkaşık Bedesteni) is next to Grand Mosque, open daily 08:30-19:30.
- Several small supermarkets in the nearby streets.
Eat
[edit]There's a string of eating places along Adana Blv the main road through town, and another little cluster around the waterfall.
Drink
[edit]Some cafes serve alcohol.
Sleep
[edit]- Otel Zorbaz is a basic place on 2716th Sk just off Adana Boulevard.
- Elif Hatun Konağı, 3416th Sk 28 (100 m south of Grand Mosque), ☏ +90 324 666 0003. Pleasant central hotel in a 19th century mansion. B&B double 5000 TL.
- 1 Osmanli Marco Pasha Hotel, 2719th Sk, ☏ +90 324 613 3399. Beautifully restored Ottoman mansion. Once inside, you discover that the authentic Ottoman ambiance extends to the plumbing, pong of tobacco and attitudes to women. B&B double 4000 TL.
- Burhanoğlu Konağı, 2717th Sk (50 m south of Osmanli Marco Pasha Hotel), ☏ +90 324 614 4111. Restored Ottoman mansion, clean and friendly. B&B double 4000 TL.
Connect
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Tarsus and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of April 2025, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Go next
[edit]- Mersin west is modern. Continue along the coast for small Med resorts such as Narlıkuyu, near Maiden's Castle and the Heaven-Hell chasms.
- Adana east is a bustling modern city with a big military air base.
| Routes through Tarsus |
| Antalya ← Mersin ← | W  E
|
→ Adana → Gaziantep |
| Ankara ← Pozantı ← | N  S
|
→ Ends at 
|