Siirt is a small provincial capital in Southeastern Anatolia, set on a rugged plateau framed by tributaries of the Tigris. Its oldest building is the Great Mosque, built in 1129 in the Great Seljuk period; its cylindrical minaret decorated with glazed brick is the symbol of the city. What really defines Siirt is the spiritual and natural heritage around it: next door in Tillo, the İsmail Fakirullah Tomb that Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı designed for his teacher, where sunlight falls on the sarcophagus every year on 21 March and 23 September; the Veysel Karani Tomb on the Baykan road; and Botan Valley National Park, declared in 2019. The mohair Siirt blanket, büryan kebab cooked in a pit oven and the Siirt pistachio are the city's best known products.
Looking for cheap flights or monthly payment flight packages to Siirt?
Suso is a travel-planning platform that turns your Siirt trip from Turkey into a buy now, pay later flight package: the ticket is issued by travel agencies, booking sites or airlines, and the payment plan runs on consumer credit from partner finance institutions. One click in the basket completes the purchase and the financing together; you pay over 3 to 24 months. No credit card limit needed.
See flights to Siirt →When to visit Siirt
Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to October) are the best periods: the weather is mild and suits walking in the Botan Valley. Anyone wanting to see the light phenomenon in Tillo aims for the morning of 21 March or 23 September; it gets busy on these days, so arrange accommodation early. Summers are very hot and dry, and walking around at midday becomes hard. Winters are cold, and snow and fog can occasionally affect flights, so leave some flexibility in the travel plan.
Things to do in Siirt
Great Mosque of Siirt
The mosque in the city centre was built in 1129 in the Great Seljuk period by Mugisüddin Mahmud and was repaired in the 13th century. What stands out is the brick minaret rising on a square base and narrowing as it climbs: it was built with a technique used in Iran and Turkestan, with geometric patterns made of glazed brick. Its 13th century walnut minbar, made in the kündekari technique, is now displayed at the Ankara Ethnography Museum. It is the natural starting point for a walk around the city.
Delikli Taş (the Holed Rock)
About 4 kilometres southeast of the city centre, among steep limestone cliffs looking down on the Botan River, a natural rock formation with a hole through its middle. It stands beside Rasıl Hacar Hill, close to Taşbaşı Cave, and from its height there is a wide view over the valley. The large rock beside the cave is remembered as the place where young people jumped across to prove their courage. It makes a short stop before heading down into the Botan Valley.
İsmail Fakirullah Tomb
In Tillo (Aydınlar), a few kilometres from central Siirt, the tomb that Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı built in the 18th century for his teacher İsmail Fakirullah. İbrahim Hakkı designed an arrangement so that on the mornings of 21 March and 23 September each year the light of the rising sun enters through a small window in the east facade and lights the head of the sarcophagus for a few minutes. The mechanism stopped working after a restoration in 1960 and was brought back into function in 2011. The light event is watched early in the morning, and these days draw many visitors.
Tillo (Aydınlar)
About 7 kilometres from central Siirt, the small district town is known for its stone houses, domed tombs and the view from its hills over the Siirt plain. Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı, author of the Marifetname, spent a large part of his life here beside his teacher and was buried in Tillo; his tomb is within walking distance of the İsmail Fakirullah Tomb. The two tombs and the town's streets make a half day trip together.
Veysel Karani Tomb
In the town of Veysel Karani (Ziyaret) in Baykan district, on the highway between Diyarbakır and Siirt, about 40 kilometres from the provincial centre. The tomb attributed to Veysel Karani of the Tabi'un generation is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the region and gets busy especially during religious holidays and at weekends. It lies on the way for anyone arriving by road from the Diyarbakır side.
Botan Valley National Park
Covering the main and side valleys formed by the Botan River, the park was declared Turkey's 45th national park on 15 August 2019 and spreads over 11,384 hectares. Deep canyons, rocky slopes and green pockets along the river make good views for photography and walking. For dinner, büryan kebab slow cooked in a pit oven or perde pilavı (chicken rice baked in a pastry shell) is the traditional Siirt table.
Flights from Turkey to Siirt
Siirt Airport was closed to scheduled flights for a long period during terminal renovation and reopened with its enlarged terminal on 12 September 2026. Nonstop flights from Ankara Esenboğa on AJet take about 1 hour 30 minutes; Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Istanbul Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, a journey of about 2 hours. Connections from other cities go via Ankara or Istanbul. The airport is about 14 kilometres from the city centre, around 15 to 20 minutes by car; the municipal bus, taxis and hire cars are the main options. Weather can cause cancellations in winter, so leave some flexibility in the return plan.
Siirt FAQ
How many days do you need in Siirt?
A day is enough for the city centre, the Great Mosque and the bazaar; allow half a day for the tombs in Tillo and another half day for the Veysel Karani Tomb. Adding Botan Valley National Park, three nights is a good length to see the region comfortably. If the trip falls on 21 March or 23 September, the light event in Tillo can be part of the plan too.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Siirt Airport is about 14 kilometres from the city centre, around 15 to 20 minutes by car. The options are the municipal bus, a taxi or a hire car; for bus times, check with Siirt Municipality. The Veysel Karani Tomb is about 40 kilometres from the provincial centre.
How do you get around Siirt and the area?
Minibuses and municipal buses run within the city, and Tillo is close enough to the centre to reach easily by taxi. Baykan and the town of Veysel Karani are reached by minibuses and coaches heading towards Diyarbakır. Hiring a car is the most flexible way to combine the Botan Valley and the surrounding districts in one trip; snow and fog are possible in winter, so drive carefully.
Buy now, pay later flights to Siirt
Fly now, pay later. Plan your trip, pay over up to 24 months. One click at checkout sets up the plan, no credit card limit needed.
Search flights to Siirt →