Visitor Reviews

Standing among pillars carved 12,000 years ago gave me chills I will never forget. The guided tour was incredibly informative and our guide, Mehmet, brought the site to life with stories about each enclosure. The new walkway system is excellent for viewing the excavations up close. I would recommend arriving early to beat the crowds.

As an amateur archaeologist, this was at the top of my bucket list. The sheer scale and age of this site is genuinely mind-blowing. I combined it with a visit to the Şanlıurfa Museum which houses the famous Urfa Man statue, and that really completed the experience. The visitor centre has a good exhibition and the on-site cafe is decent.

The carvings on the T-shaped pillars are incredible works of art. Foxes, bulls, snakes, all carved with remarkable detail 12,000 years ago. The covered walkways allow you to view the enclosures from above. I visited in winter and it was cold but had the site almost to myself. Magical atmosphere.

The archaeological site itself is extraordinary and fully deserves its UNESCO status. However, the facilities are still being developed. The cafe was closed during my visit and there is limited shade. Bring your own water and snacks. The drive from Şanlıurfa is scenic and easy. Would definitely come back once more excavation areas open.

I flew from Toronto specifically to see this site and it exceeded every expectation. The 3-day archaeological tour that included Karahantepe and Harbetsuvan was phenomenal. Our guide was a retired archaeology professor and his knowledge was extraordinary. Şanlıurfa itself is a wonderful city with amazing food.

It is truly humbling to stand at a place that predates the pyramids by 7,000 years. The audio guide is available in multiple languages and gives a thorough overview. I wish there were more information boards at each enclosure. The surrounding landscape is beautiful and adds to the atmosphere. Highly recommended.

The history is undeniable and the site is genuinely important. However, only a small portion is excavated and visible, and the viewing is from walkways above. If you are expecting something like Pompeii in terms of scale of what you can see, you may feel the visit is short. That said, the museum in Şanlıurfa makes up for it and should not be skipped.

We spent two weeks travelling across Turkey and this was unanimously voted the highlight by our whole family. Booking a guided tour was the right decision as there is so much context needed to appreciate what you are seeing. The kids loved the animal carvings. An unforgettable day. Do not miss the sunset from the hilltop.