If you want to have a historical, cultural and delicious holiday with a 1.5-hour flight from Istanbul, Gaziantep is one of the right addresses for you.. From the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, where the Gypsy Girl is the number 1 place to visit, to the quiche you will eat at Halil Usta, point-by-point suggestions for you; We aim to offer a visual and tasteful feast.. Although it may seem a bit ambitious, you will agree as you read and see it.. Now let’s move on to the details of our Gaziantep Travel Guide.
>> How to Go to Gaziantep?
>> When to Go to Gaziantep?
>> Gaziantep Where to Stay in Gaziantep?
>> How Many Days to Stay in Gaziantep?
>> Places to Visit in Gaziantep
>> Gaziantep Food and Beverage Stops
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How to Get to Gaziantep?
If you are not staying in the surrounding provinces, we definitely recommend you to go by plane.. It takes 1.5 hours by plane from around Istanbul and it is very easy to reach as you can transfer from the airport with Havaş.. You can go from the airport to the center in half an hour.. The cost was 8 TL per person.. (2015) They said that a taxi costs around 50 TL.
If you say that you want to go to Şanlıurfa while you are in Gaziantep, it takes 2 hours between 2 cities.. You can go by renting a car or by bus, but we say don’t come from Istanbul by car.. You can find tickets under 100 TL by catching tickets with a special offer.
When to go to Gaziantep?
We recommend that you do not go during the summer season as it is very hot in the summer.. The ideal period is autumn and first spring months.. We used our choice since April and sometimes it was such a nice weather that we could walk around with just a cardigan.
Where to Stay in Gaziantep?
City hotels such as Ibis and Novotel are mostly they prefer the best location and it is very easy to reach everywhere. We also stayed at Ibis and while our taxi ride to the places we went to did not exceed 20 TL, there was a shopping mall within walking distance and a tram line in front of it.. It would not be a lie if we say that we were eating our kebab and returning to the hotel.. Since these are the most suitable hotels, it will be enough.
How Many Days to Stay in Gaziantep?
If you trust your stomach, I can eat both kebab, liver and katmer on the same day. If you say nothing will happen to me, even one day will be enough for you, but you will have to return without seeing most museums and places to visit.. If you want to travel and eat to the fullest, 2 full days will be enough for you.
Places to Visit in Gaziantep
There are 17 museums in Gaziantep.. The city already has its own texture and architecture, but when you visit these museums, you realize how important they are to history.. You can view the details on the page of the Municipality of Gaziantep.
Of course, not only museums tell and feel history.. Coppersmiths’ bazaar, Almaci Bazaar (Elmaci Bazaar) will take you back to the old days and introduce you to Antep people whose conversations you will love.. They don’t leave without drinking zahter, don’t say tea. Zahter is drunk in Antep.
In this article, we will also tell you about the spices, tomato paste and pistachios that you should definitely buy when you come to Antep.. We don’t need to say baklava anyway.. Let’s start with the places to visit:
- Bakırcılar Çarşısı: A bazaar, which is located just ahead of İmam Çağdaş, which is divided into streets, and is frequented by tourists.. There are exactly 8 streets.. Although it may seem small, it will take your time every time you want to enter the street.. Surely you will come across the forging of copper. You can learn how coppers are shaped, which copper is real and which is imitation.. The shopkeepers are very friendly and have a nice chat.. While we’re here, we bought a copper coffee set as a memory.. You will also see the Yemeni hangings in front of the shops.. It can be a nice gift item.. There are head coverings such as kutnuk, merveş and hemavi that we learned locally.. The attachment and texture of each are different from each other.. We think you will like it.
- Almacı Pazarı (Elmacı Pazarı): It is located just across Bakırcılar Çarşısı in the same area.. There are rows of spice shops.. In addition to all the spices you can think of, you can also shop for zahter, tomato paste, pistachios, dried eggplant and baklava (Güllüoğlu). Here is a point you should pay attention to when buying tomato paste; You can see spicy and low-spicy tomato paste on the counters in the markets, but there is no such thing as low-spicy tomato paste.. When you talk to the local, he will say the same thing.. They also said this about pistachios: “Do not have double roasted pistachios.. Roasting is done for the second time to open the unopened peanuts.. A good peanut opens with a roast anyway.” It’s good to take note of this as well.. Double roasting also increases the salt of the peanuts.
- Zincirli Bedesten: The place where copper souvenirs are sold and there are rows of shops.. You can see mother-of-pearl inlays and copper souvenirs in the showcases of all shops.
- Gaziantep Castle: Although it is not officially known when the historical castle, which you can go within walking distance from the center, was built, you can see the struggle in the War of Independence in the museum inside. , you can get information about how Gaziantep was defended and you can see how Gaziantep became Gaziantep with your own eyes.
- Kitchen Museum: You can enter this museum, which is very close to the castle, by paying 3 TL.. This mansion was built in 1904 and donated to Gaziantep Municipality by Ali İhsan Göğüş.. In Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum, which is the first culinary museum established in Turkey, besides the tools and equipment used in Gaziantep’s local dishes, local dishes and beverages, cooking methods are also explained and Gaziantep Cuisine is introduced.
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum: This museum, which was opened to visitors in 2011, has unique mosaics; It is one of the most important museums in the world with its history.. On the historical Silk Road, there is information about the daily life, beliefs and culture of the people living in the Ancient City of Zeugma.. Undoubtedly, one of his most important works is The Gypsy Girl.. You must see this work, which is exhibited in a very specially protected room.. When the sadness of the work and the techniques used are evaluated in some places, although it is called Zeugma’s Mona Lisa, it is considered that the author is a genius.. Towards the end of 2018, the missing parts were brought from America and the work was completed.. We paid 8 TL entrance fee when we went.
Eating Gaziantep – Drinking Stops
We wanted to open a separate topic for places to eat in Gaziantep.. Because perhaps 70% of the reason you come here is because of this uniquely delicious cuisine.. Let’s talk about where, what and when to eat in turn.
- Ciğerci Ali Haydar Usta: Those who read our Adana article will remember. Liver is a breakfast meal for these regions.. Ali Haydar Usta was one of the most famous liver cooks of Antep in his time.. When he passes away from this world, his son starts to take care of this business.. this is a small shop. There isn’t even a table. Closed on Mondays because can’t buy meat on Sunday. be very careful with this. The shop opens in the morning. At 7, the lungs are finished at the latest.. If you cannot eat liver; don’t worry, there is also ground beef. You take this between a nice lavash. And of course onions. Next to it, there is a very sour ayran sold in a plastic bottle.. Everyone who comes there in the morning knows each other, they are there every day; you will understand that liver is a food like pastry for them.
- Metanet Lokantası: One of the breakfast alternatives another one is Beyran soup. People prefer to eat this soup, which is both bitter and oily, in the morning.. Not suitable for every stomach. Please think carefully, let’s not get too excited. They also eat lush green chili peppers with such intensity.
- Katmerci Zekeriya Usta: Although it may seem unbelievable, yes, this big slice of katmer is actually eaten for breakfast.. You have to drink milk with it.. Because this milk allows you to eat more by absorbing all the sugar and fat of katmer.. Of course, don’t force yourself to eat it all for breakfast, the shop is usually open until 13.00.. The opening time is 06.30. Zekeriya Usta’s son is currently in charge of this shop.. You can also watch how it’s done inside. There are sections with tables in front of it or next to the kitchen.
- Tahmis Coffee: Intense and After a heavy breakfast, we come to Tahmis Kahvesi, where you can drink zahter, thyme tea or the famous melengic coffee to relieve a little stomach.. It has been serving since 1635, we can say that it is one of the oldest coffees.. Its interior has a unique architectural texture.. Sometimes reeds come here too.. The specialty of Melengiç coffee is that it is produced from wild pistachios, I think it would be beneficial for you to taste it.
- Küşlemeci Halil Usta: There are a few of the Zeugma Mosaic Museum’s When you enter Halil Usta’s shop on the back of the street, the pictures on the wall will tell you how famous, well-known and loved this place is.. Spoon salad comes first, it’s a bit spicy but very sour.. The famous simit kebab, pistachio kebab, minced meat kebab and küşleme come right after the salad.. If you want mixed or one by one, it doesn’t matter.. It will also have ayran in a copper glass.. You can eat a delicious kebab that you cannot easily eat in Istanbul at a very affordable price.. It was cash only when we went.. It is good to go prepared accordingly.. Also, they don’t take reservations, but you don’t have to wait long since the shop is big.
- Küşlemeci Mehmet Usta: We went with the recommendation of our friends who went before.. It was in the center and within walking distance of the hotel.. There was not the slightest smell in their meat and frankly, I liked it more than Halil Usta.. The best kebab was pistachio kebab and its skewered taste was like Turkish delight.. There was a delicious carrot slice baklava on it.. Well, what else?. Although it is not as famous or unknown as Halil Usta, we can say that its meat and flavor deserve it.
- Imam Çağdaş: We came directly here when we got off the airport. Imam Çağdaş is in a big 2-storey shop very close to Bakırcılar Bazaar.. Part of the lower floor is completely in the baklava business. They sell tray by tray, by kilo too.. They even deliver baklava by bus. I can say that it is quite crowded.. We first surprised our stomachs with Ali Nazik.. We spoiled it by eating lahmacun on top of it.. It was really the best lahmacun with Ali Nazik I’ve ever eaten in my life.. Baklava of course. Carrots, square slices, all desserts are delicious.
- Bayazhan Restaurant: The restaurant itself, which is located in a very beautiful historical building, is more expensive than other restaurants, where you can drink alcohol as well as Gaziantep local dishes.. Bayazhan actually consists of 3 floors and a large courtyard.. There are many rooms on the floors. While there is a museum on the upper floor, there is a restaurant and souvenir shops on the lower floor.
We hope it will be both a historical and delicious holiday for you.. Gaziantep is a very beautiful city in all aspects.
