Tarsus
Tarsus is an ancient, and modern, city in Mediterranean Turkey, located between Mersin and Adana.
Understand
Tarsus has a long and prestigious history; in times of Ancient Greece it was already a regional center at the crossing of several important trade routes, linking Anatolia to Syria and beyond. Because the oldest ruins are covered by the modern city, archaeology has barely touched them. It became famous in Roman Imperial times, as the scenery for the meeting of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, and the cementing of their alliance against Octavianus. It's a very significant place to Christianity as well, being the birthplace of Saul of Tarsus, better known as St. Paul the Apostle.
Get in
| Note: Regional trains between Mersin and Adana via are suspended until 2026 due to construction of a tunnel in central Tarsus. Use intercity buses as an alternative instead and expect construction closures near the railway tracks. | |
An hourly regional train takes 50 min from Adana via Yenice, and continues to Mersin (another 35 min). Three of these per day start from İskenderun, and one from Islahiye via Osmaniye. Yenice 15 km east of town is a stop for the Kayseri-Adana train.
- 🌍 Tarsus railway station (Tarsus Garı), Yavuz Donat Bulvarı.
See
The city has lots to see from Roman and Biblical times, such as the Well of St Paulus.
- 🌍 Cleopatra Gate (Kleopatra Kapisi).
- 🌍 Saint Paul's Church. A historic church that is on the Tentative List to become a World Heritage Site.
- Roman Road (Roma yolu). A well-preserved stretch of ancient road.
- Old town. The old town has several cobbled lanes of traditional stone houses with bay windows on their upper levels.
- 🌍 Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami). The first mosque on this spot dated back to the 9th century, when the area was under the rule of Abbasid Arabs. The current structure is from the 16th century, commissioned by İbrahim Bey of the Ramadanids, a local dynasty vassal to the Ottomans.
- 🌍 Tarsus Waterfall. Water only after high rainfall
Buy
If you are wondering in the city, or if you somehow happen to be in the city, never ever forget to buy Cezerye: some kind of a Turkish delight that has a different texture and taste. You should for sure try shalgam too but you might not be able to see it due to it being a seasonal drink that is sour and bitter, refreshing though.
Go next
| Routes through Tarsus |
| Antalya ← Mersin ← | W E | → Adana → Gaziantep |
| Ankara ← Pozantı ← | N S | → Ends at |