Things to do in Mersin
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Mersin
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best months overall, with walkable sights, a warm sea from late May, thin crowds and the autumn citrus harvest.
Beach and highland season. Hot and humid on the coast, crowded at Kızkalesi, perfect for swimming and yayla days.
Mild, rainy cultural season at the lowest prices, with snow in the Taurus while the coast stays in double figures.
Early spring, with waterfalls strongest from snowmelt, empty ancient sites and a still cold sea.
Late September joins the best months, with a warm sea, thinner crowds and the Silifke festival.
What's on
- Mersin International Music Festival May into early June, dates vary by year
Classical and jazz since 2002, with concerts at Saint Paul's Church in Tarsus and outdoors at Kanlıdivane.
- Mersin Citrus Festival a weekend in November
The city's signature festival since 2010, with a parade of life sized figures built from citrus.
- International Tarsus Festival November
Tarsus's autumn festival of concerts, food and street events.
- International Silifke Music and Folklore Festival September
A long running folk dance and music gathering in Silifke, in the best swimming month.
- Tour of Mersin April
A multi day international cycling race across the province. Some roads close on race days.
- Slow Food Tarsus Earth Market every other Sunday, October to June
A plastic free producers market of seasonal Tarsus foods and handmade goods.
Best things to do in Mersin
Mersin Marina
The modern marina and promenade where Mersin spends its evenings, with boats, cafes and sea views.
Mersin Arkeoloji Müzesi
A bright chronological museum from Yumuktepe to Roman Cilicia that makes the province ruins legible.
Atatürk Evi Müzesi
A fine 1897 merchant house and garden where Atatürk stayed, showing how prosperous Mersin lived.
Soli Pompeiopolis Antik Kenti
A colonnaded Roman port street marching to the sea, best as a short sunset stop in Mezitli.
Mersin Deniz Müzesi
A compact naval museum fitting for a great port city, easy to pair with the archaeology museum.
Saint Anthony Latin Catholic Church
The Levantine church on Uray Street that anchors a walk through Mersin's 19th century merchant quarter.
Kızkalesi
A medieval castle on an islet offshore, reached by boat, and the enduring symbol of Mersin province.
Saint Paul's Church, Tarsus
The church and well cluster in old Tarsus honouring Saint Paul, who was born in this ancient city.
Where to stay in Mersin
Yenişehir
first trip, all round base
Modern, well lit and safe feeling, with the marina, promenade, museums and most hotels and restaurants.
Mezitli
quiet stays, families, longer visits
Residential and calm, with Soli Pompeiopolis and easier access west, at the cost of rides into the centre.
Akdeniz
authentic old centre on a budget
The Çarşı, Uray Street and cheapest eating outside the door, but noisy and congested with older hotels.
Think twice about
- Port and industrial waterfront east of the old centre
Working harbour and warehouse streets, deserted and poorly lit at night, with nothing a visitor needs. Visit by day and sleep west of it.
- Toroslar inland northern districts as a base
Far from the sea, the promenade and every sight, with few hotels. Conditions, not danger.
- Akdeniz market core as a sleep base for light sleepers
Noise, congestion, older hotels and chaotic traffic. A daytime district for most visitors, not a danger warning.
Best restaurants in Mersin
Borsa Tantuni
The polished modern tantuni address, doing beef, chicken and yoghurt versions plus künefe.
Memoş Tantuni
The old school tantuni counter on a busy street, fast and fiery, with decades of local loyalty.
Sofioğlu Fındık Lahmacun & Humus
Warm Hatay style humus and bite sized fındık lahmacun, served as a lunch to share.
Mersin Hatay Restaurant
The full Hatay table in a big Yenişehir dining room, from humus and muhammara to künefe.
Chefmezze Mersin
The marina meze and fish house for a long, stylish seafood evening by the boats.
İskele Marin Restaurant
Sea facing marina seafood praised for calamari, fresh fish and sunset views.
Rina Restaurant
The Mezitli waterfront seafood restaurant locals use instead of the marina, at kinder prices.
Kerebiççi Hayri Usta
A specialist shop for kerebiç under soapwort foam and cezerye, Mersin's two own sweets.
Outdoor things to do in Mersin
Cennet-Cehennem Mağaraları
Two vast sinkholes, one descended by 452 steps to a chapel, the other viewed from a glass platform.
Kızkalesi Halk Plajı
A long, shallow, sandy public beach facing the Maiden's Castle, calmest and cleanest in shoulder season.
Taşucu
The harbour for boat days to the Tisan peninsula and its clear twin bays and mosaic church.
Taşkuyu Mağarası
A cool, walkway lit show cave near Tarsus that makes a perfect midday break from the heat.
Gilindire Mağarası
A great cave ending at a still underground lake that mirrors its formations, above the Mediterranean.
Göksu Deltası
A Ramsar delta of lagoons and dunes for dawn birdwatching, with flamingos and turtle nesting beaches.
Kayacı Vadisi
A plane tree river valley cooler than the coast, made for long riverside lunches and stream swims.
Tarsus Şelalesi
A broad waterfall and tea garden park on the Berdan River, strongest in spring snowmelt.
Best hotels in Mersin
Divan Mersin
The city's best regarded five star, with sea view rooms, a spa and a hammam near the marina.
Mersin HiltonSA
The older five star landmark by Atatürk Park, with a large pool, spa and wide sea views.
Radisson Hotel Mersin
The newest big name five star in Yenişehir, with pool, spa and balcony rooms.
Navona Hotel
A mid range hotel praised out of its price band for cleanliness, staff and breakfast.
Forum Suite Otel
Suite style stays by Forum Mersin, good for families and longer visits needing space.
Sultasa Hotel
A large conference hotel in Yenişehir often priced below the international brands.
Pozcu Otel
A simple budget hotel in lively Pozcu, with cafes outside and the promenade a short walk away.
Is Mersin expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | TRY 1,800 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | TRY 4,000 a person |
| Splurge | TRY 9,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Taşucu: a few days ahead
- Chefmezze Mersin: a few days ahead
- İskele Marin Restaurant: a few days ahead
- Divan Mersin: a few days ahead
- Mersin HiltonSA: a few days ahead
- Radisson Hotel Mersin: a few days ahead
- Book hotels weeks ahead for June to August and for the Citrus Festival weekend in November.
- Reserve marina seafood houses days ahead for weekend evenings and sunset terrace tables.
- Arrange Taşucu boats and marina charters in person at the harbour a day ahead in season.
- Check Mersin International Music Festival tickets early for Saint Paul's Church and Kanlıdivane concerts.
Is Mersin safe?
- Mersin is generally safe, with pickpocketing in crowded places the named risk.
- Stick to well lit, populated streets after dark and avoid the port and industrial east at night.
- Summer heat is the real hazard. Hydrate and sightsee early or after 5pm.
- Swim only at recognised beaches and never at the Heaven stream or Tarsus Waterfall. Emergency number 112.
Mersin travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Swimming off the central city waterfront by the port, which is for walking and tea, not swimming.
- Kızkalesi in peak August, when crowds and litter complaints peak. Go in shoulder season.
- Shopping malls listed as attractions. Forum Mersin and Sayapark are useful, not sights.
- Yumuktepe mound as a visit. Its story is in the archaeology museum.
Getting around Mersin: public transport and more
- Use dolmuş and municipal buses along the two main boulevards, and taxis from ranks and hotel desks.
- Tarsus is the one day trip public transport does well, by regional train or bus.
- Rent a car for Kızkalesi, the sinkholes, Taşucu and Gilindire, all on or off the D400 coast road.
- Fly into Çukurova International Airport near Tarsus and allow about an hour by road to Mersin.
Who Mersin suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Mersin your trip
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