Topkapı Palace
The sultans’ palace on Sarayburnu: courtyards, the Imperial Council, the treasury and the terraces over the water. Dated entry, sold online on its own site.
Şanlıurfa Castle
The hilltop castle above Şanlıurfa, thought to be around 4,000 years old, with a legend of two columns linked to the story of Abraham; currently closed to visits.
On September 30, 2026 the Ministry’s listing showed this museum as closed to visitors. Check the official page before planning a visit.
About the museum
Şanlıurfa Castle stands on Dambak Hill next to the city centre. It is thought to date back to around 2000 BC, and some accounts place it on even older Neolithic remains. The castle played an important role during the Crusades, and the Ottomans repaired it.
It has an outer and an inner fortress. The outer castle has four gates, while the inner castle has 25 towers and a single gate. Two stone columns on the summit are said, in local tradition, to have been used as a catapult when Abraham was thrown into the fire. Behind the castle lies a neighbourhood known as Kırk Mağara, the Forty Caves, where every house has its own cave.
Some remains of the city walls also survive, including the Harran Gate, the Mahmudoğlu Tower of the Bey Gate, and stretches of wall and bastions.
Tips
- According to the official listing, the castle is currently closed to visits; check the official page for updates.
- The nearby lakes and old city are worth a walk while the castle is closed.
Questions
When is Şanlıurfa Castle open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 00:00 and closes at 00:00.
Can I buy tickets for Şanlıurfa Castle on this site?
No. This site sells no tickets. Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Dolmabahçe Palace are sold on our sister sites; for Şanlıurfa Castle, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Şanlıurfa Castle?
Şanlıurfa Castle is in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye — Yusufpaşa Mahallesi, Ptt, 5. Cd, 63100.
Nearby
Şanlıurfa
Harran Archaeological Site
The ancient city of Harran, south of Şanlıurfa, at a crossroads on the plain and linked by tradition to the prophet Abraham.
Şanlıurfa
Göbeklitepe Archaeological Site
A UNESCO-listed hilltop sanctuary some 12,000 years old, widely regarded as the oldest known monumental temple complex, near Şanlıurfa.
Şanlıurfa
Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum
A large modern museum holding the Balıklıgöl Man, the oldest known life-size statue, and finds from Göbeklitepe and the Harran plain.
More museums in Şanlıurfa
Istanbul tickets online
Four Istanbul landmarks, each sold on its own site by the agency behind this guide — dated entry and free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Basilica Cistern
Justinian’s great underground reservoir: 336 columns in still water and the two Medusa heads. Fast-track entry with a digital audio guide.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s cathedral, the sultans’ mosque and a working mosque again today. The ticket admits you to the upper visitor gallery.
Dolmabahçe Palace
A nineteenth-century palace on the water’s edge: the Selamlık, the Ceremonial Hall under its chandelier, the crystal staircase and the Harem.