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.
Uzuncaburç Archaeological Site
One of Mersin's best-preserved ancient sites, a former Hellenistic sanctuary town with a Temple of Zeus, a colonnaded street, a theatre and a tall tower.
About the museum
Uzuncaburç, about 30 km north of Silifke, holds some of the most important and best-preserved ancient remains in Mersin province. In Hellenistic times it was the place of worship of the kingdom of Olba, whose centre lay about 4 km to the east. In AD 72, under Emperor Vespasian, it was separated from Olba and became Diokaisareia, the City of the God-Emperor, an autonomous city with the right to mint its own coins.
The Hellenistic period left the Temple of Zeus Olbios, later converted into a church, a tall bastion and a mausoleum with a pyramid-shaped roof. Roman-era structures include the colonnaded street, the theatre, a ceremonial gate, a fountain, the Temple of Tyche, or Fortune, and a Victory Gate. A necropolis lies to the north of the city and was used through the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.
Set among fields and trees on a plateau, it is an easy site to walk through and a good place to see how much of an ancient city survives.
Tips
- Visit the Silifke Museum first for context, then drive up to Uzuncaburç.
- Bring water and sun protection; the site is open with limited shade.
Questions
When is Uzuncaburç Archaeological Site open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 08:15 and closes at 17:00 (last entry 16:45). Open every day.
Can I buy tickets for Uzuncaburç Archaeological Site 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 Uzuncaburç Archaeological Site, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Uzuncaburç Archaeological Site?
Uzuncaburç Archaeological Site is in Mersin, Türkiye — Uzuncaburç.
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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.
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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.