Centred around the “City of Honey”, Malatya Province is a mountainous region that forms part of Turkish Kurdistan. It has been inhabited since the development of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent around 6,000 years ago, with Bronze Age swords among the ancient archaeological findings on display at the Malatya Museum.
Things to do in Malatya Province
Vibrant modern cities, natural wonders and ancient archaeological sites - Malatya Province has it all.
Sightsee in Malatya. While Malatya has been settled by humans for thousands of years, it’s now a modern city renowned for its production of apricots. Browse the archaeological findings on display at the Malatya Museum and see vintage radios at the Radyo Gramofon Müzesi before strolling through the preserved ruins of ancient Melitene.
Visit Somuncu Baba Türbesi ve Külliyesi. A short drive north-west of Malatya is this centuries-old mosque, which preserves the tomb of Sheikh Hamid-i Veli Somuncu Baba, one of the “spiritual architects” of Anatolia. Gaze up at the 17th-century minaret before stepping inside the elaborately decorated mosque to see the wooden sarcophagus at its heart.
Admire the cascades of Günpınar Şelalesi. On the outskirts of Darende is the Ayse-zeki Doğan Memorial Forest, a protected area home to a multi-tiered cascade. Flowing down a rocky crevasse, it is fringed by observation platforms and picnic spots where you can soak up the views. Visit in the wintertime to see the stream frozen over, with the waterfall resembling the travertines of Pamukkale.
Soak up the Levent Vadisi Seyir Terasi views. Accessed via a narrow road, this observation deck offers sweeping views across the ancient Levent Valley. There’s a small cafe where you can grab a drink while marvelling at the valley’s impressive geological features, which include hundreds of caves where Neolithic remains have been discovered.
Getting around Malatya Province
Malatya Erhaç Airport is the main aviation gateway to Malatya Province and has flights to destinations across Turkey. Regular trains connect to the Malatya railway station and buses travel throughout the province. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around Malatya Province.