Cidade Turismo
Turkey
Siirt

Province · Sudeste da Anatólia (Mesopotâmia)

Siirt

Siirt has the Botan Valley National Park, the tomb of Tillo where equinox sunlight reaches a sage’s tomb, the büryan, perde pilavı and Siirt pistachio.

In the photo: Botan Valley, near Tillo

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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The province

Get to know Siirt

Siirt lies between the Tigris River and the southeastern mountains, in a region of deep valleys. The Botan River cuts through the province in a canyon of high cliffs that forms the Botan Valley National Park, about 11,000 hectares, with waterbirds and remains of ancient stone paths.

In Tillo (Aydınlar), the scholar İbrahim Hakkı built in the 18th century an aperture-and-mirror system so that the first sunlight at the equinoxes would reach the tomb of his master, İsmail Fakirullah. The effect lasts a few minutes on the mornings of 21 March and 23 September when the sky is clear, and it draws locals and visitors; the tomb is on the World Heritage tentative list.

In Baykan, the tomb of Veysel Karani is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the southeast. Siirt is known for büryan kebabı, for perde pilavı (rice with roasted chicken baked inside a pastry), for Siirt pistachios, which are large‑grained, and for angora goat wool blankets (Siirt battaniyesi).

The provincial capital has an airport and is close to Batman, from where you can reach Hasankeyf. Many travelers combine Siirt with Batman and Bitlis on a trip through the Tigris valley and Lake Van.

When to go

March to May and September to November usually have mild temperatures. For Tillo’s light effect, the dates are the equinoxes, around 21 March and 23 September. July and August are very hot in the valleys.

Getting there

Siirt Airport (SXZ) is close to the provincial capital and handles domestic flights; Batman Airport (BAL), with more options, is about an hour and a half away. Tillo is about 10 km from the capital, and the Botan valley viewpoints are on the outskirts of Tillo.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Siirt

How to see the Tillo light effect?

It happens at sunrise on the equinoxes, around 21 March and 23 September, and lasts only a few minutes. Arrive early because the square and the tomb get crowded; the light depends on a clear horizon.

What to see in the Botan Valley?

The viewpoints near Tillo look over the canyon and the river below. To descend into the valley or do hikes, go with local operators or guides.

What to bring from Siirt?

Siirt pistachios, honey and angora goat‑wool blankets, sold in the town centre.

How many days to allow for Siirt?

One day is enough for the provincial capital, Tillo and the Botan viewpoints. Many travelers combine Siirt with Hasankeyf, in Batman.

Adana Adıyaman Afyonkarahisar Ağrı Amasya Ancara Antália Artvin Aydın Balıkesir Bilecik Bingöl Bitlis Bolu Burdur Bursa Çanakkale Çankırı Çorum Denizli Diyarbakır Edirne Elazığ Erzincan Erzurum Eskişehir Gaziantep Giresun Gümüşhane Hakkâri Hatay Isparta Mersin Istambul Esmirna Kars Kastamonu Kayseri Kırklareli Kırşehir Kocaeli Konya Kütahya Malatya Manisa Kahramanmaraş Mardin Muğla Muş Nevşehir Niğde Ordu Rize Sakarya Samsun Siirt Sinop Sivas Tekirdağ Tokat Trebizonda Tunceli Şanlıurfa Uşak Van Yozgat Zonguldak Aksaray Bayburt Karaman Kırıkkale Batman Şırnak Bartın Ardahan Iğdır Yalova Karabük Kilis Osmaniye Düzce
Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: Natural Earth (domínio público). Ilhas do Mármara e dos Príncipes: geoBoundaries / © colaboradores do OpenStreetMap (CC BY-SA). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.