Turkey Tarsus Tours

Tarsus Tours explore a historic district in Mersin Province, set on the Cilician plain of Turkey's Mediterranean coast. The city's roots reach back more than three thousand years, and it is best known today as the birthplace of the Apostle Paul, a fact that has made it a longstanding stop for religious and historical travelers alike. Tarsus sits within easy reach of the wider Turkey touring circuit through the Cilicia region.

Centuries of Hittite, Assyrian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule left layers of history across the old town, where narrow stone streets and traditional courtyard houses still surround the newer city center. Tarsus is also closely tied to Cleopatra, who is said to have arrived here by river barge to meet Mark Antony in 41 BC, an event that later Roman writers turned into one of the most retold meetings of the ancient world.

Historic Sites in Tarsus

Cleopatra's Gate

Known locally as Kancık Kapısı, this stone gate is traditionally associated with Cleopatra's arrival in the city and remains one of the few surviving fragments of the ancient city walls, standing today at a quiet corner of the old town.

St. Paul's Well

Located near the presumed birthplace of the Apostle Paul, this well is a pilgrimage stop for Christian travelers and one of the most visited religious sites in the district, set within a small courtyard beside the surrounding stone houses.

Tarsus Waterfall

A wide, low waterfall runs through the center of modern Tarsus, framed by parkland and cafes, and forms one of the more accessible natural landmarks in the city, popular with local families in the evenings.

The Old Town

Streets around the historic core preserve rows of stone Ottoman-era houses with overhanging upper floors, along with the Ulu Mosque and several smaller churches that reflect the district's mixed religious history. Walking the old town on foot remains the most direct way to take in Tarsus's layered past.

Tarsus Day Tours

Tarsus is frequently visited alongside Adana and Mersin as part of a broader Cilicia itinerary, and organized routes such as the Daily Adana - Tarsus Tour from Hatay combine both cities in a single day.

Best Time to Visit Tarsus

Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable temperatures for walking through the old town, while summer heat on the Cilician plain can be intense during midday hours. Winters are mild compared to inland Anatolia, which keeps Tarsus a viable stop for most of the year.