Mersin Province · Turkey
Tarsus travel guide
Tarsus is a city in Mersin Province, Turkey, home to about 347,000 people.
- Best months
- March to May and October
- Nearest airport
- COV16 km · Çukurova International Airport
- Currency
- TRYTurkish lira
- Time zone
- Europe/Istanbul
- Language
- Turkish
About
About Tarsus
Tarsus (; Hittite: 𒋫𒅈𒊭 Tārša; Greek: Ταρσός Tarsós; Armenian: Տարսոն Tarson; Arabic: طَرسُوس Ṭarsūs) is a municipality and district of Mersin Province, Turkey. Its area is 2,029 km2, and its population is 350,732 (2022).
Tarsus was so-named by the Hittites around 1700 BC, when it was already ancient. It stands on the Çukurova or Cilician plain, with sea access and routes inland, so it commands trade routes. Little is known of its early years as the modern city has paved over everything, but it was important during the Roman Empire. After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, the empire was divided between a triumvirate, a trio of rulers, and Mark Antony got the eastern portion including Cilicia.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Tarsus
See
- Grand Mosque
- Saint Paul's Church
- St Paul's Well
- Tarsus Museum
- Cleopatra Gate
- Tarsus Waterfall
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Tarsus
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Elif Hatun Konagi | 0.3 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Tarsus
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Tarsus are March to May and October. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; December is the wettest, with about 144 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Tarsus: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Çukurova International Airport (COV), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line; Hatay Airport (HTY, 138 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Çukurova Airport (COV) 15 km east of town is the region's principal airport, replacing Adana which closed in 2024. It has daily flights from Istanbul (both IST and SAW), Ankara, Izmir and other Turkish cities (including Ercan in Northern Cyprus) and seasonal holiday flights mostly from Germany and Russia. The airport has the usual facilities including car hire. Hourly buses run to Tarsus (45 min) and Adana. Tarsus is on Highway D400, which runs the length of Turkey's Mediterranean coat then continues away east to the border with Iran.
Getting around
The city sprawls but the main sights are within walking distance. You need a taxi to reach the waterfall.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
COV · Çukurova International Airport
HTY · Hatay Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Tarsus
Eat
There's a string of eating places along Adana Blv the main road through town, and another little cluster around the waterfall.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Tarsus: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Tarsus?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Tarsus are March to May and October. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; December is the wettest, with about 144 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Tarsus?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Çukurova International Airport (COV), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line; Hatay Airport (HTY, 138 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Tarsus?
Turkish lira (TRY).
Nearby
Destinations near Tarsus
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.