Mediterranean · Plate code 33
Mersin
Mersin has a long coastline stretching between the Çukurova plain and the Taurus Mountains. The sea castle of Kızkalesi, the Heaven and Hell sinkholes, Tarsus, birthplace of St Paul, and ancient Anemurium at Anamur are its highlights, and it is famous for tantuni.
Explore this province →Detailed guides
© YG01 · CC BY 4.0Historic · Erdemli
Maiden's Castle (Kızkalesi)
A castle on a small island just off the shore.
© Nabmj · CC BY-SA 4.0Nature · Silifke
Heaven and Hell Sinkholes
The huge Heaven sinkhole with a chapel at the bottom; beside it, the sheer Hell sinkhole.
© Dosseman · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious · Tarsus
St Paul's Well
The well believed to stand in the courtyard of the house where St Paul was born.
© U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Phelps · Public domainHistoric · Anamur
Anemurium
A Roman city by the sea with a vast necropolis and baths.
No places in this category.
Highlights
Places
Maiden's Castle
Heaven and Hell Sinkholes
Tastes
Tantuni
Cezerye
Local food and products
- Dish
Tantuni
Finely chopped meat cooked on a griddle and wrapped in flatbread.
- Product
Cezerye
A carrot-based sweet rolled in coconut.
- Dish
Kerebiç
Pistachio-filled semolina pastries served with a white soapwort cream.
When to go
June to September suits the sea. Spring and autumn are more comfortable for ancient sites and the sinkholes; summers are hot and humid.
Getting there
- Airports
- Çukurova Uluslararası Havalimanı (COV)
- Bus terminal
- Mersin bus terminal is east of the city, with regular buses to Silifke, Erdemli and Tarsus.