Gaziantep
Turkiye's culinary capital
Gaziantep is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and arguably the best food city in Turkiye. From world-famous baklava to kebabs and beyond, your taste buds will be as happy as your smile after treatment. The city also boasts impressive Roman mosaics and a vibrant bazaar culture.
Gaziantep is a city that lives and breathes food. Designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, it is widely regarded as having the finest cuisine in all of Turkiye — a country already famous for its food. But Gaziantep is much more than a culinary destination. It is an ancient city with a history stretching back over 5,000 years, home to one of the world's great mosaic museums, a vibrant traditional bazaar culture, and a warm, generous population whose hospitality is legendary even by Turkish standards. Located in southeastern Turkiye, not far from the Syrian border, Gaziantep has developed a unique cultural identity that blends Turkish, Kurdish, and Arab influences into something wholly its own. The city is the economic powerhouse of southeastern Turkiye, with thriving industries in textiles, food production, and manufacturing, giving it a dynamic, confident character that contrasts with its deep historical roots.
Places to explore in Gaziantep
Discover the landmarks, attractions, and hidden gems that make Gaziantep an unforgettable destination.
Zeugma Mosaic Museum
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is one of the most impressive museums in the Middle East and a must-visit for anyone interested in art, history, or ancient civilisations. Opened in 2011, it is the largest mosaic museum in the world, housing an extraordinary collection of Roman-era floor mosaics recovered from the ancient city of Zeugma on the Euphrates River. The mosaics, dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, are astonishingly detailed and beautifully preserved, depicting scenes from Greek mythology, daily life, and the natural world. The museum's most famous piece is the 'Gypsy Girl' (Çingene Kızı) mosaic — a haunting, enigmatic face that has become the unofficial symbol of Gaziantep. The museum is thoughtfully designed, with mosaics displayed in context and accompanied by excellent interpretive material. Allow at least two to three hours for your visit.
Copper Bazaar & Historic Markets
Gaziantep's historic bazaar district is one of the most atmospheric and authentic in Turkiye. Unlike the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, which is heavily oriented towards tourists, Gaziantep's bazaars are living, working markets where local artisans and traders carry on traditions that have been practised here for centuries. The Bakircilar Carsisi (Coppersmith Bazaar) is the most famous section, where craftsmen hammer, engrave, and polish copper vessels by hand using techniques passed down through generations. The rhythmic ring of hammers on copper creates a musical backdrop as you browse trays, coffee pots, bowls, and decorative items. Nearby, you'll find sections dedicated to spices, nuts, dried fruits, textiles, and of course, baklava. The bazaar area also includes several beautiful historic hans (caravanserais) and hammams that have been in continuous use for centuries.
Baklava Workshops
No visit to Gaziantep is complete without experiencing its world-famous baklava — and the best way to do so is to visit one of the city's many traditional baklava workshops. Gaziantep baklava is made with locally grown Antep pistachios (considered the finest in the world), hand-rolled phyllo dough, and a light syrup that sets it apart from baklava made anywhere else. The best workshops have been family-run for generations, and watching the bakers roll the dough — stretching it impossibly thin, layering it with crushed pistachios, and baking it to a perfect golden crisp — is a mesmerising process. Many workshops allow visitors to watch the baking process and taste the fresh product straight from the oven. The warm, freshly made baklava — with its shattering pastry layers, fragrant pistachio filling, and delicate sweetness — is a completely different experience from the pre-packaged versions found elsewhere. The best-known baklava shops include Imam Cagdas, Gulluoglu, and Kocak Baklava, but every neighbourhood has its own favourite, and locals will passionately argue about which one is the best.
Available treatments
Best time to visit
March–May and September–November
Airport
Gaziantep Oguzeli Airport (GZT)
Free cancellation before 15 days
Medical tourism in Gaziantep
Gaziantep has a well-developed healthcare infrastructure, with several modern hospitals and private clinics. Dental and aesthetic clinics in the city offer quality treatments at very competitive prices. The city is particularly attractive for patients who want to combine their treatment with an extraordinary culinary and cultural experience. While it may not have the dedicated medical tourism infrastructure of Istanbul, Gaziantep's clinics provide professional, personalised care in a city that will make your recovery period genuinely enjoyable.
Culture & history
Gaziantep's cultural heritage is remarkably rich. The city's most impressive cultural attraction is the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which houses one of the world's finest collections of Roman-era mosaics. These exquisitely detailed floor mosaics were rescued from the ancient city of Zeugma before it was partially flooded by a dam project, and they are displayed in a purpose-built museum that does full justice to their beauty and historical importance. The city's Gaziantep Castle, perched on a hill in the city centre, dates back to at least the 2nd century BC. The Hasan Suzer Ethnography Museum offers insights into traditional Gaziantep life. And the city's many historic mosques, madrassas, and hammams reflect its important role in Ottoman culture.
Food & cuisine
Gaziantep's cuisine deserves a chapter of its own. The city claims to have over 400 distinct dishes in its culinary repertoire, and eating here is an experience that will reshape your understanding of Turkish food. The city's most famous export is its baklava — made with locally grown pistachios, hand-rolled pastry (so thin you can read through it), and a light sugar syrup that makes it distinctly different from baklava found elsewhere. But baklava is just the beginning. Gaziantep's kebabs are legendary — the lahmacun (spiced meat on thin flatbread), the beyran (a rich lamb soup eaten for breakfast), the ali nazik (grilled meat on smoky aubergine puree), and the kusleme (thin-sliced meat cooked on a large dome-shaped griddle) are all experiences in themselves. The city's street food culture is vibrant, with vendors selling fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice, roasted chestnuts, and stuffed flatbreads from morning until late at night. Every neighbourhood has its own bakery, butcher, and kahvalti (breakfast) spot, and eating out is central to the city's social life.
Where to stay
Gaziantep offers a range of accommodation from boutique hotels in converted historic buildings to modern business hotels. Several properties in the old town area have been beautifully restored, with stone-vaulted rooms, courtyard gardens, and rooftop terraces. The city centre is compact and walkable, so most hotels offer easy access to the main attractions, bazaars, and restaurants.
Getting around
Gaziantep's city centre is compact and can be explored on foot, which is the best way to discover its hidden culinary gems and atmospheric backstreets. The bazaar area, castle, and museum are all within walking distance of each other. Taxis are plentiful and affordable for longer trips. Gaziantep Oguzeli Airport (GZT) has regular flights to Istanbul and other major cities.
Recovery in Gaziantep
Recovering in Gaziantep means recovering with the best food in Turkiye — and that's not a bad deal at all. The city's compact, walkable centre makes it easy to explore at a gentle pace, and the combination of extraordinary food, fascinating culture, and warm hospitality creates a recovery experience that is genuinely uplifting. After your treatment, you can spend your days exploring the bazaars at a leisurely pace, visiting the Zeugma Museum, and of course eating your way through the city's incredible culinary landscape. The city's cafes — where locals gather to drink tea, play backgammon, and chat — offer wonderful spots to sit and watch the world go by during your recovery period.
Gaziantep at a glance
Travel tip
Take a guided food tour — there's much more to Gaziantep cuisine than baklava. The city centre is walkable and full of surprises around every corner.
Ready to visit Gaziantep?
Book your treatment in Gaziantep today. Hotel and transfers included. Free cancellation before 15 days.
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