Midyat State Guesthouse

This is a three-story stone house, not an ordinary mansion. On the lowest floor, there is a room carved out of the bedrock; you stand among real rock walls. On the second floor, there are three L-shaped rooms and a spacious terrace. The third floor is accessed by a narrow, tunnel-like staircase, and the terrace there is to the side, facing west. An old water well stands inside the kitchen structure in the courtyard. In this state, the building carries traces of past daily life.

You can go up to the roof from the third floor. Since the building is on a hill and three stories high, all of Midyat can be seen from here: stone-textured houses, minarets, and streets spreading across the slope fit into a single frame. The terraces on the second and third floors are also good for views, but during crowded hours, it becomes difficult to take comfortable photos in these narrow spaces. Go early in the morning; at that time, both the light and the space are more suitable.

Crowds are the main issue here. In the afternoon, the narrow corridors and small rooms quickly fill up, and some visitors have written that they couldn't move around comfortably inside because of this. Those who went early in the morning found the terrace empty and had no difficulty taking photos. Midyat is hot in the summer months; to avoid the midday heat, morning can also be preferred.

The guesthouse is in Midyat city center, marked by signs placed at different points in the city. It is easily accessible on foot or by a short taxi ride within the city. For those coming from Mardin city center, the journey takes approximately 75 minutes and can be done by bus or private car.

A trip to Midyat usually doesn't end at a single point. Hercai Mansion and the filigree museum, both near the guesthouse, can be added to the same day's itinerary; all three stand out for TV series filming or handicrafts. A little further away is Mor Gabriel Monastery, which is also one of the classic stops on a Midyat trip. The guesthouse, filigree museum, and old stone streets can easily be visited in one day.

There are comments stating that prices in the shops and cafes immediately around the guesthouse are high; some visitors have written that they paid 2-3 times more here. Some also say that sellers exaggerate the bargaining margin at the entrance. During crowded hours, congestion can occur in narrow passages, and those traveling with large groups need to be patient.

The entrance fee is reported as 100 TL, which is a municipal practice. Although some old sources mention much lower figures, the current price is around this. There are separate entrance fees for the nearby Hercai Mansion and the filigree museum. If you plan to visit several places on the same day, plan your total budget accordingly.