Savurkapı Bathhouse

The bathhouse's men's and women's sessions are divided into different times during the day. For men, there are time slots from 06:00-12:00 in the morning and 18:00-22:30 in the evening; for women, there is a time slot from 12:00-17:30 in the afternoon. These hours may vary depending on the establishment, so confirm by phone before you go, especially if you are coming from afar. In summer, many prefer the afternoon session to escape Mardin's heat.

From Mardin city center, you can take city minibuses to Üçyol Mevkisi or Artuklu Caravanserai, and then walk to the bathhouse from there. Since you will be passing through the narrow and uphill stone streets of Old Mardin, prefer flat-soled shoes. The bathhouse is located between the old government building and the Sabancı Museum, just above the Kervansaray Hotel. If you are accustomed to Mardin's historical texture at the foot of the castle, it is not difficult to find.

If you are only going for a bath, about 1 hour is sufficient. If you will receive scrub and massage services, the duration can extend to 1.5-2 hours. In Mardin, it is a sensible plan to dedicate one day to exploring the historical center and leave the bathhouse visit for the end of the day, in the late afternoon.

The bathhouse is just south of the Sitti Radviyye Madrasa. Visiting the madrasa, Artuklu Caravanserai, and the surrounding stone houses on the same day and ending the day at the bathhouse creates an efficient walking route in Mardin. Since the climb to the castle is tiring, making the bathhouse the last stop of the day is also a good idea to relieve fatigue.

Men's and women's sessions are at separate times, so it's advisable to call in advance to avoid going at the wrong time. The bathhouse is not a tourist show venue, but a functional structure used daily by local residents. Therefore, it is important to respect local rules and privacy. Materials like scrubs and peştemals (bath towels) can usually be provided on-site, but you can ask in advance to be sure.

The age of the bathhouse is based on the 1206 endowment inscription of the Sitti Radviyye Madrasa, which is right next to it. The fact that the bathhouse is mentioned first among the structures listed in this document leads researchers to believe that it was built around the same period as the madrasa, circa 1176-77. The structure, which has undergone numerous repairs over the centuries, reflects an early example of classical bathhouse architecture with its nearly rectangular plan and the triple scheme of changing-warm-hot sections.