Halfeti

In 1999 this section of the Euphrates was dammed and half of old Halfeti was submerged. Many people and businesses relocated to "new" Halfeti, a few kilometres inland from the river. In recent years old Halfeti has begun to draw visitors.

There are direct dolmuş from Şanlıurfa, though these are not very frequent. Alternatively you can take a dolmuş to Birecik and from there take another dolmuş directly to Halfeti.
A dolmuş from Gaziantep to Birecik is 8 TL. (March 2016)
A dolmuş from Birecik to Halfeti is 5 TL. (March 2016)

Halfeti is very small and easy to walk around.
A dolmuş from lower to upper Halfeti may cost you 2 TL.

The Mosque of Halfeti.
The fortress of Rumkale, best viewed from the river.

River Cruise

While restaurants and probably hotels can arrange boat tours, your best option is to go to the Halfeti Marina (at the southern end of the village near the entrance/exit road). Prices should be calculated per boat. For example a boat with one person could cost 100 TL but if ten people are on the boat it should be 10 TL per person. Boat tours generally last half an hour, costing the boat operator a maximum of 40 TL.

There is a multitude of restaurants in Halfeti.
Riverside Restaurants: (south to north)

• Altinirmak Duba
• Hos Geldiniz Firat
• Asikan
• Firat Yüzer
• (Closed)
• Sini Duba
• Siyah Kösk Duba - Salim'in Yeri
• Cesm-i Han
• Taskonak
• Duba Baskan'in Yeri
• Beyaz Saray Yali

Be aware that the prices here are very expensive. A basic hotel will cost you the minumum of 80 TL a night.

• Gulkonagi Butik Hotel

  phone: +90 541 534 6219
  address: Orta Cadde 26

• Socrates Hotel Halfeti

  phone: +90 414 751 5022
  address: Eski Halfeti Simaliye Mah. Orta Cad. No:13/1