Private Dara Tour from Mardin: Ancient City and Kasımiye

Duration: Half day (about 5 hours)
Region: Mardin, Southeastern Anatolia
Walking: Easy
Starts: Morning, from your hotel

Best for Returning visitors

Tour code SEA-H01

The essence

A private Dara tour starts at the Kasımiye Madrasa, completed under the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım between 1457 and 1502, with a fountain and a pool in its courtyard. Then you drive 30 km southeast of Mardin to Dara, which Emperor Anastasius built in 503–507 as a military and administrative center of Mesopotamia.

Highlights

The Kasımiye Madrasa and its courtyard pool
Dara, built by Emperor Anastasius
A military center of Mesopotamia
A village on the ruins
A half day from Mardin

Program

4 stops, at your own pace Open the route in Google Maps

Morning

Pick-up in Mardin

Your guide and driver collect you.
Morning

The Kasımiye Madrasa

The courtyard, the iwan and the pool.
Opening hours & dress code
Late morning

Dara on the Dara tour

The ancient city and the village on its ruins.
Opening hours & dress code
Midday

Back to Mardin

From Dara on the Dara, we drive you back.

In depth

Below Mardin, the Mesopotamian plain holds an old military city of the Eastern Roman Empire. A private Dara tour takes you there in half a day, with a madrasa on the way.

Kasımiye Before the Dara Tour

An Akkoyunlu madrasa

First, your guide takes you to the Kasımiye Madrasa, begun in the Artuqid period and completed under the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım between 1457 and 1502.

The courtyard

Then you walk into its single courtyard, with two floors and one iwan around it. In the courtyard, there is a fountain and a large pool.

From our guides

Our suggestion Visit the Kasımiye Madrasa in the morning, when soft light falls on the courtyard and its pool.

The Ancient City on the Dara Tour

Anastasiopolis

Next, your driver takes you about 30 km southeast of Mardin to Dara. Emperor Anastasius built it in 503–507 and named it Anastasiopolis, as a military and administrative center of Mesopotamia.

A village on the ruins

Later, the Artuqids took the city in 1150, and the Ilkhanids largely destroyed it in 1251–1259. At the end of the 18th century, the present village grew up on the ruins. If you wish, you then go on 18 km to Nusaybin, where the Mor Yakup Church, begun in 313, is one of the oldest churches of Upper Mesopotamia. About 100 m away stands the Zeynel Abidin complex, whose mosque a tomb inscription dates to the 12th century. Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date, and we see both from outside unless they are open. After Dara on the Dara, the car takes you back.

Good to Know on the Dara Tour

The Kasımiye Madrasa takes its name from the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım Padişah. Dara closes on Mondays, so we plan your morning on another day. Both sites are open to the sun, so bring a hat and water.

Would you like to see Dara? Choose a morning, and we will plan the madrasa of Kasımiye and the ruins of Dara.

Before you go

Kasımiye Madrasa

Entry
We confirm the opening hours for your day
Dara

Entry
Ticketed archaeological site

Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.

What’s included

Included

A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
A private vehicle and driver for the day, with pick-up from your hotel
A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)

Not included

Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
Meals and drinks
Tips

“Everything was well organized, and Soner was always available whenever we needed anything.”

Armita E. · Read our guest reviews

From your guide

What to wear

A hat, water and comfortable shoes: Dara is open ground.

Best time

Spring and autumn.

Photos

The courtyard and pool of the madrasa photograph best in soft morning light.

Practical

Updated: October 27, 2026

Starts: Morning, from your hotel
Ends: Your hotel
Meeting point: Your hotel in Mardin
Walking: Easy: short walks on open ground.
Accessibility: The ground at Dara is uneven. Tell us your needs.
Cancellation: Dara closes on Mondays, so we plan another day. Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Dara on the Dara tour?

About 30 km southeast of Mardin.

Who built Dara on the Dara tour?

Emperor Anastasius, between 503 and 507. He named it Anastasiopolis.

Can we combine it with Midyat?

Yes, on another day, since Dara and the Kasımiye fill this one. See our Mardin and Midyat tour.

Can we add Nusaybin to the Dara tour?

Yes, as an option: the Mor Yakup Church and the Zeynel Abidin complex, 18 km beyond Dara. The day then becomes longer, and we confirm visiting status before your date.

Is it good for families?

Yes. The visit is short, and the walking is easy.

What is your cancellation policy?

Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.

How long does the tour take?

Half a day, about 5 hours. Because it is private, we can give the Kasımiye Madrasa more time and move faster through Dara.