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Voykit pocket guide · Türkiye (Turkey)
Eğil
Do Eğil as a day‑trip from Diyarbakır; 45 km north, about 1 h by dolmuş, no accommodation in town.
Eğil is a small lakeside town in southeastern Anatolia, best explored in a few hours. Reachable by hourly dolmuş from Diyarbakır, it offers free sights like the Prophets' Tombs and a modest castle. No hotels exist, so plan a single‑day visit and return to Diyarbakır for overnight stay.
- Country
- Türkiye (Turkey)
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (very hot, limited shade)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TRY
- Money
- Currency is the Turkish lira (₺, TRY). About ₺56 to €1 in late September 2026 — check; inflation was still in the double digits, so prices rise several times a year.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₺150–₺250 excl. bed · Mid ₺250–₺400 excl. bed · High ₺400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom sell tourist SIMs at airports (passport needed); they are dearer than in town shops — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Lokanta / simple café: Leave the coins or round up.; Sit-down restaurant: 5–10% in cash, even if the card machine does not offer a tip; check for a 'servis' charge first.; Taxi: Round up to the next ₺10–50.; Hamam: 10–15% to the attendant (tellak/natır).; Guide / driver day: €10–20 for a guide, €5–10 for a driver per day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₺50–100.
- Water
- Tap water is treated and chlorinated but tastes of it; locals buy bottled or 19-litre dispenser water. Restaurants charge for bottled water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets (alaturka) in older mosques and bus stops. Public toilets (WC) cost ₺10–30 — carry coins or small notes. Most toilets have a bidet spray; paper goes in the bin in older buildings.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in town café | ₺5–₺10 |
| Meal at local eatery | ₺30–₺60 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | ₺3–₺5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DIY · Diyarbakır Airport
- 30 min drive to town centre
Typical fares
- Dolmuş Diyarbakır ↔ Eğil
- ≈ ₺50 round‑trip, hourly 07:45‑16:45 (check)≈ ₺50 round‑trip, hourly 7:45 AM‑4:45 PM (check)
- Boat on barrage lake
- ≈ ₺30 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk to the tombs (2 km (1.2 mi)) and castle; a drivable road leads to the sites. No public transport beyond the hourly dolmuş from Diyarbakır.Walk to the tombs (1.2 mi (2 km)) and castle; a drivable road leads to the sites. No public transport beyond the hourly dolmuş from Diyarbakır.
See and do
Known for
- Prophets' Tombs (Eğil Peygamberler Kabri)
- Eğil Castle
- Devegeçidi Bridge
- Rock tombs along the Tigris barrage lake
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Diyarbakır | Dolmuş from Diyarbakır West Garage, about 1 h | ≈ 1 h each way |
| Ergani | Road north‑west, private car or taxi, about 45 min | ≈ 45 min |
Sleep
- None
- No visitor accommodation; stay in Diyarbakır or Ergani
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Affedersinizaffedersiniz |
| Thank you | Teşekkür ederimteşekkür ederim |
| How much is it? | Ne kadar?ne kadar |
| Where is the bus stop? | Otobüs durağı nerede?otobüs durağı nerede |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Merhaba' (hello) or 'Selamün aleyküm' in conservative areas; cheek kisses between friends of the same sex; avoid: Offering a hand to a conservative woman first — wait for hers
- Mosques: Covered clothing, headscarf for women, shoes in hand, quiet voice; avoid: Walking in front of people praying; visiting during Friday midday prayer
- Hospitality: Accept tea or at least a sip; bring sweets or pastries to a home; avoid: Refusing food repeatedly; showing the soles of your feet
- Politics and history: Listen; let hosts raise it; avoid: Opinions on Atatürk, the Kurdish issue, Armenia or Cyprus with people you just met
- Ramadan: Eat discreetly in conservative towns during the day; avoid: Eating, drinking or smoking in front of fasting people in small towns
- Gestures: A slight upward head nod with a tut means 'no'; avoid: The OK hand sign (can be read as rude) and a thumb between fingers
- Dress in town: Shorts are fine in Istanbul and resorts; longer clothes in the interior and east; avoid: Swimwear away from the beach
- Names: First name plus Bey (men) or Hanım (women): 'Ahmet Bey'; avoid: Using the surname alone
Scams and watch-outs
- Dolmuş runs hourly 07:45‑16:45 only; plan return before 16:45.
- Mobile coverage drops midway between Diyarbakır and Eğil; finish calls before departure.
- Sun is strong on the lakeside walk; bring water and sun protection.
Eğil is generally safe; main risks are sun exposure on walks and limited mobile coverage—plan calls before departure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Eğil yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Prophets' Tombs (Eğil Peygamberler Kabri)
- Eğil Castle
- Devegeçidi Bridge
- Rock tombs along the Tigris barrage lake
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Eğil, revision 5332276 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5332276
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Eğil
Bu adrese lütfen
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- General emergency112
US consulate in Istanbul; nearest Turkish embassy for other nationals in Ankara.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/egil). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.