# Dara, Turkey: what it is and when to go > Dara is an ancient city in Mardin Province, Turkey (Dara Antik Kenti). Interests: History. The best time to visit is April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 27. It has articles in 25 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/dara/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-08 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Ancient city in Mardin Province, Turkey · History - **Local name:** Dara Antik Kenti - **Where:** Turkey · Mardin Nusaybin Karayolu üzeri, Mardin - **Best time:** April to June and September to October. - **Nearest airport:** ESB Ankara, 765 km as the crow flies - **Coordinates:** 37.17898, 40.94267 ## What it is and where Dara is an ancient city in Mardin Province, Turkey (Dara Antik Kenti). It has articles in 25 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Mardin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/mardin/), where this site lists 11 more places to see, 23 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 37.17898, 40.94267; the nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB, Ankara), 765 km as the crow flies. How to get around Turkey (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=37.178985%2C40.942668) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=37.178985%2C40.942668) It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/historia/) places in Turkey. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Dara is **April to June and September to October**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 43 | | February | Possible | 10 h 37 | | March | Possible | 11 h 43 | | April | Best time | 12 h 58 | | May | Best time | 14 h | | June | Best time | 14 h 33 | | July | Possible | 14 h 19 | | August | Possible | 13 h 26 | | September | Best time | 12 h 13 | | October | Best time | 11 h 01 | | November | Possible | 9 h 58 | | December | Possible | 9 h 27 | In June there are 14 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 27. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Turkey in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Turkey To enter Turkey there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Spanish ID card (DNI) or passport with plenty of validity”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Turkey checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Turkish lira (TRY); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz (the same plug as in Spain); emergencies: 112 for everything (the same number as in the EU). In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Amudehüyüğü](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/amudehuyugu/): Archaeological site · 5.2 km - [Girharrin Höyük](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/girharrin-hoyugu/): Mound in Artuklu, Mardin, Turkey · 15 km - [Mor Hananyo Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/monasterio-de-mor-hananyo/): Monastery in Mardin, Turkey · 19 km - [Great Mosque of Mardin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/mardin-ulu-camii/): Temples · 23 km - [Mardin Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/mardin-castle/): Castle in Mardin, Turkey · 24 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Turkey guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/). ## More in Turkey: History - [Hagia Sophia](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/santa-sofia/): mosque, museum, and former church in Istanbul, Turkey - [Troy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/sitio-arqueologico-de-troya/): ancient Homeric-era city in northwest Asia Minor; it is known as the setting for the Greek myth of the Trojan war - [Temple of Artemis](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/temple-of-artemis-artemision/): temple in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - [Ephesus](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/efeso/): ancient Greek city in Anatolia - [Mausoleum at Halicarnassus](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/mausoleum-at-halicarnassus/): one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - [Blue Mosque, Istanbul](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/mezquita-azul/): historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey, also known as Blue Mosque Every Turkey place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/historia/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Dara? It is an ancient city in Mardin Province, Turkey (Dara Antik Kenti in the local language). It has articles in 25 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Dara? April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 27. ### How do you get to Dara? The nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB), 765 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=37.178985%2C40.942668) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Turkey is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Turkey map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Amudehüyüğü](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/amudehuyugu/), [Girharrin Höyük](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/girharrin-hoyugu/), [Mor Hananyo Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/monasterio-de-mor-hananyo/). The rest is in [the Turkey guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/124023954), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q585145), CC0. More about Dara on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dara_(Mesopotamia)). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).