Mardin Airport Car Rental

Mardin Airport, officially Mardin Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar Airport (MQM), opened in 1999 and lies on the plain between Mardin and Kiziltepe. The stone houses of old Mardin are up on the hillside, Kiziltepe is down on the plain, and Midyat, Dara and Nusaybin are spread out in different directions. That is why most visitors spread their trip over several days and several towns.

If you are going straight to a hotel in old Mardin and exploring on foot, the HAVAS shuttle, a municipal bus or a taxi may be enough. Once Midyat, Dara, the Deyrulzafaran Monastery or Hasankeyf are on your list, Mardin Airport car rental frees you from bus timetables. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; summer on the plain is very hot.

Otorento shows offers from independent rental suppliers side by side: economy cars, automatics, saloons and SUVs, with luggage space, fuel policy and rental conditions for each. Prices and availability depend on dates, car group and supplier.

Location and getting around

The airport authority gives the distance to the city centre as 13 km. The table shows approximate road distances from the airport; drive times are traffic permitting.

HAVAS and Mardin Metropolitan Municipality buses run between the airport and the city, alongside taxis; check their current timetables before you fly. In Mardin, "city centre" can mean two places: the historic old town on the hill or the newer districts that spread down towards the plain. Knowing which one your hotel or meeting is in makes a real difference to journey time and parking. Midyat lies to the east, Dara and Nusaybin to the southeast, Diyarbakir to the northwest and Kiziltepe just southwest of the airport.

Picking up your car

How you collect the car depends on the supplier: some meet you at the terminal exit, others hand over the car near the airport or at an office in town. The meeting point and the supplier's phone number are in your booking confirmation.

• Flight number: add it to the booking so the handover can be moved if your flight runs late.

• Documents: your driving licence, passport and the card used to book. Foreign licences are valid in Turkey for six months from the date of entry; check your supplier's licence requirements as well.

• Deposit: normally blocked on a credit card in the main driver's name; conditions vary by car group and supplier and are shown before booking.

• Extras: add a child seat or an additional driver when you book rather than at the desk.

• Return: photograph the fuel gauge and note existing damage at pick-up. If you are driving back from Midyat or Hasankeyf on the day of your flight, allow time for the return and check-in on top of the drive.

Free cancellation and 24/7 support come with every supplier listed on Otorento.

Places to visit by car

• Old Mardin (approx. 17 km): honey-coloured stone houses looking out over the Mesopotamian plain, the Kasimiye and Zinciriye madrasas, the Mardin Museum and the bazaar along 1st Street (Birinci Cadde); best explored on foot.

• Deyrulzafaran Monastery (approx. 17 km): just east of the city and one of the most important centres of Syriac Christianity; easy to combine with old Mardin.

• Dara (approx. 44 km): an ancient city on the Nusaybin road, known for its rock tombs and underground cisterns.

• Midyat (approx. 79 km): stone mansions, filigree silverwork and Syriac villages and monasteries nearby; a full-day trip, and you can add Dara and Nusaybin on the way back if you don't mind a long day.

• Savur (approx. 63 km): a quiet town of old stone houses, good for a half day away from the crowds.

• Hasankeyf (approx. 121 km): the old town is now under the Ilisu Dam reservoir; some of its monuments were moved to a culture park in New Hasankeyf, in Batman province.

Driving and parking tips

• Old Mardin's streets are narrow, steep and stepped. Leave the car in one of the car parks along 1st Street and continue on foot.

• Staying in the old town? Ask your hotel whether a car can reach it and whether it has parking; some stone-house hotels are reached only by stepped lanes, so pack accordingly.

• In summer, choose a car with good air conditioning and visit open-air sites such as Dara and Midyat early in the morning.

• On holidays and in spring, 1st Street slows to a crawl and car parks fill early; start your day early or take a taxi up to the old town.

Thinking of returning the car in Diyarbakir or Batman? With Mardin Airport car hire, one-way options and fees depend on the supplier, so check mileage, fuel and return conditions before you book your Mardin Airport car rental.

Nearby locations

You can also compare car rental at Diyarbakir Airport, Batman Airport and Sanliurfa GAP Airport.