Getting Around Gaziantep: Contactless Cards, Tramway, Gaziray and Walking

Once you are in central Gaziantep, you will cover 85 percent of your sightseeing on foot: the entire historical zone stretching from Bey Mahallesi in the west past Gaziantep Castle into Bakırcılar Çarşısı, Zincirli Bedesten, Almacı Pazarı and Tahmis Kahvesi measures barely 1.5 kilometres end to end on gently sloping pavements. The only sight inside the city that requires a 10-minute ride or a 25-minute walk north-west is the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.

How to Pay on Public Transport: Tap Your Contactless Bank Card

Gaziantep's transit operator, GAZİULAŞ, accepts contactless Visa and Mastercard debit/credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay directly at all Tramway station turnstiles, Gaziray suburban rail gates and onboard orange municipal buses (and blue private city buses). You do not need to buy a local plastic Gaziantep Kart unless you are staying for a week.

Three Transit Links Between the Old Town and the Museums

1. The Gaziantep Tramway (Gar, Adliye / Burç Kavşağı / İbn-i Sina): runs right along the northern edge of the historic centre through 15 Temmuz Demokrasi Meydanı, Masal Parkı, Harikalar Diyarı and Gar (Main Train Station). To reach the Gaziantep Archaeology Museum from the Old Town, walk five minutes north from the Castle or Bey Mahallesi to the Demokrasi Meydanı or Valilik tram stop.
2. Reaching the Zeugma Mosaic Museum (Bus, Gaziray or 10-Minute Taxi): from the Old Town (Balıklı square) or the Train Station (Gar), you can take a quick 10-minute metered yellow taxi right to the museum gates on Hacı Sani Konukoğlu Bulvarı, ride orange city buses passing Mithatpaşa, or hop one stop on the modern Gaziray commuter rail line from Gar Station to Göllüce / Seyrantepe direction (or walk 15 minutes north from the Archaeology Museum through the park).
3. The Gaziray Suburban Train Line: a modern 25-kilometre electric rail spine linking the historic Gaziantep Train Station (Gar) with the northern and eastern districts through a 5-kilometre underground city-centre tunnel.