Cheap flights to Elazığ
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Quick summary
Country
Turkey
Continent
Asia
Airport
EZS
Currency
Turkish lira
Time zone
UTC+3
Deals already spotted to Elazığ
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Eastern Anatolia
Elazığ travel, off the usual Turkish routes
Elazığ travel takes you to the side of eastern Anatolia most visitors skip: a castle said to be mortared with milk, a leaning minaret, a tectonic lake 216 m deep and pink marble shipped around the world. The modern city stands just over 1,000 m above sea level, like an inland peninsula surrounded by the natural Lake Hazar and several dam reservoirs.
A young city beside an ancient one
Elazığ began as Mezre, a hamlet near Harput, which an Ottoman governor turned into a garrison and administrative centre in 1834. It was later renamed Mamuret-ul-Aziz after Sultan Abdulaziz, became the capital of its vilayet in 1878 and a province in 1921, and took the name Elazığ in 1937. It counted fewer than 20,000 inhabitants in 1927 and more than 100,000 by 1970.
Harput
The Milk Castle and the leaning minaret
Five to seven kilometres from the city, the hilltop town of Harput is far older than Elazığ. Its castle, nicknamed the Milk Castle, stands on Urartian foundations with layers added up to the Ottoman period, and entry is free. Turks have held Harput since 1085, and minibuses run regularly between Elazığ and Harput.
Mosques and a rock church
The Great Mosque of Harput, built in 1156 under the Artuqid ruler Fahreddin Karaaslan, is known for its leaning minaret. The Kurşunlu Mosque has lead domes and an ebony pulpit, and the rock-cut Mary Church is around 1,800 years old.
Harput crafts
The craft bazaar sells eight-pointed caps, needle lace and copperwork. Another curiosity nearby is the Buzluk cave, which keeps ice in summer.
Lake Hazar
A rift lake that feeds the Tigris
About 30 km from the city (Sivrice is the main village), Lake Hazar covers more than 80 km², stretches roughly 22 km long and reaches 216 m deep. It is one of the sources of the Tigris, and its shores have hotels, campsites and fish restaurants.
The sunken city
Discovered in 1991, a submerged settlement of about 2.5 km² lies beneath the lake, with the Surp Nisan church, older than the 11th century, and the village of Gölcük. Boat tours let you see it.
On the water
You can dive, canoe, paraglide, water-ski or take a pedal boat; summer is the lake season. Minibuses run to Sivrice, but a hire car is the practical choice.
Around Elazığ
Dams, a ski mountain and pink marble
| Place | Why go |
|---|---|
| Keban Dam and reservoir | About 45 km away; one of Turkey's largest reservoirs, which has softened the local winters |
| Çırçır waterfall | Born during dam construction and described as one of the youngest waterfalls on Earth |
| Hazarbaba Ski Centre | Skiing from December to March, at 2,347 m |
| Golan thermal springs | Thermal springs for a relaxing break, easy to pair with the lake or a ski trip |
| Alacakaya | Source of the pink Elazığ marble, exported to 65 countries according to the tourism board |
The museum
Finds rescued from the Keban floods
The Elazığ Archaeological and Ethnography Museum holds finds rescued before the Keban reservoir flooded the valley, from Karaz pottery to Roman mosaics.
Before you go
Hours and fees change, so check the official Turkish museums website (muze.gov.tr) before setting out. The museum pairs easily with Harput in the same day.
Food
Şırın, lobik soup and Buzbağ wine
Turkish guides count about 150 local dishes. Start with şırın, a rolled pastry served with yoghurt, then lobik soup and a sweet pancake with molasses and walnuts. Buzbağ is the local red wine.
Where to eat
The city centre and the village of Harput have traditional restaurants and cafes; fish restaurants are mostly on the shore of Lake Hazar. Harput köfte, meatballs in tomato sauce, is another local dish.
Getting there
Elazığ Airport, about 10 km from town
Elazığ
About 10 km south of the city, roughly 15 minutes by taxi (to be checked). Opened in 1940 with a new terminal in 2012, it has flights to Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya, plus seasonal flights to Germany; from Istanbul, expect a flight of around 2 hours (to be checked).
Some guides say the Havaş shuttle no longer runs, so a taxi is the simplest option (to be checked).
| Journey | Approximate time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| EZS to the centre | About 15 minutes | Taxi; about 10 km south |
| Centre to Harput | About 10 to 15 minutes | About 5 to 7 km, frequent minibuses or taxi |
| Centre to Lake Hazar (Sivrice) | About 40 minutes | About 30 km east, by car or minibus (to be checked) |
| Malatya to Elazığ | About 1.5 hours | Bus, with frequent departures (to be checked) |
Getting around
Minibuses, taxis and a hire car
Elazığ's centre is a modern, spread-out city: buses, dolmuşes and taxis serve the districts. The bus station is south of the centre on the D300, and the railway has reached the city since 1934.
For Harput and the lake
Harput is reached by minibus; for Lake Hazar, Keban or Hazarbaba, a hire car is recommended, as public links there are limited.
When to go
Spring and early autumn
Spring
April to June, one of the two best periods for Harput and the lake.
Summer
Hot and dry, with average highs around 35 degrees C in July; the season for Lake Hazar and water sports.
Autumn
September and October, the other recommended season.
Winter
Cold and snowy, softened by the dams: January highs of around 4 degrees C and lows around -3 degrees C; skiing at Hazarbaba.
Trip planning
How many days, what budget, what formalities
Harput and the city
The castle, the Great Mosque with its leaning minaret, the Harput bazaar and the Elazığ museum.
Lake Hazar
A boat tour to the sunken city, a fish lunch and a walk along the shore.
Dams and nature
Keban, the Çırçır waterfall, the Buzluk cave or skiing at Hazarbaba in winter.
Recommended length
Three to four days for the city, Harput and Lake Hazar; Elazığ also combines well with Malatya and Diyarbakır.
Cost level
Low to moderate (to be checked): meals, minibuses and taxis stay affordable; accommodation and a hire car are the main expenses.
Entry rules and common sense
Depending on your nationality, an e-visa or an exemption applies: check the official site evisa.gov.tr and your own authorities (to be checked). Eastern regions may carry specific travel advice from some governments, so consult your country's official guidance before you travel. The January 2020 earthquake, centred near Sivrice, affected the province and districts have been rebuilt; the condition of some buildings may vary, so check before you come. In mosques and churches, cover shoulders and knees.
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In pictures
Elazığ in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Elazığ
Which airport serves Elazığ and how far is it from the centre?
Elazığ Airport (EZS), about 10 km south of the city, roughly 15 minutes by taxi (to be checked). From Istanbul, expect a flight of around 2 hours (to be checked).
How far is Harput from Elazığ?
About 5 to 7 km. Minibuses run regularly between the city and the hilltop town, and entry to Harput Castle is free.
When is the best time to visit Elazığ?
April to June and September to October. Summer suits Lake Hazar, while winters are cold and snowy, with skiing at Hazarbaba from December to March.
Is Elazığ an expensive destination?
No, the cost level is low to moderate (to be checked): meals, minibuses and taxis stay affordable; accommodation and a hire car are the main expenses.
How many days do you need in Elazığ?
Three to four days for the city, Harput and Lake Hazar. Elazığ also combines well with Malatya or Diyarbakır.
How do you get around Elazığ?
By minibus to Harput and by taxi in town; for Lake Hazar, Keban or Hazarbaba, a hire car is recommended.
What should you eat in Elazığ?
Şırın, lobik soup, Harput köfte, a sweet pancake with molasses and walnuts, and the local Buzbağ red wine.
Can you see the sunken city of Lake Hazar?
Yes, boat tours go to the city discovered in 1991 beneath the lake.
How much does a flight to Elazığ usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Elazığ drops below my budget?
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