Elazığ is a provincial capital in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, situated at around 1,000 metres above sea level in the upper Euphrates valley. Home to roughly 400,000 people in the city proper, Elazığ is best known for the ancient hilltop settlement of Harput — a ruined citadel with a 3,000-year history — and the magnificent Hazar Lake to its south, one of Turkey's most scenic natural bodies of water. The region produces some of Turkey's finest red wines from the indigenous Boğazkere and Öküzgözü grapes, and its lamb-centric cuisine reflects deep Eastern Anatolian traditions. Nearby Keban Dam Lake created one of the country's largest reservoirs, and the flooded valleys now harbour picturesque island castles like Pertek.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Öküzgözü / Boğazkere Wine
Price: 150–300 TRY (~$4.50–9 USD) per bottle
Where: Migros, A101 supermarkets; Harput wine shops
Harput Ceramics
Price: ₺80–400 (~$2.40–12 USD)
Where: Harput handicraft shops near castle
Local Honey (Yöresel Bal)
Price: ₺80–200 (~$2.40–6 USD) per jar
Where: Bazaar stalls and Migros
Dried mulberries (Kuru Dut)
Price: ₺30–80 (~$0.90–2.40 USD) per 250g
Where: Bazaar
Woven kilim or fabric
Price: ₺200–1,500 (~$6–45 USD)
Where: Harput handicraft shops and bazaar
Copper goods (Bakır)
Price: ₺50–500 (~$1.50–15 USD)
Where: Bazaar and Harput shops
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.