Batman is a city in Southeastern Anatolia, with a population of 492,000 in 2023. It's the chief city of an oil-producing area and is entirely modern. It's pronounced baat-maan, not like the name of the superhero, and in Kurdish is known by its older name of Iluh.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
This was the insignificant Kurdish village of Iluh until oil was discovered nearby: first the Raman field from 1940, then the larger Batı (meaning west) Raman field from 1961. They’re Turkey’s largest oilfield and remain in production, with decades of proven reserves. This quickly led to sprawling industry, immigration of labour and a rash of shoddy ill-planned buildings. It also made the new city a focus of ethnic tensions: Turkish central government sought a tight grip on a place too lucrative to be trusted to the Kurds. For starters, that Kurdish placename would have to change.
Buses, dolmuşes and taxis ply the main streets of this sprawling town.
1 Batman Museum, Barış Blv, ☏ +90 488 214 1051. Tue-Sun 08:00-17:00. Archaeological museum with three halls: one for the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, a second with items from the Ilısu Dam excavations and a third for the drowned village of Hasankeyf. (updated May 2026) Ulu Cami or Grand Mosque is by the railway station on 715th Sk. It was built from 1956 and is fairly plain. Yıldız Cami Kebir is a modern-style building, unusual for a Turkish mosque. It's 500 m northeast of the railway station at Atatürk Blv 81. Atatürk Parki has play areas and a pyramid-like monument. It's north of city centre on Turgut Özal Blv.
Photograph the "Batman" town sign, preferably at a point on the highway where it's safe to stop. Football: Batman Petrolspor were promoted in 2026 and now play soccer in TFF 1. Lig, the second tier. Their stadium (capacity 15,000) is south edge of the city. Hamams are traditional Turkish baths. There's half a dozen round city centre.
Turgut Özal Blv north from the railway station has the main strip. Along here are Cuma Usta, Çömçe Et, Diyar Et, Black Cafe, Mehmet Usta, Arturkbey Cafe, Sun Brothers Pizza, Gurme Kokoreç, Ciğerci Koçer, Saraygülü, Ali Usta, Heyran Gap and Amor Lounge. Ziyade Et Lokantası, 3240th Sk (off Firat Cd), ☏ +90 488 221 3434. Spacious canteen with trad dishes. (updated May 2026)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Nov, Batman typically sees ~19°C daytime highs and 4 rainy days.
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