Payas

Payas is a district of Hatay Province in southern Turkey. The administrative center is the town of Payas, which is the district’s largest urban center. The district lies on the Mediterranean coastal plain and is connected to regional hubs by major roads, with economic ties to İskenderun and Antakya.

The area has a long history shaped by successive civilizations, including the Hittites, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. In the modern era, Payas grew from rural settlements into an urban-administrative district within the Turkish Republic, while maintaining rural villages and agricultural roots.

Payas features a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot summers and mild, wet winters. The landscape includes coastal plains as well as foothill areas and agricultural fields.

The economy is supported by agriculture—citrus fruits, olives, and vegetables—alongside trade, small manufacturing, and services linked to the nearby port complex and road networks. The district hosts traditional markets, mosques, and historical structures that reflect the cultural synthesis typical of the Hatay region.

Administratively, Payas District comprises several towns and villages governed under the district municipality, with the central administration seated in Payas town.