Central Anatolia
On the hill to the north of Sille stands the tiny Küçük Kilese. The chapel has been fully renovated and is now home to the Zaman Müzesi (Time Museum) with…
Must-see attractions in Central Anatolia
Safranbolu
The pretty Tokatlı Canyon is prime picnicking territory for Turkish families in summer, with a wooden walkway meandering down into the shady canyon depths…
Central Anatolia
Tokat's 5th-century castle was restored during the Seljuk and Ottoman eras but little remains today except the fine view. To get here, take the road…
Ankara
In the heart of the city, Gençlik Parkı has a lake and fountains (lit up after dark), colourful flower beds and plenty of space for kids to run about. It…
Ankara
The Alaettin Cami is the oldest mosque in Ankara, dating from the 12th century, but has been extensively rebuilt. Another full restoration was ongoing in…
Central Anatolia
About 250m south of the lower city and temple ruins the road forks; take the right fork and follow the winding road up the hillside. On your left in the…
Central Anatolia
The Yaşayan ('Living') Museum is dedicated to preserving and educating visitors on the customs, arts and crafts of Turkey. The rooms, in a restored…
Konya
Sponsored by the Seljuk vizier Bedreddin Muhlis, the 13th-century Sırçalı Medrese was named after its tiled exterior. Inside, in the courtyard, some of…
Central Anatolia
This Ottoman-era han (caravanserai), with its timber and white-plaster facade, is still used as shop space for traders. Inside plenty of spice sellers…
Central Anatolia
Two blocks south of Cumhuriyet Meydanı, the 19th-century Latifoğlu Konağı is a fine example of baroque architecture in the Ottoman style. The rooms have…
Ankara
The huge outline of Kocatepe Cami is the symbol of Ankara. It is one of the world's largest mosques but it is also a modern addition, built between 1967…
Central Anatolia
The enormous 16th-century Ottoman Deveciler Hanı is one of Tokat's finest caravanserais. A long restoration of the building has finished and although its…
Konya
This stately mosque, with its huge dome and intricately carved minber (pulpit), dates from the 14th century, but is built on the site of an earlier 12th…
Central Anatolia
Past the fruit-and-vegetable market's squiggle of streets, directly across from the Taş Han, is the Meydan Cami and vaulted Gülbahar Hatun İmareti dating…
Central Anatolia
Follow the signs from the central square on Cumhuriyet Caddesi to the Saat Kulesi from where there are excellent panoramic views over the red roofs of…
Central Anatolia
Atatürk once visited this grand building in its former incarnation as Kastamonu's town hall. It then became a wonderfully atmospheric hotel but since its…
Central Anatolia
The 16th-century Takyeciler Cami features the nine-domed style of great Ottoman mosques. Heading up Sulusokak Caddesi from GOP Bulvarı, it's just after…
Ankara
Located in an old train depot, this huge artists' park and gallery exhibits modern and challenging art from across Europe, plus there's an excellent cafe…
Central Anatolia
As you climb out of Boğazkale to the site, an evocative reconstruction of a section of city wall comes into view allowing you a sense of what the…
Central Anatolia
Upon the top of this rock outcrop are the remains of the Yenıce Kale, which may have been a royal residence or small temple. You can climb to the summit…
Ankara
This huge modern mosque, with a capacity of up to 7000 worshippers, was built in 2017 in traditional Ottoman style. It's a major landmark on Atatürk…
Central Anatolia
At Nişantaş a rock with a faintly visible Hittite inscription cut into it narrates the deeds of Suppiluliuma II (1215–1200 BC), the final Hittite king.
Konya
The little-visited Ethnographic Museum has a good collection of Ottoman craftwork although some of the exhibits do look a little dusty and unloved.
Central Anatolia
In the adjoining garden of this small 17th-century mosque are five graves, including that of the mosque's founder Haji Agha Mustafa Bey.
Ankara
Except for a couple of imposing, inscribed walls, not much remains of this temple (AD 25) built to honour the Roman emperor Augustus.
Central Anatolia
This octagonal Seljuk tomb dates from 1291 and is a few hundred metres north of the Taş Han.
Konya
Konya's most prominent mosque is the Selimiye Cami, built between 1566 and 1574 when Sultan Selim II was the governor of Konya.
Safranbolu
Set in Çarşı's central square, the Kazdağlıoğulu Cami is a typical Ottoman-style mosque, built in 1779.
Central Anatolia
This squat Ottoman mosque (1580) was constructed by Sultan Murat III's grand vizier Mahmut Paşa.
Safranbolu
This cliff-top cafe with a glass platform suspended from the cliff edge, 80m above the Tokatlı Canyon, is a favourite with tourist groups. Be aware that…
Ankara
Houses the Museum of Science & Technology and the Museum of the War of Independence, although both hold little interest for non-Turkish speakers.
Central Anatolia
This 14th-century octagonal türbe (tomb) was built for Ahi Emir Ahmed, a Sufi leader from Khorasan who spent the last half of his life in Sivas.
Ankara
This large equestrian statue, erected to honour the soldiers of the War of Independence is a good landmark to get your bearings while exploring Ulus.
Ankara
Erected in honour of Roman emperor Julian the Apostate's visit to Ankara, the Column of Julian sits in a square ringed by government buildings.
Ankara
Kızılay's Confidence Monument, erected in 1935, is a good landmark to get your bearings by when first arriving in the district.
Central Anatolia
Boğazkale's small mosque is a good landmark in the village (though it's extremely difficult to get lost in Boğazkale).
Ankara
From Hisarparkı Caddesi, you can view the sparse remains of a Roman theatre from around 200 to 100 BC.
Central Anatolia
The bulky yellow-stone Paşa Cami is a very new mosque by Sivas standards – built in 1805.
