Things to see and do on a trip to Konya

Away from the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s busiest destinations lies one of the most culturally and historically rich cities in the country. There’s so much to see in Konya that it’s sometimes surprising it’s not better known: impressive museums, vibrant natural spaces alive with life and monuments that carry the city’s extensive history behind them.

If you decide to venture into this region, you will be surprised by its streets full of history and the friendliness of its people, always ready to approach visitors to the city. Lose yourself in the old town, discovering every corner, admiring the typical Konya madrasas and relaxing in the charming Kultur Park. We tell you everything and more in this article about all there is to see in Konya.

What are the best places to see in Konya?

1. The Mevlana Museum, a unique museum to see in Konya

If you’ve ever heard of Konya before arriving in the unique city, you may have heard of several different attractive sights, of which one in particular stands out: the Mevlana Museum, one of the main buildings in the old city.

It towers above the rest of the surrounding buildings, with a green dome that is a must-see, as well as an impressive façade that combines different artistic elements. But its interior doesn’t stop there, as you’ll find the tomb of Rumi, one of the greatest poets the country and the world has ever known.

He was buried alongside his father more than 800 years ago, in what is now known as his mausoleum. Over the years more rooms have been added to the main building, especially in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent. Among some of the most notable are the mosque next to Rumi’s tomb and a spectacular courtyard carved in marble. Mevlana is undoubtedly an unforgettable place to see on your visit to Konya.

2. Mount Alaeddin

Konya is a city that offers many charming corners and a unique history, among which we have to mention without fail Mount Alaeddin, a centrally located hill that not only offers magnificent views of the city, but also hides a beautiful park and a mosque much loved by visitors and locals alike.

The Alaeddin Mosque sits atop the hill, which was originally a church of Christian origin at least a millennium ago. Its interior is most remarkable, with a wooden finish and eye-catching tiles that delight all visitors, making it a unique monument to see in Konya.

In addition to the breathtaking views, Mount Alaeddin consists of a park with numerous archaeological remains, which add to the historical and cultural heritage of Alaeddin, where the various tombs of important historical figures of Konya and Turkey are also of particular interest.

3. The Kültur Park

Besides Mount Alaeddin, there are other spots where the natural beauty of this Turkish city shines and among them is the Kültur Park, a huge park that is very close to Mount Alaeddin, so it is definitely something worth seeing in Konya.

Filled with lush greenery, long avenues and several lakes, the impressive Kültur Park is an ideal place to rest after a long walk through the streets of Konya, and to take some beautiful photos in an enviable natural setting.

It’s in perfect condition, which is why the park receives so many visitors. It is also home to swans that bring the place to life, as well as a beautiful large mosque that occupies a large part of the park. It’s definitely a must-see place to visit in Konya if you want to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, and it’s especially worth a visit at night when fountain shows are performed here.

4. The historical madrasas of Konya

Away from the unique natural attraction of Konya’s fauna and flora, we come across three monuments of great importance that bring to life and perfectly represent the essence of the city. These are none other than the madrasas, ancient buildings that used to be centres of study and are now must-see buildings in Konya.

The first that comes to mind is the Inçe Minare Madrasa, very close to the Kultur Park and therefore to Mount Alaeddin. Erected approximately 8 centuries ago, it is characterised by the impressive portal that welcomes visitors. Today it houses the Museum of Stone and Woodwork, as well as an impressive collection.

Another of the madrasas to see in Konya is the Karatay Madrasa, just a few minutes from Inçe Minare. It’s truly impressive, with a striking stature and the stones that make up much of the main construction elements. Finally, you can also visit the Sircali Madrasa, which is located in the alleys of the old town and, like the two previous ones, dates from the 13th century. It is truly impressive for its interior garden and the two floors that make it up.

5. The Souk of Konya

Last but not least, there are some unique markets to see in Konya, far to the west of Mevlana and close to the Kapu Mosque, which dates back to 1658. Next to the mosque are the various spaces that make up Konya’s souk, mainly old buildings that now house the busy market.

Visiting this market is a real experience, with endless corridors forming a labyrinthine route of successive stalls, where all manner of goods are traded. One of the souk’s main attractions is the Kadinlar Bazaar, the perfect place to enjoy the essence of these typical markets in Konya.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see in Konya and its surroundings

Sille, a unique village to see near Konya

A few kilometres from enigmatic Konya is a beautiful village that has the makings of one of the most visited towns in the area. It is famous for its caves that are carved into the stone and the Greek influence that permeates the architecture of the place.

It is known to some as little Cappadocia and is a town steeped in history. Once the monumental Church of St Helena, it was built by Empress Helena, who decided to build a church entirely of stone. It is a landmark, crowning the main hill of Sille, from where the whole village can be seen.

The church now houses a museum which is well worth a visit on your trip to Sille. In addition to the church, there are several charming traditional stalls in the village. To get to Sille simply take one of the public buses, but you can also take a taxi.

Konya is an enigmatic city, full of charming corners and a historical and social importance that makes it a must-see destination in Turkey. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the must-see sights in Konya, we’ve put together a few tips on what to see on your visit.

To start your tour of the city, the best thing to do is to go first to the Mevlana Museum and then to Mount Alaeddin to admire the whole city from above. After that, you must visit the various historic madrasas in the old town and head to the souk. The last stop on your visit is the Kultur Park, where you can relax after a busy sightseeing tour of Konya.

Where to stay in Konya?

Sometimes planning everything that goes into a trip can be a bit tiring, so to make your stay much more enjoyable, we’ve put together a list of some accommodation for your days in Konya:

• Araf Hotel: A charming hotel, with a raucous design and colourful decor, that has everything you’d want for a great stay. It costs €100 for a weekend stay for two people.
• Hilton Garden Inn Konya: With the luxury and comfort characteristic of Hilton hotels, this accommodation is a real treat. The price is around €100 for two people for a weekend.
• Rumi Hotel: An austere hotel, with rustic decor and an excellent location for getting to all the sights to see in Konya. The price is around €150.

Where and what to eat in Konya?

Turkey’s world-renowned cuisine is undoubtedly one of the main attractions of travelling to the country. For this reason we have prepared a recommendation of some places where you can enjoy it during your visit to Konya:

• Celalbey etliekmek sube 2 1985: One of the most iconic restaurants in Konya, where you can enjoy the most delicious specialities of Turkish cuisine. The price per person is around 10€ per head or less.
• Kebapçi Dedeler 1929: This is another of Konya’s oldest and best-known local restaurants. Its gastronomic offer is enviable, being recognised by great chefs of the country. It is priced between 10-20€ per head.
• Ali Baba Firin Kebap: Our third and last recommendation, where you can enjoy all the Turkish gastronomy. The price is around €10 per head.

What should I consider before travelling to Konya

• The official currency of Turkey is the Turkish Lira.
• The best time to travel to Turkey is in spring or autumn, when the weather is milder. In the summer it is very hot.
• In small towns it’s not as common for credit cards to be accepted as in the cities.
• It’s best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as prices are high.
• The tap water is not safe to drink.
• From Spain it is not necessary to have a visa if you are travelling for less than 90 days, but you must have a valid passport and be able to justify with your hotel reservations that the trip is for tourism.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• The country is generally very safe, but just in case be careful with your belongings and be careful at the border with Syria.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Konya?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat. You can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference.
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map. You can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post.
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Konya in Turkey.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Konya