Things to Do in Konya: Mevlana, Alaeddin Hill and Catalhoyuk

Konya: the Seljuk capital and the city of Rumi

Konya sits on the wide plain of central Anatolia, calm and unhurried. Most visitors come for one name: Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, who died here in 1273. His tomb, and the Mevlevi tradition that grew up around it, still set the tone of the city. But Konya is more than a shrine. It was once the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk state, and the madrasas, mosques and stonework of that era sit within walking distance of each other in the centre.

The real surprise is what lies around the city. A network of day trips starts with the village of Sille half an hour away and stretches to Catalhoyuk in the south, Lake Beysehir in the west and the white salt flats of Lake Tuz to the northeast. One of the oldest known settlements on earth, a UNESCO-listed wooden mosque, a Hittite water monument and a Seljuk caravanserai beside a sinkhole lake all fall within one province.

The most common mistake is treating the Mevlana shrine as a photo stop. It is still an active place of visitation; people come to pray and pay their respects. Keep quiet, dress modestly and take your time inside. The second mistake is assuming Konya is a half-day city. Give the centre a full day, and set aside at least one or two more for the trips.

Quick answer

Konya is a quiet central Anatolian city visited for the tomb of Rumi, its Seljuk heritage and an unusually rich ring of day trips.

• Spend day one on the central four: the Mevlana Museum, Alaeddin Hill, the Karatay Medrese and the Ince Minareli Medrese.
• Sille and its dam recreation area make an easy half day.
• Catalhoyuk and Kilistra fill a day to the south; Lake Beysehir, the Esrefoglu Mosque and Eflatunpinar fill a day to the west.
• You need a car for the Tinaztepe caves, Obruk Han and Lake Tuz; December is the Seb-i Arus season.

1. The Mevlana Museum

This is the spiritual heart of the city. The building under the green dome is the tomb of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, who died in 1273, and now doubles as a museum. Inside are the sarcophagi of Rumi and those close to him, with manuscripts, prayer rugs and objects from the Mevlevi lodge. The old dervish cells around the courtyard have displays showing how life in the lodge worked.

It remains an active place of visitation, not just a museum. Most people come to pray, so keep your voice low, avoid loud phone calls and watch out for worshippers when taking photos. Cover your shoulders and knees; women are usually asked to wear a headscarf, and shoe covers go on in the tomb section. Both are handed out at the door.

Early morning is the best time to avoid crowds. During the Seb-i Arus season in December the whole area gets noticeably busier. Hours and entry conditions change, so verify the current details from an official source before you go.

2. Alaeddin Hill and Mosque

This gentle rise in the city centre is in fact a settlement mound thousands of years old, the earliest core of Konya. Today it is a tree-lined park where locals sit, drink tea and watch the city go by, and the tram loops around its base, which makes it the natural starting point of a walk through the centre.

On top is the Alaeddin Mosque, from the Seljuk period. Behind a plain exterior lies a dim, calm interior with rows of columns, and several Seljuk sultans rest in the tombs in its courtyard. Because construction stretched over a long period, you can read different eras inside: reused antique column capitals, an ebony minbar and a tiled mihrab section all share the space.

Modest dress and quiet are expected when you enter. The most efficient plan is to pair the hill with the two Seljuk madrasas at its foot, both a few minutes away on foot.

3. The Karatay Medrese (tile museum)

Just north of Alaeddin Hill, this closed-courtyard madrasa was built in 1251 for the Seljuk statesman Celaleddin Karatay. It now houses the Museum of Tile Works, but the finest exhibit is the building itself. The turquoise and deep blue tile mosaic lining the dome is among the best preserved examples of Seljuk tile art; daylight falls through the opening at the top of the dome, which once played on the pool below.

The star pieces in the collection are the star-shaped tiles excavated at the Kubad Abad palace on the shore of Lake Beysehir. Their human and animal figures are a rare visual record of Seljuk court life. The museum is small; thirty to forty-five minutes is plenty.

Have a look at the carved stone portal from outside as well. Opening hours and entry conditions change, so check the current information beforehand.

4. The Ince Minareli Medrese

On the western side of Alaeddin Hill, this madrasa was commissioned in the second half of the 13th century by the Seljuk vizier Sahip Ata. The slender minaret that gave it its name largely collapsed after a lightning strike in 1901; only a stub survives. What the building is really famous for is its portal. The interlacing bands of carved script that wrap around the doorway count among the boldest pieces of Seljuk stone carving, and the doorway alone justifies the visit.

Inside is now the Museum of Stone and Wood Works. The reliefs removed from Konya's old city walls are kept here, and the double-headed eagles and winged figures are the best known pieces. The space is small, so the visit is short.

It fits comfortably into the same walk as the Karatay Medrese. Seeing the two back to back puts Seljuk tile and stone work side by side.

5. Sille

Sille is an old stone village set in a valley about eight kilometres from the city centre. Greek and Turkish communities once lived here together, and that past is still legible in the fabric of the place: cut-stone houses, wooden balconies, narrow lanes and a small stream running through the middle.

The best known building is the Aya Eleni Church. This restored Orthodox church can be visited for the painted decoration on its interior walls. Around the village there are also old mosques, fountains and spaces carved into the rock, and short walks lead up the valley slopes.

Today Sille is where Konya goes to unwind at the weekend. Tea gardens and small cafes line the stream, and most visitors come in the afternoon simply to sit. A municipal bus or a short drive gets you there from the centre. Half a day covers the village and the church; it rewards a slow pace.

6. The Sille dam recreation area

In the valley above the village lies a small reservoir with a recreation area laid out around it. A walking path circles the water, with benches and picnic spots, and it makes a natural extension of a village visit. Water and greenery are scarce sights on the steppe around Konya, so the area fills with local families at weekends.

The loop around the lake takes about an hour at an easy pace. Early morning or the hour before sunset gives the best light and the coolest air. Shade is limited, so bring a hat and water in summer.

It is within walking or short driving distance of Sille village. Combining the two makes a full, balanced half day: first the stone lanes and the church, then a pause by the water. Access arrangements can change, and if you want to skip the weekend crowds, come on a weekday.

7. Catalhoyuk

South of Konya, near the town of Cumra, Catalhoyuk is one of the earliest known settlements in human history. Dated to around 7500 BC, this Neolithic mound preserves a way of living in which houses were built wall to wall and entered by ladder through the roof. Very early evidence of farming, herding and settled life was found here, and the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Shelters now cover the excavation areas, and visitors follow a set route. At the entrance there is a small interpretive area and a reconstructed Neolithic house. Since most of the finds are displayed in museums in Konya and Ankara, the site itself is more about scale and atmosphere, and it lands far better if you read a little context first.

The drive from the centre takes about an hour, and public transport is limited. Opening arrangements vary by season, so check official information before setting out. Kilistra fits into the same day.

8. Kilistra (Gokyurt)

Southwest of Konya, in the valley around the village of Gokyurt, lies an ancient settlement cut directly into the rock. Kilistra is a small rock-carved town where chapels, cisterns, tombs and shelters were hollowed out of formations that recall Cappadocia. The area lies on an ancient route associated with the journeys of St Paul and is usually mentioned together with the nearby ancient city of Lystra.

The cross-planned Sumbul Church, carved from a single mass of rock, is the best known structure. With its valley views, stone-built village and silence, this is a place you can expect to explore without crowds. Signposting and facilities are minimal, the paths are steep in places, so wear solid shoes and carry water.

It is about an hour's drive from the centre; public transport is not a realistic option. Paired with Catalhoyuk it makes a full southern day. Services in the village are few, so bring food with you.

9. Lake Beysehir

West of Konya, about an hour and a half by car, lies the largest freshwater lake in Turkey. Ringed by mountains, this wide, calm body of water offers a complete change from the steppe, with islands large and small, reed beds and fishing boats. The lake and its surroundings have national park status; you can walk the shore, and it is a known stop for birdwatching.

The town of Beysehir sits on the southeastern shore. With its waterfront, historic bridge and tea gardens it is a comfortable place for a stroll. Boat trips may run in summer, but schedules are irregular, and asking on the waterfront is the most reliable way to find out.

Sunset is the lake's best hour; with the western horizon open, the colours last a long time. Plan Beysehir not on its own but as a full western day together with the Esrefoglu Mosque and Eflatunpinar.

10. The Esrefoglu Mosque

Inside the market quarter of Beysehir, this mosque was built at the end of the 13th century under the Esrefoglu principality, and it is among the largest and best preserved of Anatolia's wooden-columned mosques. In 2023 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the title of the wooden hypostyle mosques of medieval Anatolia.

Inside, rows of cedar columns carry painted beams and a ceiling assembled with joinery rather than nails. In the dim light, the smell and depth of the wood leave an impression photographs do not carry. The snow pit in the central bay is an old device: filled with snow in winter, it kept the air humid enough to protect the timber.

This is a working mosque. Shoes come off, modest dress applies, and visits should be kept short around prayer times. A headscarf is appropriate for women. Entry is free, and the best light comes in late morning, when the sun filters through the stained glass.

11. The Eflatunpinar Hittite monument

Northeast of Beysehir, built over the mouth of a natural spring, this monument dates to the 13th century BC and the era of the Hittite empire. Reliefs of gods and goddesses, winged sun discs and hybrid creatures are carved into large stone blocks that rise above a pool. The spring still flows; the water was the reason the place was held sacred, and three thousand years later it comes out of the same ground.

The site is open-air and takes no more than half an hour to see. It is not a destination for a long visit but a striking stop along the way. Information panels are sparse, so a little reading beforehand pays off.

You reach it on village roads; follow the signs and check road conditions rather than trusting navigation blindly. The simplest plan is to add it to the return leg of a Beysehir day. There are no facilities, so bring your own water.

12. The Tinaztepe caves

In the Taurus foothills near Seydisehir, southwest of Konya, Tinaztepe is one of Turkey's significant cave systems. The section open to visitors has walkways and lighting, and the route passes stalactites, stalagmites and traces of underground water. Even on a hot summer day the interior is cold, so bring a light jacket and wear shoes with grip; the ground can be slippery.

The visit takes around an hour. There are stairs and sloping passages, so it may not suit anyone with walking difficulties. Light is poor for photography, and the place is better absorbed with your eyes than through a lens.

The drive from the centre takes about an hour and a half. Opening times and visiting arrangements change with the season, and the caves may close in winter, so confirm before you go. Seydisehir on the way makes a good lunch stop.

13. Obruk Han

Northeast of Konya, on the old caravan road between Konya and Aksaray, Obruk Han is a Seljuk caravanserai from the 13th century. Its cut-stone courtyard structure was one link in the chain of hans spaced a day's travel apart. What makes it unforgettable is its position: right beside it opens a huge collapse lake known as the Kizoren sinkhole. Ringed by sheer rock walls, this round lake holds dark, still water, and looking over the edge stops you for a moment.

Railings do not run the whole way around the sinkhole, so keep back from the rim and keep children close. Access to the interior of the han depends on the state of restoration work, and even seen from outside it is worth the drive.

It takes about an hour by car from the centre. If you are heading toward Lake Tuz, plan it as a stop on the way.

14. Lake Tuz (the Konya shore)

Lake Tuz, the second largest lake in Turkey, spreads across the meeting point of Konya, Ankara and Aksaray provinces, and a large share of its area lies within Konya. The lake is extremely shallow, and by late summer it mostly withdraws, leaving a white salt plain that runs to the horizon. At sunset the plain turns pink, and when water remains, the surface reflects like a mirror. Flamingos appear in some seasons.

Walking on the salt is allowed, but barefoot walking stings any cut and the crystals are hard underfoot, so sandals or an old pair of shoes are a good idea. Never drive onto the lake bed; the crust can hide soft ground and cars get stuck regularly. The glare makes sunscreen and sunglasses essential.

The drive from central Konya to the shore takes about an hour and a half. The best plan combines it with Obruk Han and times the arrival for sunset.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons. In April, May, September and October the weather is mild, and both the city sights and the open-air trips to Catalhoyuk, Kilistra and Beysehir are comfortable. Summer is hot and dry; walking exposed sites at midday is tiring, though the salt flats of Lake Tuz are at their widest in late summer. Winter is cold with snow, and trips involving caves or mountain roads can be restricted.

December is Konya's own season. The anniversary of Rumi's death is marked with the Seb-i Arus ceremonies, and the sema, the whirling ritual, is concentrated in this period. If you want to see the sema, December is the most likely time, but accommodation and tickets can fill up early. The sema is a religious ceremony, not a show; quiet and respect are expected. Performances may also be scheduled at other times of year, so check the current programme through official sources.

Getting there

Konya is easy to reach. High-speed trains run from the direction of Istanbul, Ankara and Eskisehir, and the station is close to the centre. There are also flights to Konya Airport, though the schedule is thinner than the trains.

Within the city the tram does the work: the line passes around Alaeddin Hill and reaches the Mevlana area. The Mevlana Museum, Alaeddin Hill and the Karatay and Ince Minareli madrasas are all within walking or tram distance of each other. A municipal bus runs to Sille.

For everything outside the city, a car makes a real difference; most of the sites have either no public transport or inflexible schedules. Grouping the routes by direction is the most efficient approach: a southern day for Catalhoyuk and Kilistra, a western day for Lake Beysehir, the Esrefoglu Mosque and Eflatunpinar, and a northeastern half day for Obruk Han and Lake Tuz. The Tinaztepe caves need a separate half or full day. With a rental car the whole network fits into two or three days.

What to eat

The signature dish of Konya is etli ekmek. Minced meat is spread over a long, thin sheet of dough, baked fast in a stone oven and served on a long tray, usually shared. You find it everywhere in the traditional oven restaurants of the centre.

The other classic is firin kebabi. Lamb is roasted for hours over low heat in its own fat, and the tender meat arrives on flatbread with a plain presentation. It is customarily a lunch dish, since many restaurants sell out early in the day. For dessert, ask about local options such as sac arasi and hosmerim; tea is the natural close to every meal here.

Frequently asked questions

**How many days does Konya need?** One full day covers the four central sights. With Sille it becomes a relaxed day and a half. If you want to add the surrounding trips, Catalhoyuk, the Beysehir route and Lake Tuz, staying two or three nights is the sensible choice.

**When can you see the sema?** The sema ceremonies are held most intensively in December, during the Seb-i Arus period. Programmes may run at other times of year, but the calendar varies. The sema is a religious ceremony; quiet and respect are expected, and applause is not customary.

**Is there a dress code at the Mevlana Museum?** Yes. Clothing should cover shoulders and knees, women are usually asked to wear a headscarf, and shoe covers are worn in the tomb section. Scarves and covers are provided at the door. Verify current entry conditions from an official source before you go.

**Do you need a car for the trips outside the city?** Mostly yes. A municipal bus serves Sille, but public transport to Catalhoyuk, Kilistra, Eflatunpinar, Tinaztepe, Obruk Han and Lake Tuz is either absent or very limited. A rental car lets you group the routes by direction and cover them in two or three days.

**What should you eat in Konya?** The two best known dishes are etli ekmek and firin kebabi. Etli ekmek is minced meat on thin dough baked in a stone oven; firin kebabi is lamb roasted slowly in its own fat over low heat. Try firin kebabi early at lunchtime, since many restaurants run out.