1, 2 and 3-Day Aksaray Itineraries

Most of Aksaray’s sights are 15–60 minutes from the city centre, so the most efficient approach is to stay in town and head out in a different direction each day. The routes below start and end at Neva Apart.

Times assume a car and a relaxed pace; without a car, see our Aksaray transport guide for buses, taxis and tours. Every stop is listed in our complete guide to things to do in Aksaray.

Day 1: Ihlara Valley and Selime

If you only have one day, choose Aksaray’s most famous route. Drive early to the Ihlara Valley (about 40 minutes), descend the 382 steps, visit the Ağaçaltı and Yılanlı churches and walk the valley-floor path to Belisırma (2–3 hours).

After lunch at the riverside restaurants in Belisırma, drive to Selime Cathedral at the valley’s northern end. Explore Selime’s rock-cut monastery and the Yaprakhisar fairy chimneys, then stop at Aşıklı Höyük on the way back.

08:30 Neva Apart → Ihlara Valley entrance
09:15–12:30 Ihlara → Belisırma walk and churches
12:30 Lunch in Belisırma
14:00 Selime Cathedral and Yaprakhisar
16:30 Aşıklı Höyük → 18:00 Neva Apart

Walking trail through the trees on the floor of Ihlara Valley — Photo: Jose Huwaidi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Day 2: city centre, museum and caravanserai

Spend the morning in town. From Neva Apart, walk to the Zinciriye Madrasa, the Grand Mosque and the Crooked Minaret, visit the Tomb of Somuncu Baba and have a coffee on Umbrella Street. Then drive to the Aksaray Museum for the Aşıklı Höyük finds and the Cappadocian mummies.

In the afternoon head west on the Konya road: Sultanhanı Caravanserai (about 45 minutes) is the largest medieval caravanserai in Turkey. On the way back, watch the sunset on the white salt crust of Lake Tuz.

09:00 Zinciriye Madrasa → Grand Mosque → Crooked Minaret (on foot)
11:00 Aksaray Museum
13:00 Lunch (Aksaray tava or şerbetli pide)
14:30 Sultanhanı Caravanserai
17:30 Sunset at Lake Tuz → Neva Apart

The courtyard of the Sultanhanı Caravanserai with its kiosk mosque — Photo: Robert Cutts from Bristol, England, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Day 3: Güzelyurt, Monastery Valley and the eastern inns

On day three, head south-east to the western gate of Cappadocia. See the Red Church first, then wander among the Church Mosque and stone mansions of Güzelyurt and take a 1.5–2-hour walk in the Monastery Valley. Stop at the Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City on the way back.

If you are continuing to Cappadocia (Nevşehir), swap this day for the eastern line: Ağzıkarahan, Öresin Han and Alay Han lie on the same road. Nature lovers can also choose Helvadere and Viranşehir (Mokissos) on the slopes of Mount Hasan.

09:00 Neva Apart → Red Church (Sivrihisar)
10:30 Güzelyurt: Church Mosque and Monastery Valley
13:30 Lunch in Güzelyurt (Gelveri bread)
15:00 Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City
17:00 Neva Apart

Rock-cut buildings in the Monastery Valley of Güzelyurt — Photo: Klaus-Peter Simon · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tips by season

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the most pleasant seasons for the Ihlara hike and the Monastery Valley. In summer, start early and spend the midday heat in the museum or a caravanserai; Lake Tuz is usually at its whitest in late summer. In winter Mount Hasan is snow-capped and the Ihlara steps can be icy, so non-slip shoes are a must.

Opening hours and fees of museums and sites change seasonally; check muze.gov.tr and kulturportali.gov.tr before you go. If you are curious about the region’s past, read our history of Aksaray before you set off.

Where to stay in Aksaray

Neva Apart offers fully equipped serviced apartments with kitchens in Aksaray city centre, a few minutes’ walk from the Zinciriye Madrasa and the Grand Mosque. It is an ideal base for day trips to Ihlara, Selime, Güzelyurt and the Seljuk caravanserais.

Browse our apartments, read guest reviews or contact us for bookings and route tips. Every stop is listed on our things to do in Aksaray page.

Sources

Image credits

Fairy chimneys and monastery cliffs above Selime village – Kharkil, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Walking trail through the trees on the floor of Ihlara Valley – Jose Huwaidi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The courtyard of the Sultanhanı Caravanserai with its kiosk mosque – Robert Cutts from Bristol, England, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rock-cut buildings in the Monastery Valley of Güzelyurt – Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1-, 2- and 3-Day Aksaray Itineraries