Things to Do in Aksaray: The Complete Guide

Aksaray is the western gateway to Cappadocia, and it offers far more than most visitors expect: churches carved into the rock by Byzantine monks, caravanserais built by Seljuk sultans, Anatolia’s first village, Turkey’s second-largest lake and a volcano over 3,000 metres high — all within one province.

In this guide we list the 27 stops prepared by Neva Apart, grouped by category. Each item shows the approximate distance from our aparthotel in the city centre, and the links lead to detailed pages with history, photos, directions and visiting tips. If you are curious about the region’s past, start with our history of Aksaray.

Historical Sites

Historical sites in Aksaray: Seljuk and Karamanid mosques, the Crooked Minaret, the Zinciriye Madrasa, the Tomb of Somuncu Baba, Selime Cathedral, the Red Church, Çanlı Kilise and underground cities — with history, architecture and directions from Neva Apart.

• Selime Cathedral and Rock Monastery (About 37 km): At the northern end of Ihlara Valley, a rock-cut monastery with a three-aisled cathedral, kitchens and stables — one of the largest religious buildings in Cappadocia.
• Zinciriye Madrasa (About 100 m): Built in 1336 under the Karamanids, with a four-iwan courtyard plan and castle-like crenellated walls — the only historic madrasa still standing in Aksaray.
• Grand Mosque of Aksaray (Ulu Cami) (About 400 m): Built in 1408–1409 for Mehmed II of Karaman, Aksaray’s Grand Mosque pairs a Seljuk-style carved portal with a pointed-arched stone prayer hall.
• Crooked Minaret (Eğri Minare) (City centre, about 800 m): A red-brick Seljuk minaret built under Sultan Alaeddin Kayqubad I (1221–1237) whose pronounced lean made it the symbol of Aksaray.
• Red Church (Kızıl Kilise) (About 55 km): Near Sivrihisar village in Güzelyurt, a 6th-century church of reddish volcanic stone — one of the oldest churches in Cappadocia with a dome on a windowed drum.
• Çanlı Kilise and Rock-Cut Settlement (About 17 km): Near Akhisar village, a 10th–11th-century Byzantine church and a rock-cut settlement of courtyard mansions facing Mount Hasan.
• Tomb of Somuncu Baba (About 1.2 km): The Aksaray tomb of Sheikh Hamid-i Veli, known as Somuncu Baba (1331–1412) — the Sufi master of Hacı Bayram-ı Veli.
• Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City (About 31 km): Beneath the town of Saratlı in Gülağaç, an underground settlement of galleries, rooms and narrow passages carved into Cappadocian tuff.

Nature

Nature around Aksaray: Ihlara Valley carved by the Melendiz, the 3,268 m dormant volcano Mount Hasan, cool Helvadere, Lake Tuz — Turkey’s second-largest lake — and the Yaprakhisar fairy chimneys. Hiking routes, best seasons and access.

• Ihlara Valley (About 40 km): A 14 km canyon carved by the Melendiz River into the tuff of Mount Hasan, with frescoed rock-cut churches, a green valley floor and Aksaray’s best-known hiking trail.
• Mount Hasan (About 30 km (Helvadere)): A dormant volcano between Aksaray and Niğde whose 3,268 m summit makes it central Anatolia’s second-highest peak after Erciyes — the source of Cappadocia’s tuff and of Ihlara Valley.
• Lake Tuz (Salt Lake) (About 60 km (Eskil)): Turkey’s second-largest lake: walk on a dazzling white salt crust in summer, watch flamingo colonies and sunsets, reached from Aksaray via Eskil.
• Yaprakhisar Fairy Chimneys (About 37 km): At the northern end of Ihlara Valley between Selime and Belisırma, tuff cones with rock-cut rooms and a quiet Cappadocian village on the Melendiz.
• Helvadere and the Slopes of Mount Hasan (About 30 km): A town at about 1,350 m on the western slope of Mount Hasan, with a forest park, apple and cherry orchards and Byzantine churches — a cool nature escape.

Culture

Cultural stops in Aksaray: Aksaray Museum with 10,000 years of finds and its mummies, Güzelyurt (Gelveri), the town of Gregory of Nazianzus, and the Monastery Valley full of rock-cut churches.

• Aksaray Museum (About 3 km): Home to a 10,500-year-old skull bearing the earliest known brain surgery, the Ihlara and Çanlı Kilise mummies and the Luwian Aksaray Stele — 10,000 years of local history.
• Güzelyurt (Gelveri) (About 45 km): A hill town tied to Gregory of Nazianzus, with stone mansions, rock-cut churches, underground cities and the Monastery Valley — one of the most authentic towns in Cappadocia.
• Monastery Valley, Güzelyurt (About 45 km): Right below Güzelyurt, a quiet valley lined with rock-cut churches, chapels and dwellings — a peaceful Cappadocian walk.

Caravanserais and Inns

Aksaray’s caravanserais on the Seljuk “Long Road” east of Konya: Sultanhanı, the largest in Turkey; Ağzıkarahan, on UNESCO’s tentative list; Öresin Han; and Alay Han, among the first in Anatolia.

• Sultanhanı Caravanserai (About 42 km): Built in 1229 under Sultan Alaeddin Kayqubad I, with a 13 m marble portal and a kiosk mosque in its courtyard — the largest medieval caravanserai in Turkey.
• Ağzıkarahan Caravanserai (About 15 km): Built in 1231–1240 for Mes’ud son of Abdullah, with a richly carved portal and a kiosk mosque on four piers — a Seljuk inn on UNESCO’s tentative list.
• Öresin Han (Tepesi Delik Han) (About 24 km): A small, austere Seljuk caravanserai on the Aksaray–Nevşehir road, with no courtyard, nicknamed “Tepesi Delik Han” — the inn with a hole in its top.
• Alay Han (About 34 km): Attributed to Sultan Kılıç Arslan II, said to be among Anatolia’s first caravanserais, known in Seljuk times as the Pervane Ribatı and restored with its muqarnas portal.

Ancient Cities and Mounds

10,000 years of Aksaray: Aşıklı Höyük, the first village of central Anatolia; Acemhöyük, Purušhattum of the Assyrian Trade Colony Period; and Viranşehir (Mokissos), Justinian’s capital of Cappadocia Tertia.

• Aşıklı Höyük (About 25 km): Central Anatolia’s first known village, lived in by 30–35 generations between 8200 and 7400 BC: early farming, terraced mud-brick houses and the earliest known brain surgery.
• Acemhöyük (Purušhattum) (About 20 km): Seat of a “Great King” in the Assyrian Trade Colony Period, identified with Purušhattum of Akkadian and Hittite texts — one of Anatolia’s largest mounds, with the Sarıkaya Palace.
• Viranşehir (Mokissos / Nora) Ancient City (About 32 km): A Byzantine city at 1,500 m on the slopes of Mount Hasan, made capital of Cappadocia Tertia by Justinian, with 32 churches and 20 cisterns.

Food & Drink

Eating out in Aksaray: Belisırma’s riverside restaurants in the heart of Ihlara Valley and the cafés of Umbrella Street in the city centre, plus local dishes such as Aksaray tava, sıkma and bulama helvası.

• Belisırma Village and Riverside Restaurants (About 40 km): Halfway along Ihlara Valley, with riverside restaurants on the Melendiz, rock-cut churches and a name it has carried since 1476 — the hikers’ rest stop.
• Umbrella Street & City-Centre Cafés (About 300 m): Aksaray’s pedestrian bazaar street shaded by colourful umbrellas, the Clock Tower area and its cafés — a few minutes’ walk from Neva Apart.

Shopping

Shopping in Aksaray: malls, supermarkets and the city-centre bazaar for everyday needs during longer stays.

• Nora City Shopping Mall (About 1.8 km): Aksaray’s modern shopping centre for clothing, electronics, groceries and a food court — a practical address for longer stays.

Nearby

Parks and city stops within walking distance of Neva Apart: green spaces in central Aksaray for morning walks, breaks with children and cool evenings.

• Kılıçarslan Park (About 1.7 km): A green space near the centre named after Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan II, who rebuilt Aksaray — with walking paths and places to relax.

How many days do you need?

The city centre takes half a day; the Ihlara Valley–Selime–Belisırma route a full day; Güzelyurt and the Monastery Valley half a day to a day; and the caravanserais with Lake Tuz another day. See our 1-, 2- and 3-day Aksaray itineraries for a day-by-day plan and our Aksaray transport guide for getting around.

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

• Kültür Portalı – Aksaray (T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı)
• Wikipedia – Aksaray
• T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı – Müzeler ve Ören Yerleri

Image credits

• Green canyon and tuff cliffs along the Melendiz stream in Ihlara Valley – Andrada Boldis, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
• The Crooked Minaret and the nearby stone arch bridge – Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
• Güzelyurt town and reservoir seen from the Yüksek Kilise hill – GMM, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
• The muqarnas portal of the Sultanhanı Caravanserai – zolakoma, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
• General view of the Aşıklı Höyük excavation by the Melendiz stream – Joe Wallace, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
• Restaurants on the bank of the Melendiz stream in Belisırma – Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons