Konya, a significant destination for faith and culture tours in Turkey, stands out as one of the country’s most historic settlements. Formerly the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State, Konya is renowned for its archaeological sites like Çatalhöyük and its striking historical architecture.
The city has been a crossroads of civilizations from the Hittites to the Ottomans, accumulating a wealth of historical treasures. Key landmarks include the Mevlana Museum, the tombs of Mevlana and Şems-i Tebrizi, and the Alaaddin and Sultan Selim Mosques. Beyond its rich history, Konya is also known for its natural attractions such as the pink flamingos at Tuz Lake, and the unique landscapes of Storks Valley, Beyşehir Lake, Akşehir Lake, Meke Lake, and Turkey’s only desert, all located within or near the city.
In this blog post, you will discover the 30 best things to do in Konya.
Table of Contents
1. See Mevlana Museum and Tomb
Mevlana Museum and Tomb, one of the important stops of faith and culture tours in Konya, is one of the oldest museums in Turkey, opened in 1926. It hosts the tomb of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi.
Famous for its eye-catching architecture and rich collections, the museum exhibits works about the Mevlana and Mevlevi order, as well as objects such as manuscripts, oil lamps, and antique musical instruments from the Anatolian Seljuk, Karamanoğulları, and Ottoman periods.
You should also see Mevlana’s sarcophagus, built in 1276. The sarcophagus decorated with geometric patterns and floral motifs is a cultural heritage waiting to be discovered.
Opening hours: It is located in Mevlana Museum and Tomb, which is open to free visitors every day of the week between 09:00-17:30 .
2. Visit Çatalhöyük Archeology Site
Çatalhöyük, only 45 kilometers away from Konya, attracts culture and archeology enthusiasts. This settlement, thought to have been built 9,000 years ago, became an active region during the Neolithic Age and the Copper Age. Çatalhöyük, which is visited with tours throughout the year, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012.
In Çatalhöyük, where excavations have been carried out for a long time, you can see thousands of years old pottery and daily items, and wander among the stone rooms and rock tombs. You can get interesting information with guided tours and you can easily reach it with Çumra minibuses departing from Konya Bus Terminal.
Author’s Note: I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes and take water with you when you go to Çatalhöyük.
3. Explore the Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden
Tropical Butterfly Garden, which has been one of the popular places in Konya since 2015, is a center frequently visited by tourists. Covering an area of 7600 square meters, the garden contains 20,000 plants of nearly 100 different species and thousands of butterflies of 15 different species.
Also, many different insect species are exhibited in the butterfly garden. Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden, which has the largest butterfly flight area in Europe, is located in the Selçuklu district.
Opening hours : You can visit every day between 09:00-17:00 except Mondays .
4. See Aziziye Mosque
Konya is home to dozens of beautiful mosques, and Aziziye Mosque, which is among the mosques I recommend you to see, is a masterpiece built during the Ottoman period in the 17th century. Located on Selimiye Street in Karatay district, the historical mosque was first built in 1676 and was redesigned in 1867 by Pertevniyal Sultan, mother of Sultan Abdülaziz.
Another important feature of Aziziye Mosque, which has a special historical importance as it is one of the last period Ottoman architectural works, is that it is a combination of Baroque architecture and classical Ottoman architecture. Aziziye Mosque, built with a single dome and double minarets, is a must-see structure in Konya for both architecture enthusiasts and history lovers.
Author’s Note: We recommend that you carefully examine the ceiling decorations and details of Aziziye Mosque. We believe that this way you can understand history more closely.
5. Visit Karatay Madrasa and Tile Works Museum
Karatay Madrasa, the symbol of Konya, is located on Courthouse Boulevard in Ferhuniye District. It was built in 1251 and was used as an education center for many years. The madrasa built with Sille stones attracts attention with its wall and ceiling decorations and Seljuk period workmanship.
At Karatay Madrasa, which has been serving as the Tile Works Museum since 1955, you can examine the historical building and visit the museum collections decorated with thousands of tiles.
Opening hours: You can visit it every day between 09:00-16:45, except Monday.
6. Discover Alaaddin Keykubat Mosque
Alaaddin Mosque, also known as Alaaddin Keykubat Mosque and located on Alaaddin Hill, one of the city’s most popular historical sightseeing spots, is a work worth seeing as the largest and oldest mosque in Konya. You will also have the chance to visit the tombs of 8 Anatolian Seljuk sultans in the courtyard of the impressive mosque, which started to be built in 1116 during the reign of Sultan Rükneddin Mesud I and was completed in 1221 during the reign of Alaaddin Keykubad I.
Alaaddin Mosque, built with cut stones and decorated with impressive wood and stone carvings reflecting the Anatolian Seljuk period, fascinates its visitors with the panoramic view of Konya from the hill it is located on. After visiting the mosque, you can also visit the tombs of the sultans and other impressive structures of Alaaddin Hill.
7. See Tomb of Sultans
Located in the garden of Alaaddin Mosque, one of Konya’s symbolic structures, and containing the tombs of 8 Anatolian Seljuk sultans, the Tomb of the Sultans is visited by thousands of people every year. In the inner courtyard of the mosque, Mesut I, Kılıçaslan I, II. Rükneddin Süleyman, I. Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev, I. Alaeddin Keykubad, II. Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev, IV. Kılıçaslan and III. You can visit Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev’s tombs, which were designed with decagonal cut stones and reflect the architecture of the Seljuk period with their striking domes. Sultans Tomb, one of the permanent addresses of Konya faith and culture tours, is completely filled especially on religious holidays and holy days.
8. Discover İnce Minare Madrasa
İnce Minareli Madrasa in Konya is a beautiful example of the stone workmanship of the Seljuk period. The madrasah, built in 1254, hosted religious education until the 19th century. It is an impressive architectural structure with its dome, lecture rooms, gate and tiled minaret.
You can see decorations, reliefs, and figures from the Seljuk and Karamanoğlu periods in the madrasah, which is now used as the Stone Works Museum.
Opening hours: İnce Minare Madrasa can be visited between 10:00-18:00 on Mondays and 08:00-18:00 on other days.
9. Visit Sultan Selim Mosque and Social Complex
Sultan Selim Mosque and Social Complex, a historical building from the 16th century Ottoman period, is located on Museum Area Street in Karatay district. The architectural masterpiece, whose construction started when Sultan Selim II was the governor of Konya and was completed in 1567 in about 9 years, is considered one of the most beautiful examples of classical Ottoman architecture.
Sultan Selim Mosque, which is architecturally very similar to Fatih Mosque, one of the most famous mosques in Istanbul, is worth seeing with its impressive interior decorations, half dome, and wood and stone carvings. Sultan Selim Mosque, which continues to serve today, is filled to capacity, especially on religious holidays and holy days.
10. Explore Alaaddin Hill
Alaaddin Mosque, one of the most impressive mosques in Konya, Sultans’ Tomb, where the tombs of 8 Anatolian Seljuk sultans are lined up, Alaaddin Hill, where you can visit the historical Alaaddin Fountain and impressive tombs, is also mentioned in historical sources from the 13th century as the place where the tomb of the famous Greek philosopher Plato is located. . You can spend a nice day accompanied by both historical treasures and fascinating Konya views on the hill, which you can easily reach with a short walk from Konya center or by public transportation.
11. Visit Kyoto Japanese Park
Kyoto Japanese Park is one of the most interesting and exotic spots in the city. This park will make you feel like you are in Japan with its Japanese architecture and plants. Located in the Selçuklu district, this beautiful park includes a pond, flowering gardens, camellias, and cafes.
During the summer in Konya, you can enjoy boating on the pond and immerse yourself in Japanese culture at a popular park on Karani Street, established in 2010. Beside the pond, there is a restaurant that offers Japanese cuisine, enhancing the cultural experience.
Opening hours: You can visit the park every day between 08:00 and 23:30 .
12. Visit Konya Archaeological Museum
In Konya, which has a rich history of thousands of years, the Konya Archeology Museum, where thousands of artifacts from the Neolithic Age, Early Age, Iron Age, as well as the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, are exhibited, is one of the first places that history enthusiasts should visit in the city.
In the fascinating collections of the Konya Archeology Museum, which was first established in 1901 as one of the oldest museums in Turkey and moved to its current building in 1962, you can have the chance to see priceless artifacts unearthed from excavation sites around Konya such as Çatalhöyük, Karahöyük, and Alaaddin Hill.
Opening hours: You can visit the Konya Archeology Museum every day of the week between 08:00 and 17:00 .
13. Explore Konya Kültür Park
Kültür Park, which covers a large green area of 150,000 square meters right next to Alaaddin Hill, is one of the largest green areas in the city. The park contains an amphitheater where cultural events and concerts are held at all times of the year, a flower garden decorated with hundreds of different plants, impressive sculptures, ornamental pools, walking paths, sports fields, and large children’s playgrounds. It is also very close to many historical buildings such as Mevlana Museum, Karatay Madrasa, and İnce Minareli Madrasa.
14. Visit the Sahib Ata Foundation Museum
Sahib Ata Foundation Museum in Meram district is a beautiful museum where you can see thousands of years of tradition and culture of Konya. The museum, which consists of a social complex built by the vizier of the Anatolian Seljuk State, Sahib Ata Fahreddin Ali, also includes the tombs of his family.
You can find more than 200 valuable works in the museum’s collection, especially the tile decorations and carvings from the Seljuk period that attract attention. You can also examine period clothing, antiques, jewelry, calligraphy, and handicraft products.
Opening hours: Open every day, except Monday, between 09:00-17:00 .
15. Climb Sille Seyir Hill
Sille Seyir Hill, also known as Selçuklu Seyir Hill, which provides a bird’s eye view of the historical buildings of Sille District of Selçuklu district, is one of the first places you should visit to take panoramic photos. The viewing area, which was opened to the public in July 2021, quickly became one of the most visited places by both the people of Konya and local and foreign tourists.
If you head to the hill in Konya in the evening, you’ll find a bustling spot favored by locals and tourists alike. The hill features over 100 camellias, various sports fields, children’s playgrounds, walking and jogging paths, and beautifully maintained rose gardens. There are also restaurants and tea gardens where you can relax and enjoy stunning views of Konya.
16. See Devil’s Bridge (Şeytan Köprüsü)
Devil’s Bridge, a 5000-year-old historical treasure of Konya, built between two steep rocks in Sille Village, still preserves its mystery. The impressive bridge, whose research has revealed architectural features from the Phrygian, Roman, Anatolian Seljuk, Karamanid, and Ottoman periods, was probably first built in the Neolithic Age.
Devil’s Bridge, which takes its name from the fact that it is not understood how it was built between its unique stone architecture and huge canyon walls, has become one of the permanent addresses of Konya nature trips and photo safaris with its unique beauty.
17. Visit Hagia Eleni Church (Aya Elenia Kilisesi)
Hagia Eleni Church, located in Sille Subaşı District in Konya’s Selçuklu district, is one of the historical addresses frequently visited by tourists. It currently operates as the Hagia Elenia Museum. This church, built by Helene the mother of Emperor Constantine in 327, was made with Sille stones and has preserved its architecture for hundreds of years.
Inside the building, an impressive iconostasis created by Istanbul artisans stands at the front. Some of the original icons have been lost, stolen, or are now housed in the Konya Museum. The structure is crowned with a central dome, supported by four pillars, and is decorated with frescoes and gold-printed plaster in rococo style from 1880. Around the entrance, you’ll find paintings of Saints Georgios and Minas on white horses, Christ Pantocrator atop the dome, and depictions of Emperor Konstantin, his mother Helene, and other saints around the dome’s wheel.
The vaults of the building are adorned with various biblical figures including the twelve apostles, four gospel authors, and scenes from the lives of Adam and Eve. The exterior features intricate brick decorations and a vault with zigzag, herringbone, and sun motifs, enhanced by slender arcs between the windows. Over the entrance, there is a Turkish inscription written in Greek letters. Previously used as a military depot and infirmary during World War I, the building has undergone restoration by the Selcuklu Municipality in 2013.
It is a place worth seeing for both history and culture enthusiasts and architecture enthusiasts.
Opening hours: You can visit every day between 09:00-17:00 except Mondays.
18. Explore Meram Vineyards
Meram Vineyards in the Meram district are approximately 10 km away from Konya center and are a popular place for day trips. There are cafes, restaurants, walking paths, and picnic areas along the Meram Stream. You can go pedal boating and canoeing in summer, and photograph beautiful views from historical bridges in autumn. You can also visit the historical buildings in the region. There are many great accommodations and dining options in Meram vineyards.
19. Cross Meram Creek Bridge
Meram Stream Bridge, located in Meram, the historical district of Konya and one of the most important historical structures built during the Anatolian Seljuk period, is one of the historical structures worth seeing in the city. The arched bridge, built with cut stones over the Meram Stream, stands out as one of the most special structures of Konya that has survived to this day.
The area around the bridge, from which you can take wonderful photographs of Meram vineyards, is very lively with tea gardens, cafes, and restaurants where you can taste traditional Konya delicacies.
20. Visit Konya Zafe Square
Zafer Square, the lively center of Konya, is ideal to start your tour with its historical buildings, shops, and dining spots. You can see the Seljuk Monument and Çapa Fountain in the square, and take photos of the columns decorated with the flags and reliefs of the Turkish states.
21. Visit Ecdat Park
Ecdat Park is one of the top parks in Konya, offering a delightful atmosphere where time seems to stand still. Two-storey wooden and stone architectural Seljuk and Ottoman mansions are lined up around an artificial lake. During your trip, you will have the chance to see many impressive structures such as camellias designed with classical Ottoman architecture, a historical port, Ottoman Street, Namazgah Fountain, observation towers, traditional Ottoman coffeehouses, and Bosphorus waterside mansions.
22. Visit the Mevlana Cultural Center
Located approximately a 5-minute walk from the Mevlana Museum and covering a large area of 100,000 square meters, the Mevlana Cultural Center is one of the best places you can go in Turkey to get information about Mevlevi culture, with its open and closed sema halls, exhibition halls, a library of thousands of books and a research center.
You can participate in many events such as Sema shows, conferences, and interviews at any time of the year at the cultural center, where Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi commemoration ceremonies are held every December and the world’s largest oil lamp is lit.
Opening hours: Mevlana Cultural Center, where you can also watch free whirling dervish shows held every Saturday at 19:00, is located on Aslanlı Kışla Street in Karatay district, the central district of Konya.
23. Visit Konya Atatürk House Museum
Atatürk House Museum, located on Zafer Street in Meram, the most visited tourist district of Konya, is a very impressive museum that we recommend you to visit during your travels. You can tour the halls and rooms decorated with period furniture in the museum, which was opened in 1982 after the restoration of a classical Konya mansion built with cut stone, wood, and bricks in the early 1900s, and the rich collections include photographs taken during Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s visit to Konya. You can examine personal belongings, period newspapers, photographs, historical books, and documents about the War of Independence.
Open hours: You can visit Konya Atatürk House Museum free of charge every day of the week between 08:30 and 17:30 .
24. See Eşrefoğlu Mosque
Eşrefoğlu Mosque, another impressive mosque worth seeing in Konya and located on Kale Street in Beyşehir district, is famous for being the largest wooden pillared mosque in Anatolia. Eşrefoğlu Mosque, designed as a caravanserai, tomb, bath, and social complex in 1299, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012.
The mosque, which is an impressive example of the wooden-pillared mosques found especially in the historical cities of Central Asia such as Samarkand and built with cut stones, also reflects the Seljuk architectural features with its domed architecture. The pillars of the mosque, which are worth seeing with their geometric motifs, plant patterns, stone, and wood carvings made with ocher paints, are also made of cedar wood. Eşrefoğlu Mosque, whose magnificent mihrab is decorated with tile mosaics we recommend you examine, is a masterpiece that you can add to your travel list as one of the most interesting examples of Seljuk and Islamic architecture.
Author’s Note: The fountain in the courtyard of the mosque is a sign of impressive Ottoman architecture and reflects the traces of the period.
25. Visit Melike Hatun Bazaar (Women’s Market)
One of the oldest trade centers of Konya is the Melike Hatun Bazaar, located in the Karatay district and named after Mevlana’s daughter, Melike Hatun. The historical bazaar is also known as the Women’s Market because handmade products produced by local women are sold. Melike Hatun Bazaar, which is very lively today, as it was for hundreds of years, and is one of the first places tourists visit for shopping, offers organic vegetables and fruits, nuts, spices, foods, and beverages specific to Konya, as well as hundreds of handicrafts produced in the villages and farms of the region. You can also find them together.
You can visit Melike Hatun Bazaar, one of the favorite travel areas of photographers with its colorful and lively stalls, to both shop and experience the historical atmosphere. The bazaar, which is a short walk from tourist spots such as Mevlana Museum, can be visited on Aziziye Street in Karatay district.
Author’s Note: We recommend you to visit this bazaar during your Konya trip. Here you can taste local flavors and find original gifts.
26. Visit Sille Village
Sille Village, located just 10 kilometers from Konya, has a history of over 5,000 years and is a favored spot for daily excursions. The village captivates visitors with its peaceful atmosphere, quaint cobblestone streets, and historic mansions built from stone and wood. Known for its unique ‘Sille stones’ quarried locally and used in various crafts, Sille offers a step back into a different era.
During your visit, explore the ancient city ruins dating back about 3,000 years. Key attractions include the Byzantine-era Hagia Elenia Church, Hacı Ağa Bath, Taş Mosque, and Subaşı Bath, as well as bridges and fountains from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Sille Village is easily accessible within a 10-minute journey from Konya Bus Terminal via minibusses or public transport, which run frequently. This picturesque village is a hub for photography, history, and cultural tours all year round.
Author’s Note: I recommend that you spare a day to fully explore Sille Village, which has a 500-year history.
27. See Sırçalı Madrasa
Another important Anatolian Seljuk period structure that you can visit in the center of the historical Meram district, approximately 40 kilometers away from Konya, is the Sırçalı madrasah. In the 13th century, in 1242, II. Sırçalı Madrasa, built by Gıyâseddin Keyhüsrev, was among the important educational institutions of its period.
Sırçalı Madrasa, which offered a spectacular view to the Seljuks with its freestone and wooden decorations as well as its impressive cut stone and rubble stone architecture, continued to serve as a madrasah until the early 1900s and is now a historical tour site open to the public. Sırçalı Madrasa, one of the most beautiful examples of madrasahs with open courtyards, is an architectural work that you should definitely see during your Meram trips.
Author’s Note: Sırçalı Madrasa is located right next to the Mevlana Museum. If you go to Sırçalı Madrasa, do not forget to visit the Mevlana Museum next to it.
28. Discover Konya Science Center
Konya Science Center, which is one of the must-visit places for families with children, hosts thousands of people every year with its interesting sections. The center has a planetarium, thematic exhibitions, observation towers, telescopes, laboratories, and a large library.
Opening hours: You can visit it every day of the week, except Monday, between 09:00 and 17:00 .
29. Visit Mevlana Square
Mevlana Square, the historical center of Konya, is a frequent tourist destination full of historical buildings. Many artistic and cultural events are held in the square. In addition to the most visited places such as Mevlana Museum, Mevlana Cultural Center, Sultan Selim Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques of Konya built by Selim II, and Yusuf Ağa Library, you can also have the chance to visit historical bazaars where you can enjoy holiday shopping.
30. See Şems-i Tebrizi Mosque and Tomb
The tomb of the 12th-century poet Şems-i Tebrizi, who has an important place in the life of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi and Mevlevi culture, and the Şems-i Tebrizi Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques in the city, can be visited on Şems Street in the Karatay district.
The mosque, which draws attention with its tomb with a dome design and impressive wooden decorations, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people, especially on religious holidays. Şems-i Tebrizi Mosque and Tomb, thought to have been built in the 13th century, is located a short walk from Mevlana Museum and Alaaddin Hill, so you can see all these historical treasures together.
