Things to Do in Konya

Is a day trip to Konya possible? Of course, it is, but if you can dedicate two days, it would be much better. Spending more time at certain spots or visiting some places I couldn’t go due to time limit would have been nice.

First, I must say that Konya offers much more than I expected, both in terms of historical buildings and the overall texture of the city. Old houses, narrow streets, and the architecture of the madrasas are quite beautiful. There are large green areas in many spots where you can take a break. Additionally, perhaps due to its history, the city is more conservative compared to others, but if you’re not conservative, there’s nothing that would make you feel uncomfortable. In my opinion, Mevlana’s peaceful and unifying messages still have a lasting effect on the city.

Getting to Konya

It’s possible to fly directly to Konya from Istanbul and many other cities. You can also travel by train from Istanbul, but even though it’s a high-speed train, the trip takes about 4 hours, which is not ideal for a day trip. There is also a high-speed train from Ankara (2 hour trip) and a train from Izmır (12 hour night trip). Of course, you can reach Konya by buses from many cities.

Places to Visit in Konya

In Konya, the Museum Pass is accepted at nearly all museums and madrasas, and many places are closed for lunch (12:30-13:30).

Karatay Madrasa

This was our first stop. It’s a structure from the Seljuk period. The dome is quite beautiful, but the ceramic works displayed in the museum, unfortunately, didn’t capture much attention after seeing similar works at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. In the triangles connecting to the dome, the names of four prophets are inscribed.

Alaaddin Hill and Mosque

Despite its name, don’t expect a tall hill; it’s more of a small mound. The park around the mosque was filled with colorful flowers when we visited in spring, and it looked quite beautiful. Unfortunately, we couldn’t explore the mosque much as it was under restoration.

Ince Minaret Madrasa

If you have to choose between madrasas, I recommend opting for this one. The structure is more beautiful both inside and out compared to others. Both Karatay and Ince Minaret madrasas are very close to Alaaddin Hill. The madrasa’s taçkapı (main entrance) showcases amazing Seljuk craftsmanship. Inside, you can see examples of tombstones and wooden door and window panels. The double-headed eagle symbol of the Turkish Air Force also originates from a work found in this madrasa.

Atatürk Boulevard

Along this boulevard, you’ll find Atatürk’s house and statue, but what I recommend more is the beautiful architecture of the houses and especially Konya High School at the end of the boulevard, which is worth seeing. Along the way, I noticed the Konya Maturation Institute, the Chamber of Architects, and a house with a Bim store that caught my attention.

Konya Archaeology Museum

In the museum’s garden, you’ll find sarcophagi and carved stone works. Inside, you can also see examples of sarcophagi and prehistoric artifacts.

Sahibi Ata Museum

Entry to this museum is free. The doors from the Seljuk period, without a single nail, and the rugs and carpets from the same era caught my attention. Additionally, there are handwritten Qur’an examples.

Sheikh Sherafettin and Shams-i Tabrizi Mosques

These two mosques are quite close to each other. You can take a break in the green area in front of Sheikh Sherafettin Mosque. It was originally built by Sheikh Sherafettin in the 12th century but was completely demolished and rebuilt in 1336. We only viewed the mosques from the outside, but it is recommended to see the interior of Shams-i Tabrizi Mosque.

Aziziye Mosque

This Baroque-style mosque is quite ornate both inside and out. Its final version was built by Pertevniyal Valide Sultan for her son Sultan Abdulaziz, which is why it’s called Aziziye Mosque.

Mevlana Museum

We saved Mevlana Museum for last, but it’s definitely one of the first places you should visit. Inside the museum, you’ll find dervish belongings, valuable manuscripts, tombs of dervishes and Mevlana himself, as well as displays showing dervish life.

Sille

The Sille district, located about half an hour from Konya’s center, is definitely worth visiting. If you have two days for your trip, I recommend spending half a day here. You can find more detailed information about Sille in my related article.

Public Transportation in Konya

The only option to get from Konya Airport to the city center is the Havas shuttle service if you are not going to take a taxi. You can get off at Alaaddin Hill from Havas and from there, visit all the historical sites within walking distance. Make sure you note where you get off, as you’ll catch the shuttle back to the airport from the same spot. If you’re traveling in a group of four, it might be more economical to take a taxi.

We took a bus to Sille, one of Konya’s must-visit districts.You can buy a city card and load them with the amount you’ll need. To reach Sille, you can take the No. 64 bus from the Teksas Bus Stop near Alaaddin Hill and get off at the last stop. This will bring you directly to the area you want to explore. Unfortunately, minibusses don’t go into Sille. You can find more detailed information in my article about Sille.

I think Teksas Bus Stop is the best place to catch a ride to any destination within Konya, as many routes pass through here.