Traveling Turkey

Top 10 Places to Visit in Konya | A Day in Konya

Konya is a unique and culturally rich city towards the south of Ankara. It’s a less known city but has a lot of interesting things to see that you might not find in other places in Turkey.  It is the most religiously conservative city in Turkey and is a significant tourist destination for people who want to see whirling dervishes and historical mosques and museums.  

I took a trip to Konya this August which lasted around 1 day. Even though it’s not that long I was able to see most of the significant tourist areas. This blog is a guide to a 1 day trip to Konya as a foreigner or a person living in Turkey. I did my research and took my time to compile all the places which are a must-see if you’re there. I recommend going there on a Saturday so you’ll be able to see the whirling dervishes which are the main attraction of Konya.

I started my day in Konya at the Konya Gar as I took a speed train from Ankara to Konya. I walked my way to the Ataturk Monument and towards the other places in the list below except for the Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden which required a 30 minute taxi ride to reach as it was farther away.

Mevlana Meydanı

Try to visit most of the places between 9 am – 5 pm. Konya is a cosmopolitan city where most venues close by 8-9PM.  The whirling dervishes in Mevlana Cultural Center start at 7PM and ends around 9PM. Every other place listed below closes around 5-6PM.

How to get there?

TCDD Speed train: Konya has 2 main train stations that receive trains from different cities.  Konya Tren Garı(Closer to Konya’s City Areas) and Konya Selçuklu YHT Gar. Make sure to check which train station you’re buying tickets for.  Buy tickets on https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/

Bus: Buy tickets on https://www.obilet.com/

Plane:  For international and national travellers. Buy tickets on https://www.obilet.com/ucak-bileti

Top 10 Tourist Places in Konya to Visit in a Day

Whirling Dervishes:  Mevlana Cultural Center

The whirling dervish ceremony is known as Sema and is the main devotional ritual of Sufis of the Mevlevi order that dervishes believe bring them closer to God. Only on Saturdays, the performance can be seen at the Mevlana Culture Center at 7pm. In the summer months (roughly June to September), there’s a performance in the rose garden of the Mevlana Museum starting at 8.45pm. Previously it was free, but now a day you need to buy tickets before entering. Tickets are around 30TL when I last visited.

Sema of the whirling dervishes in Mevlana Cultural Center
Mevlana Meydanı

Mevlana Meydani consists of mainly the Rumi’s Sarcophagus in Mevlana Museum and the Selimiye Mosque. It is free to enter both of them. Mevlana museum houses the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, founder of the whirling dervish sect of Sufism. It also shows different antiques poetry pieces and art-relics.

Selimiye Mosque at Mevlana Meydani
Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden

Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden is the largest Butterfly sanctuary in Europe. The building consists of over 10,000 butterflies. It is farther away from Konya’s other main tourist attractions but in my opinion a trip to Konya would be incomplete without it. It takes about 30 minutes by car to go there from Konya’s city center. You need to buy tickets to enter. The price is around 35TL now. But for students it is around 15 TL. Keep in mind that the place is closed on Mondays.

Photo of the Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden taken by Altug Kirisoglu
Istiklal Karbi Sehitleri Abidesi

It is also known as the Independence War martyrdom Monument Museum which was constructed in the memory of the martyr in the War of Independence. The museum was opened in 2008, and exhibits miniature models commemorating the Turkish war of Independence, the Gallipoli Victory and villagers resisting foreign invaders.  

Outside of Independence War martyrdom Monument Museum
Alaeddin Tepesi Park and Alaeddin Mosque

Alaeddin Tepesi Park is in the central area of the city and the whole park is on a hill. People go to take a stroll and enjoy the garden with a cup of Turkish Tea. The park was made on the Konya’s former citadel and on the top of the hill is Alaeddin Mosque which was built in the 13th Century.

Collected from Yerelnet.org.tr
Bedesten Bazaar

Bedesten Bazaar is the oldest marketplace in Konya. It’s a good time to grab something to eat in this busy area. Eat etliekmek and grab a Turk Chai to get the feel of the local cuisine. Apart from that, there is a wide variety of dishes to try from. The costs of things in Konya are lower than most other cities in Turkey like Istanbul and Ankara.

Photo of Bedesten Bazaar by A.Hamit Doğanay
Mosques: Aziziye Mosque, Sahib-i Ata Mosque, Iplikci Mosque

Konya being the most religious city in Turkey has a lot of mosques. So it’s a must to see at least a few while you’re in Konya. Aziziye Mosque is, in my option, the most beautiful mosque in Konya. It’s situated near bedesten bazaar. The mosque was reconstructed in the 19th century and contains intricate interior designs and large cathedral like windows. 

Aziziye Mosque
Konya’s Archaeological Museum

This museum consists of artifacts from the archaeological site of Çatalhöyük. There are also old beautifully designed Roman sarcophagi. The building is a bit old and rustic but it is a place you should visit as it has a nice collection of artifacts for history-buffs.

Konya’s Archaeological Museum
Culture Park (Kültür Park)

Many people recommend going to Kültür Park at night to see the light settings. They turn on around sunset. I went in the morning and thought it was equally beautiful because of the gardens and pool with swans and small ducks. It’s a good place to relax, enjoy the weather and of course drink Turkish Tea.

Culture Park in Konya
Madrasas and Museums

There are many museums and madrasas in Konya. I personally don’t enjoy madrasas and museums as much as other people do but if you’re in Konya you need to take a look at below mentioned places. Most of the museums have a small entrance fee but if you have a Müze Kart you can just use that. Müze Kart can be purchased in different museums for a specific fee for students and people with resident cards.

1. Ince Minare Mosque Museum: Stone and Wood Works Museum
Ince Minare Mosque Museum in Konya
2. Karatay Museum: Museum of Seljuk Ceramics
Karatay Museum in Konya
3. Sircali Madrasa: Konya’s Museum of Gravestones
Sircali Madrasa in Konya. Collected from Okuryazarim.com
4. Ataturk Museum
Photo of Ataturk Museum in Konya. Collected from www.memleket.com.tr
5. Panorama Konya Museum
Panorama Konya Museum situated beside the Mevlana Culture Center

Places to see if you’re staying more than 1 day

1.       Ancient town of Çatalhöyük

2.       Kyoto Japon Parki

3.       Konya Science Centre

4.       Day Trip to Sille

5.       Excursion to Beyşehir

Follow on Google Map: In the list you’ll find all the above mentioned places marked for your convenience.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/n8Rzue75ukR8LbHP8

Tourist areas in Konya on Google Map