Konya Travel Guide

Konya sits on the high central Anatolian plain, roughly midway between the Mediterranean coast and Cappadocia. During the 12th and 13th centuries it served as capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. In 1228 the poet and mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi, called Mevlana in Turkey, moved here with his family. His tomb lies beneath the green-tiled dome that has become the city's emblem.

Reasons to go

Rumi is the main draw. The Mevlana Museum, once his lodge and now his mausoleum, ranks among the most visited museums in Turkey, and many who come are pilgrims more than tourists. Seljuk architecture is the second reason. The Karatay Madrasa has a dome covered in blue and black tiles, and the Ince Minareli Madrasa has a carved stone doorway; both now serve as museums of tiles and stone carving. Konya also makes a sensible break on the long road between the coast and Cappadocia. In the Book of Acts it appears as Iconium, where Paul preached during his journeys.

Time needed

A single day is enough for the Mevlana Museum, the madrasas and Alaeddin Hill, and our private Konya tour from Istanbul covers them as a day trip. Spend a night if you would like to watch the sema ceremony or visit Catalhoyuk and Sille village.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons. Summers in Konya are hot and dry, and winters are cold, often dropping below freezing. Peak season is the Seb-i Arus commemoration, 7 to 17 December, held for the anniversary of Rumi's death. Sema ceremonies take place every day then, and hotels book up fast.

Travelling from Istanbul

The relaxed choice is the high-speed train, which takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. A flight to Konya lasts around 1 hour 10 minutes, and the road distance is roughly 650 km. From Cappadocia the drive is about 3 hours, passing the Sultanhani caravanserai, a roadside inn from the 13th century.

Highlights

• Rumi's tomb, and the museum's manuscripts, musical instruments and dervish robes.
• A sema ceremony at the Mevlana Cultural Center, on Saturday evenings through most of the year.
• The tiles inside the Karatay Madrasa and the stone portal of the Ince Minareli Madrasa.
• Alaeddin Mosque, on the hill in the middle of the city.
• Catalhoyuk, around 50 km to the southeast, among the earliest large settlements known, lived in from about 7400 BC.
• Sille, an old Greek village with a Byzantine church, a short drive out of town.

Choosing a base

Stay near the Mevlana Museum and Alaeddin Hill and you can walk to the main sights.

Food

Etli ekmek is Konya's best-known dish: an extremely long, thin flatbread covered with minced meat and served cut into strips. Look out too for firin kebabi (lamb roasted slowly), bamya soup and sweet pastries filled with cream.

Useful advice

• The Mevlana Museum is a shrine, so dress modestly; women should carry a headscarf.
• The sema is a religious ritual rather than a performance, and clapping is not appropriate.
• Konya is conservative, and alcohol is not easy to find.

Several of our longer itineraries include Konya, for example the 10-day Turkey private tour and the Footsteps of St Paul tour. Browse all Konya tours.