With thousands of years of history, the splendour of its years as the Seljuk capital and the spirituality of Rumi, Konya is the heart of Anatolia. Discover its history, its landscape, its sights and its remarkable flavours together with our guides.
The History of Konya
Konya is home to Çatalhöyük (c. 7500 BC), one of the oldest settlements in human history. Known in antiquity as “Ikonion”, the city passed under Hittite, Phrygian, Roman and Byzantine rule, and after the victory at Manzikert in 1071 lived its golden age as the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State. In that period it became a centre of learning and art with its madrasas, mosques and caravanserais; as the city where Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî lived, it has also been a centre of spirituality for centuries.
Geography
Lying in the south of Central Anatolia, Konya is Türkiye’s largest province by area. The vast Konya Plain forms one of the country’s most important grain baskets; it is bounded by Lake Tuz to the north, Lake Beyşehir to the west and the outliers of the Taurus Mountains. The climate is continental: summers are hot and dry, winters cold and snowy.
City CentrePlaces to Visit in the Centre (45 spots)
In the heart of the Seljuk capital, tombs, mosques, madrasas and museums greet you at every turn.
MuseumKonya Panorama Museum
A modern museum telling Konya’s historical periods through panoramic reconstructions and dioramas. A rewarding stop for anyone who wants to experience the city’s past through a visual, interactive narrative.
Culture Centreİrfan Civilisation Research Centre
A research and culture centre opposite the Mevlana Museum, founded to keep traditional Turkish-Islamic arts alive. With its Konyanüma panoramic museum, its semahane and its workshops, it introduces arts such as the sema, Sufi music and calligraphy.
Martyrs’ Cemetery & MuseumWar of Independence Martyrs’ Cemetery
A martyrs’ cemetery and memorial area commemorating the soldiers who fell during the National Struggle. Its museum holds model displays on Gallipoli and the War of Independence, along with panels bearing the names of the fallen from Konya.
MuseumMuseum of Historic Gravestones
A museum opened behind the Üçler Cemetery by the Konya Metropolitan Municipality in 2017. It brings together more than 260 historic gravestones from the Seljuk, Karamanid and Ottoman periods; some were moved here from the Şems Cemetery, closed in the 1940s.
MuseumKoyunoğlu Museum
Built on the rich collection donated by İzzet Koyunoğlu, this was the first private museum in Türkiye established through a municipality. Across 3,000 square metres of display space it holds everything from archaeological finds and ethnographic objects to manuscripts and natural history specimens.
Historic HouseKonya House
At the western end of the Koyunoğlu Museum garden stands the historic Konya house where İzzet Koyunoğlu was born, grew up and died. The museum’s first building, it preserves traditional Konya domestic culture in its original architecture and interior arrangement.
Tomb & MuseumMevlana Museum & Mausoleum
The resting place of Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî and, with its green-tiled dome (the Kubbe-i Hadra), the symbol of the city. Once a Mevlevi lodge, the building serves today as a museum, displaying sarcophagi, manuscript copies of the Masnavi and works of Mevlevi culture. It is the most visited site in Konya.
MosqueSultan Selim Mosque
A mosque in classical Ottoman style standing immediately beside the Mevlana Mausoleum. Begun under Selim I and completed under Süleyman the Magnificent, it is notable for a dome arrangement recalling the style of Mimar Sinan.
MosqueAziziye Mosque
A 19th-century mosque in baroque-Ottoman style in the city’s historic bazaar quarter. Its unusual minaret forms and rich ornamentation set it apart from Seljuk and Ottoman mosques.
MosqueKapu (İhyaiyye) Mosque
One of the largest mosques in central Konya, taking its name from the historic city gate nearby. Renewed many times over the centuries, it is known for its wide prayer hall and rich interior decoration.
MosqueŞerafeddin Mosque
A historic mosque begun in the 12th century by Sheikh Şerâfeddin and restored in 1444 by İbrahim Bey II of the Karamanids. It draws attention with the great dome carried on ten elephant-foot piers and the Seljuk-period mosaics on its walls.
TombŞems-i Tebrizi Tomb
The tomb and mosque built in the name of Şems-i Tebrîzî, Rumi’s spiritual companion and source of inspiration. Set in a peaceful courtyard in the city centre, it is an important place of visit commemorating a friendship that entered the history of Sufism.
Mosqueİplikçi Mosque
An early mosque from the Anatolian Seljuk period at the foot of Alâeddin Hill. The madrasa adjoining it is regarded as Konya’s first, and this is known as one of the places where Rumi preached.
Culture & Arts VenueDepo No:4
Built in 1935 as a state monopoly warehouse, this building stands on Mevlana Avenue parallel to Alâeddin Hill. Restored and reopened in 2023 as a gallery, café and workshop space, it is one of the city’s newest cultural stops, with rotating exhibitions and digital display rooms.
MosqueAlaaddin Keykubat Mosque
Rising on Alâeddin Hill, this is one of the oldest and largest mosques of the Anatolian Seljuk period. Completed across the 12th and 13th centuries, it contains the tombs where Seljuk sultans are buried; its plain but imposing architecture commands the city.
Digital Experience CentreTaş Bina Digital Museum
An experience centre telling Konya’s history through video mapping and digital presentations. Six themed rooms carry the city’s story from Çatalhöyük to the Seljuk period, from farming to Sufism; admission is free.
Madrasa / MuseumKaratay Madrasa
Commissioned in 1251 by Emir Celâleddin Karatay, the madrasa serves today as the Museum of Tile Works. The blue-and-indigo tiled star patterns of its dome and the stonework of its portal are among the masterpieces of Seljuk art.
Madrasa / Museumİnce Minare Madrasa
Commissioned in 1265 by Sahib Ata, this madrasa is famous for its magnificent carved stone portal. It is used today as the Museum of Stone and Wooden Works, and takes its name from the slender minaret shortened by a lightning strike.
MadrasaSırçalı Madrasa
Built in 1242, the madrasa takes its name from the glazed tilework adorning its interior. It stands out for the elegant portal of Seljuk tile art; it is temporarily closed to visitors.
ComplexSahibata Complex
Commissioned in the 13th century by the vizier Sahib Ata Fahreddin Ali, the complex comprises a mosque, tomb, dervish lodge and fountain. Its monumental portal and tile decoration make it an important example of Seljuk complex architecture.
MuseumKonya Archaeological Museum
A museum displaying finds from Çatalhöyük and the ancient settlements of the region. Sarcophagi, ceramics and sculptures spanning the Neolithic to the Roman period are the highlights of the collection.
MuseumKonya Ethnography Museum
Opened in 1975, this museum tells the traditional way of life, handicrafts and dress of Konya and its surroundings through more than 6,000 objects. The core of the collection is the weaving, embroidery and jewellery gathered by Refet Yardımcı and Kenan Özbel.
Memorial House & MuseumAtatürk House & Museum
Built in 1912, this historic house is where Atatürk stayed on his visits to Konya. Bought by the municipality in 1927 and registered in his name, it opened as a museum in 1982; documents and photographs tell of Konya’s role in the War of Independence.
Sights a little further from the centre
~5 kmZooKaratay Zoo
Konya’s only zoo, right beside Karatay City Park. With 82 species and 620 animals it houses mammals such as lions, tigers, bears, zebras and kangaroos alongside birds including parrots, peacocks and eagles; it also works as a care and rehabilitation centre for injured wild animals. Admission is free.
~3 kmTomb & MosqueSheikh Sadrettin Konevi Tomb
The tomb of the great Sufi and pupil of Ibn Arabi, Sadreddin Konevî, with the mosque adjoining it. Its woodwork and its spiritual atmosphere make it an important place of visit.
~3 kmTombAteşbaz-ı Veli Tomb
The tomb of Ateşbaz-ı Velî, Rumi’s cook and close friend. Identified with Mevlevi kitchen culture, it is a spiritual site visited by cooks and people of the kitchen.
~8 kmPicnic Area & TombMeram Vineyards – Tavusbaba Tomb
In Meram, Konya’s green and well-watered district, the vineyard area at the heart of the city’s picnic culture, together with the Tavusbaba Tomb. It is a peaceful place where the city breathes and history meets nature.
~7 kmNatural FormationKızlar Kayası
In Meram’s Dere neighbourhood, between the Meram Valley and Tavusbaba Hill, rock formations resembling fairy chimneys shaped by wind and water erosion. Also called “Konya’s Cappadocia”, the valley is known for a legend of a wedding party turned to stone, and is a favourite of walkers and photographers.
~9 kmMuseumMeram City and Life Culture Museum
Opened in 2024 in the Durunday neighbourhood, this museum brings the urban and rural life of Meram and Konya to life. With its bridal chamber, traditional kitchens and displays on wedding and birth customs, it passes the district’s memory on to new generations.
~6 kmTheme Park80 Binde Devri Alem Park
A theme park inspired by Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days”, bringing together models of the world’s famous buildings. An enjoyable stop for families and children.
~3 kmViewpointAkyokuş (Konya Panorama)
A hill overlooking the city; a much-loved viewpoint for sunsets and panoramic views of Konya. The surrounding pine woods and picnic grounds make it ideal for a rest.
~8 kmViewpointSille Viewing Hill
A broad viewing terrace over Sille, opened in 2021, looking down on the city. With its arbours, grass sports pitches and cafés it is especially popular in the evening for watching the illuminated Konya skyline.
~8 kmFragrance GardenSelçuklu Fragrance Garden
A themed garden within Sille Viewing Hill where 128 kinds of scented plant are grown. With its walking paths and rose corners it is a quiet place to take in the view of Konya along with its scents.
~8 kmHistoric VillageSille Ancient Town
A historic Greek village a few kilometres from Konya with a past reaching back thousands of years. Its stone houses, narrow lanes following the stream, rock churches and authentic atmosphere make a picture at every step.
~8 kmMuseumSille Museum
Opened in 2017 through the restoration of the old Sille Culture House, this museum tells Sille’s historical and cultural past. At its entrance is a piece of the Kaaba covering found during the restoration of the Çay Mosque; upstairs, Sille pottery and carpets from the 18th to 20th centuries are displayed.
~8 kmChurchSille Hagia Elena Church
A historic church in Sille said to have been built by Helena, mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine. Its frescoes and stonework bear witness to the region’s multicultural past.
~8 kmMuseumSille Time Museum
Türkiye’s first and only Museum of Time, housed in an old Byzantine stone chapel in Sille. Restored in 2012 and opened to visitors in 2014, it displays clocks, calendars, sundials and timekeepers’ tables from the Ottoman and Republican periods.
Türkiye’s first tropical butterfly garden, within the Butterfly Valley Park in Selçuklu. Its 1,200-square-metre flight area, kept at 26 °C all year, lets you walk among hundreds of butterfly species and tropical vegetation.
~6 kmFlower GardenSelçuklu Flower Garden
Türkiye’s largest flower garden, home to 395,000 flowers of 27 species and 65 varieties within Butterfly Valley Park. With its Seljuk-motif ornament, viewing terraces and arbours it is a colourful photo stop; it opens seasonally each year.
~6 kmTheme ParkEcdat Park
A 100,000-square-metre theme park in Selçuklu bearing traces of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture. With a Seljuk gate, an Ottoman street, a watchtower and a 12,500-square-metre lake, it offers families a wide space to walk and rest.
~9 kmTheme ParkKyoto Japanese Park
Türkiye’s largest Japanese garden, opened in 2010 following the twinning agreement between Konya and Kyoto. Across 36,000 square metres it reflects traditional Japanese architecture with an artificial lake, arbours and stone and wooden bridges.
~8 kmScience CentreKonya Science Centre
Türkiye’s first science centre, supported by TÜBİTAK. It spreads over 100,000 square metres with 7 themed exhibition galleries, a planetarium, observation towers and workshops, and has welcomed millions of visitors since opening.
~15 kmMuseumSelçuk University Museum
Located on the Alaeddin Keykubat Campus, this is the first university museum in Türkiye of such richness. Alongside finds from Çatalhöyük it holds some 2,500 objects from the Aztec, Inca, Maya, Chinese and Japanese civilisations.
~9 kmRose GardenKaratay Rose Garden
A themed park in the Karaaslan Üzümcü neighbourhood of Karatay where 50,000 rose bushes of 190 varieties are grown. It opens seasonally, with shaded swings and rose ornament; the peak flowering period is May and June.
~9 kmLavender GardenKaratay Lavender Garden
In the same neighbourhood, Türkiye’s largest themed lavender garden with more than 300,000 lavender plants. It opens each year specially for the harvest period between late June and July, and is known for the kiosk selling lavender ice cream and drinks.
DistrictsThe Districts of Konya (5 districts)
There is much to discover beyond the centre — click a district to see its sights, then click a sight for the details.
Akşehir (12 spots)
The home of Nasreddin Hodja; a city of history full of humour, with mosques, madrasas and tombs from the Seljuk and Beylik periods. (Distances are approximate, from the centre of Akşehir.)
TombNasreddin Hodja Tomb
The 13th-century tomb of the world-famous humorist Nasreddin Hodja; it is famous for having no walls but a locked door — read as the hodja’s last joke. Commemorative festivities are held here every July.
MosqueGreat Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in Akşehir, reaching back to the Anatolian Seljuk period with an inscription of 1213 on its minaret and enlarged in the time of Alâeddin Keykubad I. Its plain stonework and imposing presence are part of the city’s historic skyline.
MadrasaStone Madrasa
Built in 1250, this stone madrasa is among the important Seljuk-period works in Akşehir. It is a plain but striking building reflecting the educational and architectural thinking of its day.
MosqueHasan Pasha Imaret Mosque
Built in 1510, this imaret mosque is one of the distinguished examples of Ottoman-period architecture in Akşehir. Its elegant architectural details set it apart among the religious buildings of its time.
Mosqueİplikçi Mosque
According to its inscription, the mosque was built in 1337 by Kerim Ağa, storekeeper to Orhan Gazi. It takes its name from the yarn and weaving tradesmen who gathered around it.
TombSeyyid Mahmut Hayrani Tomb
The tomb of Seyyid Mahmud Hayrânî, an important spiritual guide in the Islamisation of Anatolia and one of Nasreddin Hodja’s teachers. The present building was rebuilt in 1409–10, inspired by the Mevlana Mausoleum.
Historic BathsMeydan (Şifa) Baths
A double bathhouse built in 1329 by Subaşı Emir Şerafeddin Ahmet Bey. Because it once opened onto the great square outside the city walls, it is also popularly called the “Meydan Baths”.
ChurchOld Church
A historic church building surviving from Akşehir’s multicultural past. It bears witness to the periods when the city’s different faith communities lived side by side.
House MuseumAkşehir House
Built as a mansion in 1914 by Rüştü Bey, this historic house serves today as the Nasreddin Hodja Archaeology and Ethnography Museum. Built by Turkish and Armenian craftsmen, it reflects the mansion architecture of its period.
MuseumWestern Front Headquarters Museum
The old town hall, used for nine and a half months as the Western Front Headquarters, where the Great Offensive of the War of Independence was planned. The building where preparations overseen by Mustafa Kemal himself were carried out is today a museum displaying documents from those days.
Theme ParkGülmece Park
A green and charming park laid out on both banks of a canal, bringing Nasreddin Hodja’s tales to life in sculpture. It also hosts the International Nasreddin Hodja Festival held each July.
~2 kmPicnic Area & ViewpointHıdırlık Hill
A picnic and viewing area on a hill above Akşehir, surrounded by pine woods. A peaceful stop from which to look down on the town and Lake Akşehir.
Beyşehir (13 spots)
The masterpiece of wooden mosques, Hittite monuments and one of Türkiye’s largest freshwater lakes. (Distances are approximate, from the centre of Beyşehir.)
Wooden MosqueEşrefoğlu Mosque
The largest and best-preserved example of the wooden-columned mosques built without nails. On UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List, it is unique for its wooden columns and tiled mihrab.
Historic BazaarBedesten (Bezzarlar Hanı)
Built in 1299 by Eşrefoğlu Süleyman Bey together with the Eşrefoğlu Mosque, this is one of the oldest bedestens in Anatolia to have survived. Its fine stonework carries strong traces of the commercial life of the period.
Madrasa (Stone Madrasa)İsmailağa Madrasa
Built in 1369 by İsmail Ağa together with his tomb, the madrasa is known for its carved stone portal. Because the tomb is visited by new mothers, it is also popularly called the “Süt Dede Tomb”.
Historic BridgeStone Bridge
A historic stone bridge at the outflow of Lake Beyşehir towards the town, which also serves as a regulator. It is one of the most emblematic points of the town’s visual and functional bond with the lake.
Nature & LakeLake Beyşehir
One of Türkiye’s largest freshwater lakes; with its islands, rich birdlife and the national park around it, a destination for those seeking nature and calm.
Nature (seasonal)Water Lilies
Türkiye’s largest water-lily garden forms along the Çiftlik shore of Lake Beyşehir, where yellow and white lilies bloom from April to October. It is a few minutes away by excursion boat from the fishermen’s pier in the centre.
~15 kmBeachKaraburun Beach
A popular beach on the shore of Lake Beyşehir, known as “Konya’s seaside” for its roughly 3 km of sand. In summer it is a favourite for swimming and picnicking.
~18 kmHittite Rock MonumentFasıllar Monument
A Hittite-period monument known for a colossal relief of a god carved from the rock. Regarded as one of the largest rock monuments in Anatolia, it is also popularly called the “Wolf’s Cradle”.
A rock relief and inscription of the Roman period depicting a mounted figure, some 100 m from the Fasıllar Monument. A single stop offers the chance to see traces of two different ages together.
~22 kmHittite MonumentEflatunpınar Monument
A monumental stone structure of the Hittite period built over a spring. With its reliefs of gods and goddesses it is among the rare surviving examples of the Hittite water cult anywhere in the world.
~30 kmNature ValleyValley of the Storks
A valley at the foot of Mount Anamas where storks stop in colonies during the migration season. Cameras placed along the valley also allow stork life to be watched live.
~40 kmArtists’ VillageSonsuz Şükran Village
A small and charming “artists’ village” on the lakeshore, its adobe houses carefully restored and kept alive by artists. Its authentic texture and lake views make it a favourite with photographers.
~60 kmSeljuk PalaceKubadabad Palace Remains
The remains of the Seljuk summer palace built by Alâeddin Keykûbad on the shore of Lake Beyşehir. The remarkable figural tiles that adorned the palace are today displayed at the İnce Minare Museum in Konya.
Derebucak (3 spots)
A quiet mountain district on the skirts of the Taurus range, welcoming nature lovers with its caves. (Distances are approximate, from the centre of Derebucak.)
~6 kmCaveBalatini Cave
A natural cave known as one of the longest in Konya, notable for the curious formations inside called the “witch’s cauldron”. It is among the most visited stops of the Çamlık Caves complex.
~7 kmCaveSuluin Cave
A curious cave near the Çamlık neighbourhood containing a 150-metre underground lake. At 300 metres in total length it draws the interest of nature and caving enthusiasts.
~7 kmCave & Natural MonumentÇamlık Cave
A natural wonder within the boundaries of the Derebucak Çamlık Caves National Park, holding many caves close together. It offers a rewarding walk amid the untouched green of the Taurus Mountains.
Ereğli (6 spots)
A layered history reaching from the Hittites to the Karamanids, meeting the rock relief of İvriz and the bird paradise of Akgöl. (Distances are approximate, from the centre of Ereğli.)
~17 kmRock Monumentİvriz Rock Monument
A Late Hittite rock relief of the 8th century BC in the village of İvriz near Ereğli. Depicting King Warpalawa of Tuwana praying to the storm god Tarhunza, the monument with its hieroglyphic inscription is regarded as the world’s first known written monument to agriculture.
MosqueEreğli Great Mosque
A mosque built in 1426 by Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey; the 40-metre minaret at its northeast corner was built in 1116 as a watchtower in the time of the Seljuk sultan Mesud I. With a wide interior carried on thirty-two columns, it is regarded as the emblem of Ereğli.
MuseumEreğli Museum
Opened in 1968, this museum tells an unbroken cultural history reaching back to the Neolithic (7000 BC) through more than 8,000 objects. Finds from the mounds of the region lay bare the oldest settlement layers of Central Anatolia.
~25 kmNature & Bird ParadiseAkgöl Reedbeds
An important wetland on the Europe–Africa migration route, declared a first-degree natural conservation area in 1993. From late February through the summer it hosts thousands of flamingos, pelicans and storks.
TombAbu al-Darda Tomb
One of three tombs in Türkiye attributed to Abu al-Darda, one of the four companions of the Prophet Muhammad who memorised the Qur’an. This site in Ereğli, honouring the companion who served as a judge in Damascus and opened Qur’anic teaching to the people, is a quiet place of visit.
Memorial ParkKorea Friendship Park
A park built through a joint project of the Ereğli Municipality and the Kwangjin Municipality of Korea in memory of the soldiers from Ereğli who fell in the Korean War. With its tea garden and children’s play areas it keeps the friendship between the two countries alive.
Seydişehir (6 spots)
A green district in the southwest of Konya, with its swan lake, rock caves and ancient cities. (Distances are approximate, from the centre of Seydişehir.)
ComplexSeyyid Harun Veli Mosque & Tomb
A mosque reflecting Seljuk-period architecture, built in the 14th century by Seyyid Harun, with his tomb adjoining it. Identified with the founding legend of Seydişehir, the complex is one of the district’s spiritual centres.
~4 kmPicnic Area & LakeKuğulu Park
A calm picnic area popular with families at the weekend, named for the swans on its pond. Its clean air and peaceful setting make it ideal for getting away from the noise of the city.
~5 kmCaveFerzene Cave
A 346-metre cave reached by about half an hour’s climb from Kuğulu Park. The carved shapes at its entrance and the water pools formed by stalactites and stalagmites inside make it intriguing.
~13 kmAncient CityVasada Ancient City
A Roman-period ancient city on a hill near Bostandere, notable for its theatre and building remains. It sheds light on the ancient settlement fabric of the region.
~16 kmAncient CityAmblada Ancient City
Set on Asar Hill, a Roman-period city important enough to mint coins in its own name. Walking among its remains offers clues to the ancient trade and cultural life of the region.
~20 kmCaveTınaztepe Cave
An impressive cave open to visitors on the Seydişehir–Antalya highway, with lit galleries and stalactites and stalagmites. It is one of the most visited caves in the province.
Ancient HeritageAncient Settlements (8 spots)
From the mounds where human history began to cities of the Roman period — the remarkable ancient settlements around Konya. (Distances are approximate, from the city centre.)
~10 kmBronze Age MoundKarahöyük
An important Bronze Age mound very close to central Konya, towards Meram. It is known for rich finds that shed light on Anatolia’s early urbanisation, trade and pre-literate period.
~39,5 kmNeolithic SettlementBoncuklu Höyük
Older than Çatalhöyük, this Neolithic mound sheds light on the first traces of settled village life in Central Anatolia. It tells the beginning of the shift to farming and settled life.
~40 kmUNESCO World HeritageÇatalhöyük
Dating back to around 7500 BC, one of the world’s oldest and largest Neolithic towns and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its doorless, adjoining houses and wall paintings represent one of the turning points of human history.
~40 kmRoman / Early ChristianLystra
An ancient city of the Roman and early Christian period near Hatunsaray. It is one of the important centres visited by Saint Paul on his missionary journeys and named in the Bible.
~41,5 kmAncient SettlementKilistra – Gökyurt
An ancient settlement famous for its churches and chambers carved into the rock, said to have been visited by Saint Paul in the early Christian period. Its rock architecture, reminiscent of Cappadocia, comes as a surprise.
~55 kmRoman-Period CitySavatra (Soatra)
A Roman-period ancient city northeast of Konya, near Yağlıbayat. With its cisterns and building remains it forms part of the ancient settlement network of Central Anatolia.
~75 kmRoman-Period CityAmblada (Asartepe) Ancient City
Set on Asar Hill near Seydişehir, a Roman-period city important enough to mint its own coins. Its remains offer clues to the ancient trade and cultural life of the region.
~80 kmRoman-Period CityVasada Ancient City
A Roman-period ancient city on a hill near Bostandere in Seydişehir, notable for its theatre and building remains.
GastronomyThe Cuisine of Konya (87 delicacies)
With 91 products holding a geographical indication, Konya ranks second across Türkiye after Gaziantep (107 products). This richness, reaching from the Seljuk table to the present day, is crowned by officially registered products.
From among them we have picked out the best-known dishes you will find in almost every restaurant:
Main Dish
Etliekmek
Konya’s emblematic dish: thinly rolled dough spread with minced meat and spices and baked in a stone oven. Sometimes reaching a metre in length, it is also known as “Konya pizza”.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
Its known history in Konya reaches back to the 1200s; it is said to have first been made at the Raziye Hatun Inn in Kadınhanı. It was recorded in the kebab-makers’ bazaar in 1923, and from 1939 onwards businesses producing nothing but etliekmek began to open.
How is it made?
A 180-gram piece of dough is rolled out 70–80 cm long and 15–20 cm wide, and each piece takes at least 100 grams of filling. The filling is made from minced beef or heifer, tomatoes, green peppers and onion. The “tırnakçı” rolls the dough and the “kürekçi” slides it into a stone oven heated with oak wood.
Though it resembles etliekmek, it uses not mince but meat chopped finely with a knife — which is where the name comes from. Mixed with tomato and pepper, the meat leaves its juices and aroma in the thin dough.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
It takes its name from the meat being chopped finely with a cleaver or knife rather than put through a mincer. It comes from the same dough tradition as etliekmek; the difference lies entirely in the filling.
How is it made?
Instead of mince, hand-chopped cubes of beef are used, and no onion is added. The meat, mixed with tomato, pepper, parsley and salt, is spread over thinly rolled dough and baked in a stone oven; the meat releases its juices and aroma into the dough.
A breakfast staple: a filling of mince, tulum and kaşar cheese, parsley and spices baked between thin sheets of yufka. It is also known as “Mevlana Börek”.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
Until the 1970s it was known simply as “mixed börek”; in later years it came to be called “Mevlana börek”. Although it can be eaten at any hour, it is a cornerstone of Konya’s breakfast culture.
How is it made?
Finely chopped parsley is added to a filling of tulum cheese, first-grade kaşar and minced meat; the parsley lends the filling a fresh aroma. The filling is spread between thinly rolled sheets of yufka and baked.
A traditional Konya soup, tart and filling, made with small dried okra. It is a fixture of special occasions and wedding tables.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
It is the opening dish of Konya weddings. Because weddings begin at eight in the morning, okra soup is served in the earliest hours of the day — which is why it is also known in the city as “wedding soup”.
How is it made?
Tiny flower okra, dried on strings, is used. The okra is rubbed between cloths to remove its fine hairs, boiled for about 10 minutes, plunged into cold water and taken off its strings. Cubed meat is browned until it has absorbed its own juices; butter, onion and tomato paste are added, then the okra goes in and it simmers gently for half an hour. What gives the soup its true taste is plenty of lemon.
Lamb cooked for hours in a stone oven in its own fat; as the fat drains away the meat softens until it falls apart in strands. Popularly known as “tandır kebabı”, its registered name is Konya Fırın Kebabı.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
Its origins reach back to the Seljuks; Rumi’s works mention kebab and the ovens in which it was cooked. It has come down to us through the small neighbourhood bakeries that cook meat in copper basins.
How is it made?
Only the forequarter and rib meat of lamb is used. Placed in a copper basin, the meat cooks for 5–6 hours in a stone oven heated with oak wood. Water is never added; there is only rock salt and the meat’s own fat. Over this long cooking, 3 kilos of bone-in meat yields about 1 kilo of kebab.
Vine leaves rolled around a meat filling; a classic that takes pride of place at Konya’s wedding and banquet tables.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
It holds a geographical indication and is a constant of festival and iftar tables in Konya. What most distinguishes it from other stuffed vine leaves is its size: each is rolled no bigger than the first joint of a little finger.
How is it made?
Minced meat, finely chopped onion, düğü (fine bulgur), rice, tomato, salt and black pepper are kneaded together thoroughly. Fresh vine leaves are boiled for about 3 minutes, their stems trimmed, and the filling rolled inside. The rolls are laid in the pot in neat rows with a plate placed on top so they do not open; water is added up to the level of the plate and they cook over a very low heat for 40–60 minutes.
A traditional börek whose layers are boiled one by one, combined with mince and baked with butter. It takes real labour and belongs to festival tables and to welcoming guests.
Its story
Because it takes real labour, this is not an everyday börek but one for festival tables and for welcoming guests. In Konya it is usually served with tea.
How is it made?
Pieces are rolled from a firm dough. They are boiled for at least 2 minutes in water with salt and olive oil, lifted out as they rise to the surface, plunged into cold water and drained. As they are layered into the tray, melted butter is drizzled between them and the minced-meat filling spread in the middle. An unboiled dry sheet is laid on top, brushed with butter, and the whole baked at 200 °C for about 30 minutes.
A filling traditional dish of stale bread topped with meat stock, meat and chickpeas, with roots reaching back to Central Asia.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
Its origins lie in the Seljuk palace kitchen. The dish emerged as a way of not wasting the precious juices of bone-in meat. On the application of the Konya Metropolitan Municipality, it received a geographical indication in 2022 under the name “Konya Tiridi”.
How is it made?
It is made with bone-in lamb, tırnak pide, red onion, strained yoghurt, garlic, tomato, green pepper and meat stock. What sets it apart from other tirit dishes is the use of tırnak pide. It is served with garlicky yoghurt, sautéed vegetables and sizzling butter poured over the top.
A local dessert loved for its distinctive texture, in which thin sheets of dough cooked on a griddle meet syrup.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
It takes its name from once being cooked between two griddles (sac). One of the best-known desserts of Konya and its surroundings, it carries a particular meaning at wedding tables.
How is it made?
The dough, kneaded to the softness of an earlobe, is rested for 30 minutes and then rolled paper-thin with the help of starch. Each sheet is brushed with melted butter and plenty of clotted cream; the sheet is rolled up and coiled into the tray in a spiral. Sizzling butter is poured over and it is baked until golden. The secret is plenty of cream and a well-rested dough.
A soft traditional dessert that melts in the mouth, in which flour or semolina is toasted in butter and brought to consistency with sugar and milk. The Konya version uses no cheese.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
Konya-style höşmerim differs markedly from its namesakes: it contains neither cheese nor semolina. It is made with few ingredients and served hot.
How is it made?
Clotted cream and butter are stirred in a pan until frothy, then flour is added and toasted until its aroma rises and its colour turns. Boiled milk is poured in and the mixture cooked with sugar until it reaches the right consistency.
A confection containing no cheese at all, named for the way it dissolves in the mouth. Production began in the 1950s; it took the name “Mevlana candy” from being offered to visitors to the Mevlana Mausoleum.
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Geographical Indication This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
Among the people of Konya it is called “cheese candy”; with tourist sales the name “Mevlana candy” spread across Türkiye. Production began in the 1950s. It was once offered to visitors at houses of mourning, and was sometimes eaten wrapped in yufka.
How is it made?
Granulated sugar is placed in a copper cauldron with just enough water to cover it; the mixture is stirred frequently until it reaches a certain consistency, and citric acid is added to finish. Though it looks like rock, it is a snow-white candy that dissolves easily in the mouth.
A sherbet born of the meeting of apple vinegar and honey, with roots reaching back a thousand years. Named by Rumi in the Masnavi and the Divan-ı Kebir, it was drunk before the meal at Mevlevi tables.
Registered Traditional Speciality Guaranteed This product is registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Its story
Its name comes from the Persian words “sirke” (vinegar) and “engübin” (honey). A thousand-year-old sherbet, it was drunk in Seljuk and Ottoman kitchens. It is named in Rumi’s Masnavi and Divan-ı Kebir, and in Mevlevi custom a meal begins with this drink.
How is it made?
Vinegar and honey are mixed, water is added, and it is chilled before serving. In Konya some restaurants still offer it before a meal.
Konya Zerdali (Kayısı Hoşafı)Konya Reyhan ŞerbetiSirkencübin
Other (22)
Registered Geographical Indication — Protected Designation of Origin
Akçabelen (Çetmi) FasulyesiAkşehir KirazıDerbent FasulyesiEreğli Siyah HavucuEreğli Uzun KabağıEreğli Beyaz KirazıHüyük ÇileğiÇumra KavunuKarapınar KavurgasıDerebucak Gembos Şeker Fasulyesi
Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî, the great mystic, poet and thinker who lived in Konya in the 13th century. Works such as the “Masnavi” and the “Divan-ı Kebir” have inspired the whole world for centuries with their call to tolerance and love; the Mevlevi order and the sema were born of his teaching.
Şems (Shams of Tabriz)
Şems-i Tebrîzî, the spiritual guide who utterly changed Rumi’s life. Their meeting brought about a profound transformation in Rumi’s thought and poetry; the friendship is remembered as one of the deepest relationships in the history of Sufism.
Sadreddin Konevi
A great Islamic scholar and mystic, the spiritual son and most important follower of Ibn Arabi, and a close friend and contemporary of Rumi. Works such as “Miftâhu’l-Gayb” systematised Sufi thought; his tomb in Konya and the mosque bearing his name still draw crowds of visitors.
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