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    Konya

    Turkey

    Konya

    CityCultureUNESCO

    In the Middle Ages Konya was the capital of the Seljuks of Rum, and it is the city of the Sufi mystic Mevlana Rumi, whose tomb in the Mevlana Museum draws pilgrims and travellers.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Turkey
    7. Central Anatolia
    9. Konya
    In the Middle Ages Konya was the capital of the Seljuks of Rum, and it is the city of the Sufi mystic Mevlana Rumi, whose tomb in the Mevlana Museum draws pilgrims and travellers. The city of around 1.4 million inhabitants in its three central districts lies at just over 1,000 metres in the south of Central Anatolia, a little over two hours from Ankara by high-speed train. The sights are concentrated between the Mevlana Museum and Alaeddin Hill, and the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük makes a worthwhile day trip.

    Sights in Konya

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Mevlana Museum
    Museum

    1Mevlana Museum

    Under the turquoise-tiled dome, completed in 1274, lies the tomb of the Sufi mystic Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. The former center of the Mevlevi Order was opened as a museum in 1927. On display are musical instruments of the Sema, dervish robes, and manuscripts of the Mesnevi from 1278 and 1371.
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    Karatay Medrese (Tile Museum)
    Museum

    2Karatay Medrese (Tile Museum)

    Vizier Celaleddin Karatay had the madrasa built in 1251; he is buried in one of its corner rooms. Since 1955, it has displayed Seljuk tiles. The highlight is the dome, which, like the western barrel vault, is lined with blue and turquoise tiles.
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    Mevlana Cultural Center (Sema Ceremony)
    Point of Interest

    3Mevlana Cultural Center (Sema Ceremony)

    At the Cultural Center, the Dervishes perform the Sema on Saturday evenings; advance tickets available. The ceremony, with Ney flute and drums, symbolizes the soul's ascent and has been a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2008. For the Şeb-i Arus commemoration week, December 7-17, 2026, there are daily performances; December 17 marks Rumi's death anniversary.
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    Çatalhöyük (Trip)
    Museum

    4Çatalhöyük (Trip)

    The Neolithic settlement of two mounds near Çumra, southeast of Konya, is approximately 9,000 years old and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012. It is known for its closely built houses and wall paintings. A large visitor center opened in 2023. Without a car, you can take the train towards Karaman to Çumra and then take a taxi or, in summer, a minibus.
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    Alaeddin's Mosque

    5Alaeddin's Mosque

    The mosque is the main structure on Alaeddin Hill in the center of Konya and was the main mosque of the Rum Seljuks. Sultan Mesud I began construction in 1155; the ebony minbar bears this date and is considered the oldest dated work of Seljuk art in Anatolia. From 1219, Kaykaus I had the complex rebuilt; it is named after Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I. In the courtyard are the tombs of several sultans.
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    İnce Minareli Medrese

    6İnce Minareli Medrese

    The Seljuk vizier Sahib Ata Fahreddin Ali had the Madrasa of the Slender Minaret built around 1265 at the foot of Alaeddin Hill. It is known for its richly decorated stone portal and domed courtyard. The minaret was partially destroyed in 1901. Today it houses the Museum of Stone and Wood Art.
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    Restaurants in Konya

    1

    Bolu Lokantası

    This small, simple restaurant is considered the top address for etli ekmek, Konya's long, thin meat pide. There is no menu; you simply order etli ekmek. It is usually full at lunchtime.
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    2

    Deva 1

    Known for Fırın Kebabı: tender, oven-baked lamb on fluffy flatbread. The dish is quite fatty; Lonely Planet calls Deva 1 its favourite spot for it.
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    3

    Cure Restaurant

    A traditional, now modernized restaurant just a few steps from the Mevlana Museum. The menu features Pide and various kebabs. Convenient for lunch between the old town's sights.
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    Food and Drink

    Konya ist bekannt für Fleischgerichte aus dem Holzofen, mittags sind die einfachen Lokale schnell voll.

    Etli Ekmek

    Long, thin pide with minced meat, tomato, green pepper and parsley, baked for just four to five minutes in an oak-fired oven.

    Bıçak Arası

    Etli Ekmek variation where the meat is finely chopped with a cleaver instead of minced.

    Fırın Kebabı

    Oven-cooked, tender mutton on flatbread.

    Tirit

    A dish of meat, vegetables and rice.

    Culture & History

    Ikonion and the SeljuksIn antiquity, the city was called Ikonion. After its conquest by the Seljuks in 1084, it became the capital of the Sultanate of Rum Seljuks. Dating from this period are the Alaeddin Mosque from 1235, located on the eponymous hill, the Karatay Madrasa from 1251, and the İnce Minareli Madrasa, built around 1265, which is now a museum.Mevlana and the DervishesRumi lived and taught in Konya; after his death in 1273, his followers founded the Mevlevi Order. Its Sema, the whirling dance of the Dervishes, has been a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2008. Every December, the Şeb-i Arus commemoration week marks Rumi's death anniversary on December 17th.ÇatalhöyükThe settlement of Çatalhöyük near Çumra is around 9,000 years old, making it one of the world's oldest known settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012. Figures from the site are displayed at the Archaeological Museum in Konya.

    Arrival & On the Go

    Getting ThereHigh-speed train YHT: From Ankara, the journey takes a good two hours; from Istanbul, about five hours.By Plane: Konya Airport (KYA) has regular connections to Istanbul.In the CityThe Mevlana Museum and Karatay Madrasa are about one kilometer apart, with Alaeddin Hill rising between them. The Mevlana Cultural Center with its Sema performances is located east of the museum. To Çatalhöyük, take the train towards Karaman to Çumra, and from there by taxi or, in summer, by minibus.TipBuy tickets for the Sema on Saturday evenings, and especially for the Şeb-i Arus week in December, well in advance.

    Accommodations in Konya

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    Nearby

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