Last updated on December 18, 2023.

Kayseri is a large city but most of the attractions can be found in the compact historic city center. Everything of interest is pretty much within walking distance.

 

Republic Square

A great place to start exploring the city is Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı), the main square. It’s a wide open space featuring a couple statues of the ever-present Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on one end and the Kayseri Clock Tower (Kayseri Saat Kulesi), built in 1906, on the other. Mimar Sinan Park (Mimar Sinan Parkı), which contains some important Seljuk monuments, is to the northwest.

Republic Square in Kayseri, Turkey
Republic Square
Atatürk monument
Atatürk monument
Kayseri Clock Tower
Kayseri Clock Tower

 

Bürüngüz Mosque

The Bürüngüz Mosque (Bürüngüz Mosque Camii) is near the clock tower. It was built in 1977 although it looks much older.

Bürüngüz Mosque in Kayseri, Turkey
Bürüngüz Mosque

 

Sahabiye Madrasa

The Sahabiye Madrasa (Sahabiye Medresesi) sits on the north end of Republic Square. It was built in 1267 as a theological school but is now used as a book bazaar.

Sahabiye Madrasa in Kayseri, Turkey
Sahabiye Madrasa
Sahabiye Madrasa in Kayseri, Turkey
Sahabiye Madrasa

 

Castle

Kayseri Castle (Kayseri Kalesi), the imposing structure on the south end of Republic Square, was originally built in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It was patched up a few times by the Seljuks, Ottomans, and modern Turkish Republic. At the time of my visit it held a bazaar but was scheduled to become an arts and cultural center with museums.

Kayseri Castle in Kayseri, Turkey
Kayseri Castle
Kayseri Castle in Kayseri, Turkey
Kayseri Castle
Inside Kayseri Castle
Inside Kayseri Castle

 

Tomb of Zeynel Abidin

To the east of the castle, the small tomb of Zeynel Abidin (Zeynel Abidin Türbesi) holds the remains of a Muslim saint from the 12th or 13th century. The tomb was built around 1885 by Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II.

Tomb of Zeynel Abidin in Kayseri, Turkey
Tomb of Zeynel Abidin
Tomb of Zeynel Abidin in Kayseri, Turkey
Tomb of Zeynel Abidin

 

Mahperi Hunat Hatun Mosque

A magnificent Seljuk mosque, Mahperi Hunat Hatun Mosque (Mahperi Hunat Hatun Camii), is south of the tomb. It was built in 1238 and still has a functioning hamam.

Mahperi Hunat Hatun Mosque in Kayseri, Turkey
Mahperi Hunat Hatun Mosque
Inscription above the entrance to the Mahperi Hunat Hatun Mosque
Inscription above the entrance

 

Bazaar

The people of Kayseri are well-known across Turkey for their business acumen. To get a firsthand glimpse of this, the Covered Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) is a great place to go haggle with shopkeepers. According to many of my students in Istanbul, you think you’re getting a great deal, but the sellers from Kayseri always win big.

Covered Bazaar in Kayseri, Turkey
Covered Bazaar
Covered Bazaar in Kayseri, Turkey
Covered Bazaar

 

Vezir Han

The Vezir Han (Vezir Hanı) behind the Covered Bazaar is also worth popping into. This two story workshop was built in 1723 by Grand Vizier Nevşehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha (c. 1662-1730) who was from Cappadocia. He served under Ahmed III.

Vezir Han in Kayseri, Turkey
Vezir Han

 

Great Mosque

Next to the han is the Great Mosque (Ulucami). This mosque was started by the Danışmendli emirs of Kayseri in 1135 and finished by the Seljuks in 1205.

Great Mosque in Kayseri, Turkey
Great Mosque

 

Güpgüpoğlu Mansion

If you’re looking for Ottoman remnants in Kayseri, there aren’t many, but the Güpgüpoğlu Mansion (Güpgüpoğlu Konağı) is one of the most fascinating Ottoman mansions in Turkey. It was built in 1417 and now serves as the city’s ethnography museum. Admission is 60₺ (as of October 2023) and it’s open daily except Mondays.

Güpgüpoğlu Mansion in Kayseri, Turkey
Güpgüpoğlu Mansion

 

Atatürk House

The nearby Atatürk House (Atatürk Evi) is housed in the İmamizade Raşit Ağa Mansion (İmamizade Raşit Ağa Konağı), which was built in the 19th century. It’s decorated in the style used at the time Atatürk visited Kayseri for the first of his five visits to the city from 1919 to 1934. He stayed two nights in the house on December 19-20, 1919. The museum opened to the public in 1983. Admission is free (as of October 2023) and it’s open daily except Mondays.

Atatürk House in Kayseri, Turkey
Atatürk House

 

Armenian Church

The Surp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church served Kayseri’s once large Armenian population. It’s now used as a sports center. Another church, Surp Krikor Lusuvoriç, is one of the most important Armenian churches in Anatolia. It sits on the outskirts of the old city and still celebrates mass twice a year.

Surp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church in Kayseri, Turkey
Surp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church

 

Seljuk Tombs

Kayseri has a few Seljuk tombs standing in odd places around town. The most famous of these is the Revolving Tomb (Döner Kümbet). It was built in 1276 for princess Şah Cihan Hatun. It’s not a long walk down the main boulevard heading south from the castle.

Revolving Tomb in Kayseri, Turkey
Revolving Tomb

Another less famous tomb sits closer to the castle, across the street from the Yoğunburç Tower.

Tomb in Kayseri
Another tomb

 

Modern Kayseri

The rest of the city, to be brutally honest, modern and ugly.

Kayseri, Turkey
Kayseri
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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