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The city of Kayseri, located in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, is a city of proud conservative people. It’s thought of as an ugly city and often bypassed by tourists in favor of more beautiful natural scenery. In reality, it’s got some interesting sites that make it worth a day of exploration, especially to enthusiasts of Seljuk architecture.
History
Kayseri was founded by the Hattians around 3000 BC and was later ruled by the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines as the city of Caesarea (Καισάρεια). It was sacked by the Seljuks in the 11th century, and because the entire population was massacred, it was uninhabited for nearly 50 years. It was gradually repopulated, rebuilt, and renamed Kayseri.
Getting There
Flights to the city land at Kayseri Erkilet Airport (Kayseri Erkilet Havalimanı), only 5km from the city center. The majority of domestic flights are served by Turkish Airlines and Pegasus from Istanbul, but it’s also possible to fly in from Antalya, Ankara, or Izmir. There are various international flights available, mostly from Germany and the Netherlands (as of October 2023).
Getting Around
Getting around the historic city center can be done on foot. Otherwise, a light rail system, Kayseray, can get you to and from the Kayseri Bus Terminal (Kayseri Otogarı). It runs right outside of Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı). To get to the bus terminal, you have to get off at the Selimiye stop and walk a long block. See the map for more details.
Kayzer Hotel
I stayed at the Kayzer Hotel. It’s a decent business hotel with good wifi a couple blocks north of Mimar Sinan Park. I stayed for three nights and paid a reasonable rate.
Kayserı Mantısı
For food, the city is famous for Kayserı mantısı (tiny meat filled dumplings covered in yogurt and spices) and pastırma (cured meat). I found the pastırma for sale everywhere, but it was nearly impossible to find good mantı in town. Why? A waiter told me it’s because people in Kayseri always make it at home and don’t go out to eat it. He said I would be able to find better mantı in restaurants in Istanbul than in Kayseri. Makes sense.
