A few places of interest lie outside of the compact city center of Kastamonu, mostly to the south. They’re all within easy walking distance.
From Kastamonu’s city center, it’s easy to make your way up to the castle district and Kastamonu Castle (Kastamonu Kalesi).
The small city center of Kastamonu has a lot of interesting sights to offer. It doesn’t take a very long time to walk through the city.
Often overlooked, Kastamonu is a small bustling city split in half by a river. It’s got a long history and has several historical monuments. The same Ottoman architecture that made Safranbolu famous is found in Kastamonu, although in a much more urban setting and with much less restoration.
For food lovers, Safranbolu is a treat. There are several very good restaurants in the old town as well as a unique local cuisine.
The UNESCO World Heritage listed old town of Safranbolu is well-known for its collection of beautifully restored traditional Ottoman homes and mansions. While exploring the town, you’ll find all kinds of different homes that have been turned into boutique hotels, restaurants, or ethnographic museums.
There are two historic mosques in the UNESCO World Heritage listed old town of Safranbolu, Turkey.
From a small square in the UNESCO World Heritage listed old town of Safranbolu, follow the road uphill past restored Ottoman homes and you’ll come to the Kale section of town. From there, you’ll find some great views of the old town.
The final stop for my day exploring the area around Safranbolu was Yörükköyü. It’s a small village near Safranbolu that has remained almost untouched for nearly 200 years.