Erzurum City Guide

Erzurum City Guide

Erzurum located at the southeast of the East Anatolian Region is the biggest city in the region with a population of 937.389. Residing as the 4th largest city of Turkey after, in turn, Konya, Sivas and Ankara, the city holds a place at the hillside of Palandoken Mountain.

Tourist Attractions

Harboring a great deal of historical artifacts, Erzurum has a tremendous cultural affluence. In addition to the historic facet of the city, Palandoken Mountain transformed the city into a winter tourism center.

Erzurum Cift Minareli (Double-Towered) Madrasah is the symbol of the city. Because of the lack of inscribed stone panel, it is not known when this historical structure was constructed. You should not miss this mystical and archaeological wonder.

Three Cupolas (Uc Kumbetler) is another significant artifact existed in the city. The tombs are made of hewn stones. Nobody knows whose graves are these structures. You will be trance by these historical structures.

Roman Emperor Theodosius constructed Erzurum Castle rising on a 2000 meters high hill in the 5th century. The small mosque and the Clock Tower of the castle represent the first examples of Turkish archeology. Want to get to know the Turkish archeology style, so come to see these knockout structures.

Cobandede Bridge constructed in 1297 and Rustempasa Bedesten (market of antiques) built by Ottoman Emperor Kanuni Sultan Suleyman are the other significant structures that you should see.

Cift Haneli and Yakutiye Madrasahes are alluring structures bestowed by history to the city.

Culture & Entertainment

Lullabies and folk songs of the city are popular in Turkey. Yemen, Sarigelin, Kevenk Yoli (Kevenk way), Komur Gozlum and Humakusu are among the popular folk songs of the city.

Located at the south of the city, Palandoken Mountain has a height of 3.185 m and is stretched towards the east-west direction. These mountains being one of the main skiing and winter sports centers of Turkey are the hearths of winter tourism in the city. With its skiing rinks (smooth and straight), accommodations (5 star hotels) and transportation (10 minutes to the airport and 5 km to the Centrum) facilities, you will experience one of the dreamy winters at this location.

Pasinler, one of the districts of the city, Spring Resort is the main place for thermal tourism in the city. Also, rafting is prevalent at Ispir district.

Erzurum, Sarisu and Bulanik Plateaus, Hacli Lake are the significant bird paradises in Erzurum.

Food & Drink

Erzurum is famous for cag kebab, ayran asi soup and kadayif dolma. You should absolutely taste cag kebab, water pastry, yogurt soup and kadayif dolma (a kind of sweet). Eksili dolma, kesme soup, ayran asi soup, ciris, salgam dolma, egg pilaf and more are other examples from the city cuisine.

Shopping

The commodities made of oltu stone are pretty popular. Oltu stone is a kind of lignite being black, glistening, dense and homogeneous. You should buy bric-a-bracs and souvenirs from oltu stone before leaving the city. Rustempasa Bedesten and the shops near Palandoken are the main places to find these kinds of goods. Also, the city is popular with its modern shopping malls. Erzurum Ethemoglu Shopping Center is one of these main malls.