Konya Travel Guide

Konya lies on the high plain of central Anatolia, about halfway between the Mediterranean coast and Cappadocia. In the 12th and 13th centuries it was the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, and in 1228 the poet and mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi, known in Turkey as Mevlana, settled here with his family. He is buried under the green-tiled dome that is now the symbol of the city.

Why visit Konya

Most people come for Rumi. The Mevlana Museum, his former lodge and mausoleum, is one of the most visited museums in Turkey, and many visitors are pilgrims rather than tourists. The second reason is Seljuk architecture: the Karatay Madrasa, with its blue and black tile dome, and the Ince Minareli Madrasa, with a carved stone doorway, now museums of tiles and stone carving. Konya is also a good stop on the long drive between the coast and Cappadocia, and it was Iconium in the Book of Acts, where Paul preached on his journeys.

How much time you need

One day covers the Mevlana Museum, the madrasas and Alaeddin Hill. Our private Konya tour from Istanbul does this as a day trip. Stay overnight if you want to see the sema ceremony or visit Catalhoyuk and the village of Sille.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Konya's summer is hot and dry, and winter is cold, often below freezing. The busiest time is the Seb-i Arus commemoration from 7 to 17 December, marking the anniversary of Rumi's death, when sema ceremonies are held daily and hotels fill quickly.

Getting there from Istanbul

The high-speed train from Istanbul to Konya takes around 4.5 to 5 hours and is the relaxed way to go. Flights to Konya take roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. By road it is about 650 km. From Cappadocia, Konya is about 3 hours by car, and the drive passes the Sultanhani caravanserai, a 13th-century roadside inn.

Top experiences

• Rumi's tomb and the museum's collection of manuscripts, musical instruments and dervish robes.
• A sema ceremony at the Mevlana Cultural Center, held on Saturday evenings for most of the year.
• The tile collection of the Karatay Madrasa and the stone doorway of the Ince Minareli Madrasa.
• Alaeddin Mosque on the hill at the city centre.
• Catalhoyuk, about 50 km southeast, one of the earliest large settlements known, occupied from around 7400 BC.
• Sille, an old Greek village with a Byzantine church, a short drive from town.

Where to stay

Hotels around the Mevlana Museum and Alaeddin Hill put the main sights within walking distance.

What to eat

Konya's signature dish is etli ekmek, a very long, thin flatbread topped with minced meat, cut into strips. Try also firin kebabi (slow-roasted lamb), bamya soup and sweet, cream-filled pastries.

Practical tips

• The Mevlana Museum is a shrine. Dress modestly; women should bring a headscarf.
• The sema is a religious ceremony, not a show. Applause is not appropriate.
• Konya is a conservative city; alcohol is hard to find.

Konya is included in several of our longer routes, such as the 10-day Turkey private tour and the Footsteps of St Paul tour. See all Konya tours.