In 60 seconds
Sprawled across the vast Anatolian high plateau, Konya is Turkey's spiritual and intellectual sanctuary. As the historic 12th-century capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, it is graced by monumental carved stone madrasas and the iconic turquoise fluted dome of the Mevlana Museum, the final resting place of the Sufi mystic poet Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi. Just 40 kilometres southeast on the plain lies Çatalhöyük, one of the world's earliest known urban proto-cities dating to 7400 BC, where humanity first transitioned to communal mudbrick town life.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You are looking for beach recreation, nightlife or alcohol-centred entertainment, as Konya is a culturally conservative spiritual centre.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Konya & Çatalhöyük fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Turquoise-domed Sufi sanctuary · Mausoleum of Jalal al-Din Rumi & dervish lodge
A deeply revered spiritual sanctuary housing the embroidered gold-draped sarcophagus of poet Rumi, historic Quranic manuscripts and the Mevlevi lodge where whirling ceremonies originated.
UNESCO 9,000-year-old proto-city · Roof-accessed mudbrick houses & bull shrines
One of humankind's foundational archaeological sites, where thousands of Neolithic hunter-gatherers first gathered into dense windowless mudbrick settlements entered via ladders through the roof.
1251 Seljuk university · Astounding star-patterned mosaic faience dome
Step beneath a grand carved marble portal into a central dome clad in mesmerizing turquoise and deep blue celestial tiles mapping the constellation skies.
1220 Seljuk imperial congregation mosque crowning an ancient artificial mound
Konya's oldest mosque, featuring a hypostyle forest of classical marble columns and the octagonal marble mausoleums of eight Seljuk sultans.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Where to eat the food this city is actually known for.
The historic temple of Konya tirit since 1989
Serves Konya's signature delicacy: roasted sourdough pita cubes soaked in rich bone broth, layered with tender pulled lamb, strained yoghurt, hot browned butter and sumac.
Renowned artisan master of Konya's metre-long crisp meat flatbread
Watch bakers stretch dough into razor-thin metre-long flatbreads topped with minced lamb, peppers and parsley, blistered crisp inside huge wood-burning ovens.
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Sufi and 13th-century Seljuk palace culinary heritage restaurant
Recreates historic medieval Seljuk and Mevlevi convent recipes, pairing slow-cooked quince lamb with almond pilaf and rose-petal sherbets.
Leafy riverside tea gardens celebrated since the days of Rumi
Relax alongside a babbling stream in the shade of weeping willows with freshly brewed tea, samovars, and traditional saffron cookies.
Beyond the obvious
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Ancient Cappadocian-Greek rock village · 4th-century Saint Helena Byzantine Church
A tranquil stone village 8 km northwest of Konya where Cappadocian Greeks and Turks lived side by side for centuries, featuring frescoed rock chapels and stream-side cafés.
13th-century Seljuk school featuring breathtaking ribbon-carved stone calligraphic facade
Famous for its intricately interlaced stone relief entrance portal displaying monumental Quranic inscriptions woven like ceremonial cloth.
After dark
Non-alcoholic historic drink parlour serving chilled botanical herbal infusions
A peaceful spot to sample chilled traditional spiced herbal infusions made with tamarind, rosehip, hibiscus, clove and pomegranate.
Orientation
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Spiritual and historic centre of monuments, bazaars and dervish lodgings
The most practical base for sightseers, within immediate walking distance of the museum, madrasas and classic eateries.
Lush green oasis district at the western foot of the hills
Ideal for escaping summer city heat, family strolls through riverside parks, and long afternoon tea sessions.
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Boutique hotels with views of the turquoise fluted dome
Best for dawn and dusk visits to the Mevlana sanctuary and easy pedestrian access to Seljuk madrasas.
Restored stone village guesthouses along the stream valley
Perfect for travellers seeking pastoral serenity, mountain air and historic village charm 15 minutes outside the city.
Practical
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
Çatalhöyük flourishes on the fertile alluvial plain as one of the world's earliest and largest Neolithic towns.
Becomes the glittering capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum; Rumi writes his spiritual masterwork the Masnavi here.
The Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük is formally inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Spectacular 1296 Seljuk mosque with 48 hand-carved cedar pillars and freshwater lake
An architectural marvel inscribed on the UNESCO list, containing 48 monumental carved cedar columns and an interior snow-storage pit overlooking Turkey's largest freshwater lake.
Hidden rock-hewn Byzantine sanctuary and canyon chapels
Resembling Cappadocia but visited by very few travellers, this ancient stone settlement features rock-cut cross-plan chapels where Saint Paul took shelter.
