Aksaray
Aksaray is a city in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.
It is the seat of Aksaray Province and Aksaray District. Its population is 247,147 (2021). In 2021 the province had an estimated population of 429,069 distributed over about 7,659 km2 (2,957 mi2). The average elevation is 980 m (3,215 ft), with the highest point being Mt. Hasan at 3,268 m (10,722 ft).
Getting to Aksaray
- 01Otogarı
Worth seeing
- 01Grand Mosque
It's also known as Karamanoğlu Mehmed Bey Mosque, as it was built in 1408 during the Karaman reign.
- 02Zinciriye Medrese
This was built in 1336 and has a fine facade.
- 03Red Mosque
The mosque and minaret date from 1306, the Seljuk era.
- 04Yusuf Hakiki Baba Complex
Includes the elegant tombs of Islamic saint Somuncu Baba (Sheyh Hamid-i Vali 1331–1412) and the scholar Cemaleddin (Şeyh Cemaleddin Aksarayî’ni, 12th century).
- 05Aksaray Museum
Konya Cd 16 (500 m east of Otogar next to Grand Çakıroğlu Hotel),.
- 06Sultan Han
A caravanserai of 1229, one of the finest Seljuk structures.
Things to do
- 01Lunapark
Ihlara valley – For hiking and rock-climbing near Güzelyurt.
Where to eat
- 01Künefeland
Just a 4.1 rating on Big Brother, but definitely worth a visit with sweet, delicious and affordable Künefe.
Getting around Aksaray the local way
- Get inFrom Nevşehir bus station (west of town) a local minibus is no more than about €3 (50 TL as of May 2022).
- Get inLarger bus companies will also take you along the ride, just don't pay more than for the minibus.
- Get aroundIt would make sense to rent a car (check Google Maps and ratings), but as soon as you are out of the city hitchhiking is also possible.
From Wikivoyage: Aksaray, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Marat Nadjibaev (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.