First Time in Konya

One full day covers the central axis: the Mevlana Museum, Selimiye Mosque, the bazaar and Alaaddin Hill lie on a single 2-km walking line. With 2 days you can add Sille's stone streets and the Seljuk madrasas. 3 days lets you add a side trip to Çatalhöyük (UNESCO) or Lake Beyşehir. Stay overnight if you can — Konya shows a different face in the evening.

✈️ By air: Konya Airport (KYA) is about 18 km from the centre; Havaş shuttles and taxis run from the terminal — check current shuttle times on the Havaş website.

🚄 High-speed train: Konya is on the YHT network — about 1h45 from Ankara and about 4.5h from Istanbul. Tickets at TCDD. The station is a few kilometres from the centre, with tram and bus connections.

🚌 Intercity bus: The otogar is connected to the centre by tram.

Konya's transport card is called Elkart; it works on trams and buses and is sold at kiosks and stop-side machines (elkart.com.tr). Contactless bank cards are also accepted on some lines.

For the centre you rarely need a vehicle — the Mevlana–Alaaddin axis is walkable. Use our What's Near Me? map to orient yourself.

Two areas stand out: around the Mevlana Museum (walking distance to the shrine and bazaar; fully booked months ahead in December) and the Alaaddin–station axis (near the tram and YHT station, quieter). We deliberately recommend no specific hotel — pick the area, then compare on your trusted booking channel.

Konya classics: etli ekmek (meat flatbread), fırın kebabı (oven-roasted lamb), okra soup and höşmerim dessert. Restaurants near the Mevlana Museum are used to visitors; neighbourhood bakeries feel more local. Browse the food category in Places or follow the Taste Route.

Konya has a steppe climate: spring (Apr–Jun) and autumn (Sep–Oct) are most comfortable. Summer middays are hot and dry; winters are cold, though the shrine courtyard under snow is beautiful. December is the busiest season due to Şeb-i Arûs — see the box below. Check today's weather on our Natural Events page.

Mosques are open daily but pause visits during prayer times, especially Friday noon prayer.

Museums: one golden rule — verify current hours on the official page before you go. Some close on Mondays; on the first day of religious holidays many are closed until noon. We deliberately do not print exact hours here because they change.

Find tonight's on-duty pharmacy on our Pharmacy on Duty page.

👗 Etiquette: Cover shoulders and knees at shrines and mosques; headscarves are provided for women at the shrine entrance. Shoes come off inside mosques.

👨‍👩‍👧 Families: The tram is an attraction in itself; the Science Centre and Japanese Park suit kids — try the Family Route.

🚺 Women travellers: Konya is conservative but hospitable; the central areas are busy and safe day and evening. Normal precautions suffice.

🌍 Foreign visitors: English is limited outside tourist spots; museums offer audio guides. Cards are widely accepted.

🆘 Emergency: 112 is the single number for all emergencies.