Safranbolu Travel

Safranbolu is located in the Karabük Province in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. It is located approximately 200 kilometers north of Ankara and about a hundred kilometers south of the Black Sea coast. It is about 9 kilometers north of the city of Karabük.

Safranbolu was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994 due to its well-preserved Ottoman era houses and architecture.


History

Safranbolu’s history dates back around 3,000 years and has been host to many civilizations including the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. There are many tumulis and ancient graves in the Safranbolu area which provide proof of settlement during the early Bronze Age.

When the Roman Empire split in 395AD, the city became part of the Byzantine Empire. Although Turks took power in 1196, control of Safranbolu switched between the Empires for many years and contrary views remain regarding when the Ottomans took definitive power of the city.

There were a series of civil wars beginning in 1402 and it was only when Sultan Mehmet united the Ottomans that the city was definitively rested in Ottoman hands. The administrative structure of Safranbolu changed many times throughout its history. The town’s first mayor was Haci Muhammed Aga, who took power in 1870.

Safranbolu’s importance is often linked to its strategic position on the Silk Road and it was an important caravan trading post, especially well known for its top quality saffron, for which the city is named for.
Navigation

Located at the west of Black Sea Region in Turkey, Safranbolu has the coordinates as 41 degree 16 minute northern latitude, 32 degree 41 minute eastern longitude. It's a borough of Karabük Province and 10km from Karabük on the southwest, 70 km from Amasra on the north, 225 km from Ankara on the south and 390 km from Istanbul on the west.
Weather

Safranbolu's climate takes on characteristics of the Black Sea and Central Anatolian regions of Turkey. The city enjoys hot summers, cold winters and mild spring and autumn seasons.

Jan 18, 2010 http://www.dmi.gov.tr/en-US/forecast-cities.aspx?m=karabuk
Turkish State Meteorological Service
Getting there
By plane

There are no airports close to Safranbolu.
By train

There is a Karaelmas Ekspresi ('Black Diamond Express') train which runs from Ankara to Zonguldak. Those bound for Safranbolu should exit the train at the 'Karabuk' stop and take a taxi or bus to Safranbolu from there. Up to date timetable information, prices and bookings can be done through the Turkish State Railways website: [1]
By car

Those coming to Safranbolu by car along the Ankara-Istanbul Highway should take the 'Gerede' exit and continue north. There are signs directing travellers to Karabuk and Safranbolu.
By bus

The easiest way to reach Safranbolu by bus is to take one of the many direct services to nearby Karabuk, from where frequent minibuses make the 8km journey to Kirankoy. There are some direct buses which run from Ankara to Kirankoy (4 hours). From Istanbul-Karabuk it take 6 - 7 hours.
By boat

As Safranbolu is located inland, it is not possible to reach by boat.
Getting around
By car
By public transport

The easiest way to get around Safranbolu is by dolmus (shared taxi). There are regular dolmus services which run between the new town and old town of Safranbolu, a distance of about 2km. There are also local buses which run from the main square in Carsi (the old town) to the roundabout in Kirankoy and finish in Bağlar at the Köyiçi stop.
By foot

Safranbolu is easily accessible by walking, and is a good way to take in the history and architecture of Carsi (the old town) and its historic houses.
By bike
See

Most visitors come to Safranbolu to see its impressive houses. There are over 1,000 preserved Ottoman buildings which date to the 18th and 19th centuries. Almost all of the structures have been preserved, giving a rare glimpse into life during Ottoman times.

The town functions as a virtual open air museum. There are a number of public buildings worth visiting including the Cinci Hodja Hamam (Turkish bath), the Tennaries Clock Tower, an old hospital and city hall, mosques, the Incekaya Aqueduct and many private homes which are open to the public. The houses, many of which have between 6 and 9 rooms over 3-4 stories, reflect the large number of family members which once inhabited them. Intricate carvings can be found on some interior walls and ceilings of the houses.

Other popular attractions include the Köprülü Mehmet Paşa Camii (Mosque) which dates to 1661; the historic 17th century Cinci Hamam which is still in operation; the Cinci Hanı caravanserai which was constructed in 1645 and is now a hotel; and Hıdırlık Parkı (Hidirlik Park).
Do

Take a wander through the old town, admiring the UNESCO World Heritage preserved buildings.


Events and Festivals

Safranbolu welcomes filmmakers who are interested in documentarism to INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN SAFFRON DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL once a year in September.
Eat

Safranbolu has a large selection of cafes and restaurants. Some of the more popular of these include:

Cevrikkopru- this restaurant has 3 branches in Safranbolu and offers a variety of grills and traditional Turkish meals.

Merkez Lokantasi- located opposite the Köprülü Mehmet Paşa Mosque, this eatery is popular with both locals and travellers.
Drink

Asmaalti Cafe & Bar serves up food and live music.

Sleep

There are a fair variety of accommodation options in Safranbolu, the most popular of which are the many hotels, pensions and guesthouses located inside the restored Ottoman houses. Most hotels are in the mid-range category but there are also some budget and high-end options available.
Budget

Bastocu Hotel & Pension- This small historic pension has shared dormitories and private rooms as well as a garden.

Safranbolu Camlica Konagi- this 3-storey family-run mansion has capacity for 35 guests in 10 bedrooms.
Mid-Range

Cesmeli Konak- This hotel was built in the 19th century and maintains traditional Turkish decor and decoration.

Efe Guesthouse- this Ottoman-era guesthouse is over 180 years old and has a roof terrace which enjoys views over the city.
Upscale

Gulevi Hotel- set inside two renovated Ottoman houses, this historic hotel has all modern amenities.

Cinci Han Hotel- situated inside a 17th century building, Cinci Han Hotel has a variety of suites to choose from, as well as a restaurant, cafe, bar and conference facilities.
Learn

Karabuk Universitesi Safranbolu Meslek Yuksekokulu [2] is a vocational school as a part of Karabuk university. The mission of the Safranbolu Vocational School is to reach, produce, apply and promote knowledge, and to educate individuals with that knowledge for the social, cultural, scientific and technological development of the society.
Keep connected
Internet
Phone

Phone code for Safranbolu is +90 (370)


Post office PTT is located at Yeni Mahallesi, Sadri Artunç Caddesi, No:82 in the town and the phone number is +90-370-712 6733.
Safety

EMNİYET MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ - Police Department's phone number is (+90) 370 712 12 22

JANDARMA KOMUTANLIĞI - District Gendarmerie Command's phone number is (+90) 370 712 12 20
Stay Healthy

Safranbolu Devlet Hastanesi (State Hospital) [3] is located at İnönü Mahallesi, Sağlık Sokak in Safranbolu and the phone number is (+90) 370 712 11 87.

AVANOS TRAVEL

Avanos is the pottery centre of Cappadocia. The city is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak, meaning the Red River. The river gets its name from the clay that it deposits - the caly that is used for the pottery Avanos is famous for.

The main street of town has numerous shops and workshops selling plain and decorated pots and plates and you can watch the potters at work using kick wheels, the design of which has remained unchanged for generations. Many of the workshops will encourage you to have a go yourself. Groups of tourists are shipped in the whole time and there are always a few people willing to give it a go - always good for a few laughs.

Avanos is a possible base for exploring Cappadocia with accommodation and services available at reasonable rates. Sights in town include the Caravanserai, a restored Han (travellers 'service station'), and the Ozkanak Underground city, a smaller version of those at Derinkuyu and Kaymakli.

ANTALYA - KEMER TRAVEL

Overview
Like many resort towns, Kemer was purpose-built and thus has little local flavour, with all of its amenities aimed at tourists on holiday. Kemer's setting, however, is incredibly beautiful, and it supposedly had its origins as a Lycian settlement.

The small seaside town of Kemer is situated in a forested valley surrounded by the western Taurus Mountains, close to the larger, livelier resort of Antalya. It boasts a lovely marina with a promenade down to the beach, and tastefully designed hotels and houses spread along the shore, and there are many bays and coves to explore. An interesting place to visit is the Yoruk (Nomad) Park where visitors can see traditional craftsmen at work under leafy trees.

There is not much to do in the town itself, and day trips to neighbouring Beldibi or Antalya are recommended, as are trips to the ancient sites of Phaselis and Olympos, as well as the fascinating, permanent natural vents, known as the Fires of Chimaera, that release burning methane and whose flames were used by sailors to navigate at night.

Many hotels in Kemer offer their own entertainment and activities for guests, and several have private beach access. Kemer therefore suits those looking for little else but an extremly relaxing holiday.

KUŞADASI - KUSADASI

Kuşadası is a major Aegean resort town and cruise ship port. Being so close to the renowned ruins of Ephesus (map), it gets more than its share of Turkish and foreign visitors.
Once a sleepy farming village, Kuşadası (koo-SHAH-dah-suh) was transformed by the Turkish tourism boom of the 1980s. It's now a busy resort with a beach along the waterfront boulevard in town and several other beaches north and south of the town. They tend to be crowded in the summer.
Scores of hotels provide for the sun-seekers.


The prime beach—rather narrow, and backed by city—is Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Plajı). Some visitors make the 15-minute, 8-km drive to nearby Pamucak Beach, which is wide, long and uncrowded, nearer to Ephesus, but with fewer services.

You can use it as a base for visiting sights in the region such as Ephesus; Priene, Miletus and Didyma; Euromos; Pamukkale and Aphrodisias. Guided tours are available to all these places, or you can see them by yourself. More...

When a cruise ship is in port, Kusadasi's transient population soars and the market teems with hagglers. If you're arriving on a cruise ship and would like a good, reasonably-priced shore excursion like those mentioned above, contact Anker Travel, a trusted local tour operator, travel agency and TurkeyTravelPlanner.com partner.

Click here for full information on ferries to Greece and the Greek Islands.

In the evening, Kuşadası's nightlife scene is lively, from the British- and Irish-themed bars to the cool jazz haunts.

Here's how to travel to and from Kuşadası.

Here's a tip: pronounce the town's name "koo-SHAH-dah-suh" if you want to sound like you know what you're doing. That's the correct Turkish pronunciation. (The clueless pronounce it "KOOS-uh-DASS-see.") It means "Bird Island:" kus = bird, ada(si) = island.

POPULAR TURKEY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

Ankara City Information (The Capital of Turkey)

The Ankara region's past reaches all the way back to prehistoric times. While there are several versions as to the origin of the name Ankara, it seems as though its historically recorded name has hardly changed ever since antiquity untill our time: Ankyra (Ancyra), Angora, Enggürü and now Ankara.

After having remained within the borders of successively the Hittites, Phrygians, Kimmerians, Persians, Lydians, Macedonians, Galatians, Romans and Seljuks, the town was included in the Ottoman realm in 1354, by the son of Orhan Gazi [Gazi=Veteran Fighter of the Faith, Orhan Gazi was the Ottoman sovereign, �1362], Süleyman Pasha [Pasha=Commander]. In 1902, the Province of Ankara included 5 sanjaks and 21 kazas [sanjak and kaza are subdivisions of an Ottoman province], but in 1924 the sanjaks were abolished according to the Bill on the Principles of Organization and thus the sanjaks of Kayseri, Yozgat, Kirsehir, and Çorum were elevated to province status and thus separated from the Province of Ankara.

Our province, where the planning for the Liberation War and preparations for the founding of the Republic took place, holds a special significance in our recent history. After he had chosen Ankara as headquarters to conduct the proceedings of the Representative Body, Mustafa Kemal was greeted with much enthusiasm upon arriving here on Dec. 27th, 1919. It was here that, from that day on, Mustafa Kemal started to form the foundations of the Turkish Republic. The town of Ankara, declared Capital on Oct. 13th, 1923, was from then on the scene of a rapid social, economical, political, military and cultural development.

CULTURE:
Ankara, which has been the cradle of the Anatolian Civilizations for ages, has been in a rapid social development and renewal especially in the aspect of cultural activities, after becoming the Capital City. In our province, which has been the resort of many civilizations from the Ancient Anatolian culture up to day, we see the deep effects of the developments in the traditions, conventions and culture more clearly in the rural areas.

The trend, which started with imitating the old Ottoman architecture especially in the Dikmen, Çankaya and Gazi Osman Paşa quarters of the province, transformed into modern architecture and pioneered the form and style of today� contemporary Turkish architecture. Besides, the old mansions and houses in the Ankara Castle today still live almost without any changes.

In our province there are about 30 official and private museums, 1 National Library with its renewed facilities, 43 public, 1 mobile and 1 children� library. Moreover, many official and private organizations that address to national and international congress tourism keep alive the cultural activities. In our province there are 343 associations and foundations performing cultural and art activities. There are 418 printing houses, 32 cinemas, 8 state theaters and 21 private theaters in our province.

Our province has made successful works in the field of museums after becoming the Capital City. Anatolian Civilizations (Archaeology) and Ethnography Museums were established in the first years of our Republic and their works of art are rapidly becoming rich.

Anitkabir Ankara Atakule Ankara Ankara Hotels

WHERE TO VISIT?



- Anitkabir (Ataturk Mausoleum)
Located in an imposing position in the Anittepe quarter of the city stands the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic. Completed in 1953, it is an impressive fusion of ancient and modern architectural ideas and remains unsurpassed as an accomplishment of modern Turkish architecture. There is a museum housing writings, letters and items belonging to Ataturk as well as an exhibition of photographs recording important moments in his life and the establishment of the republic. (Anitkabir and the museum is open everyday, except Mondays. During the summer, there is a light and sound show in the evenings).

- The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Close to the citadel gate an old bedesten has been beautifully restored and now houses a marvelous and unique collection including Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian and Roman works. (Open everyday, except Monday. During the summer, the museum opens everyday).

- The Ethnographical Museum
Opposite the Opera House on Talat Pasa Boulevard is the Ethnographical Museum. There is a fine collection of folkloric artifacts as well as fine items from Seljuk and Ottoman mosques. (Open everyday, except Monday).

- The Ankara Citadel
The foundations of the citadel were laid by the Galatians on a prominent lava outcrop, and completed by the Romans; the Byzantines and Seljuks made restorations and additions. The area around and inside the citadel is the oldest part of Ankara and many fine examples of traditional architecture can be seen within the citadel walls. There are also lovely green areas in which to relax.

- The Temple of Augustus
The temple can be found in the Ulus quarter of the city. It was built in the 2nd century BC and only later dedicated to the Emperor Augustus. It is important today for the 'Monument Ancyranum', the testament of Augustus that is inscribed on its walls in Latin and Greek. In the fifth century the temple was converted to a church.

- The Roman Bath
The bath, situated on Cankiri Avenue in Ulus, has the typical features of Roman baths: a frigidarium (cold section), tepidarium (cool section) and caldarium (hot section). They were built in the time of the Emperor Caracalla (3rd century AD) in honor of the god of medicine, Asclepios. Today only the basement and first floors remain.

- The Column of Julian
This column, in Ulus, was erected in 362 AD probably to commemorate a visit by the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate. It stands fifteen meters high and has a typical leaf decoration on the capital.

- Haci Bayram Mosque
This mosque, in Ulus, next to the Temple of Augustus, was built in the early 15th century and subsequently restored by Sinan in the l6th century with Kutahya tiles being added in the 18th century. The mosque was built in honor of Haci Bayram Veli whose tomb is next to the mosque.

AMASRA

Amasra is a small Black Sea port town in the Bartyn Province, Turkey. The town is today much appreciated for its beaches and natural setting, which has made tourism the most important activity for its inhabitants.
Amasra has two islands: the bigger one is called Buyuk ada (Great Island) while the smaller one is called Tavsan adasy (Rabbit Island).

Aspendos

Aspendos, a theater with a 10,000- person capacity located in between the peaks of the Toros Mountains, is a a oemust seea sight and has attracted droves of admirers over the years.