Konya

Konya is a large city on the Anatolian plateau, a little over 1,000 metres up, and a major centre of Sufism. It owes its place in a journey to one man: Jalal ad-Din Rumi, known in Turkey as Mevlana, a 13th-century mystic poet whose followers founded the order of the whirling dervishes. His mausoleum draws pilgrims from all over the world. Around it, the city keeps the monuments of the era when it was the capital of the Seljuk sultans of Rum.

A stopover rather than a stay

Konya can be seen in one full day, two if you add Çatalhöyük. It fits naturally between Cappadocia, 2 h 55 by road, and Ankara, 3 h 05 by road or a high-speed train ride away. For travellers making a loop through central Anatolia, it is the stop that says most about the country's religious and artistic history.

The Mevlana Museum

Rumi's mausoleum has become the Mevlana Museum, run by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It is open from 9 am to 5 pm local time, with last entry at the ticket office at 4:30 pm, and admission is free. On Mondays the ticket office opens only at 10 am.

It is a place of devotion as much as a museum: modest dress is expected.

Seljuk art

Two 13th-century madrasas have become museums:

• the Karatay Madrasa, built in 1251, houses the Museum of Tiles; it is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm local time and costs €5 from 1 April 2027;
• the İnce Minare Madrasa, with its slender minaret, houses the Stone and Wood Works Museum, at the same price.

The Konya Archaeological Museum, which is free, was closed in October 2026.

Çatalhöyük

Fifty minutes' drive to the south-east, Çatalhöyük is a Neolithic mound, one of the great prehistoric sites of the Near East. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2012. It is open from 9 am to 5 pm local time; the north shelter, which covers part of the excavations, was temporarily closed in October 2026. Tickets cost €6 from 1 April 2027. Allow half a day including the drive.

The whirling dervishes and Şeb-i Arus

Every December, Konya commemorates Rumi's death with the Şeb-i Arus. Sema ceremonies, the whirling dance of the dervishes, are held during these days. The exact dates of each edition are announced shortly beforehand.

The hotel in the selection

hich hotel konya occupies houses about two centuries old right behind the Mevlana Museum: only the garden wall separates them. Its 13 rooms were restored using stone, wood and metal, with rugs woven in Konya; some look out on the mausoleum. Price recorded for two nights in early June 2027: about €315 per night for two, breakfast included.

When to go

In Konya the average high is 17.6 °C in April, 22.8 °C in May and 20.5 °C in October. Summer is hot and dry, 31 °C in July and August; winter is cold, with average lows below 0 °C from December to February. April to June and September to October suit best; December for the Şeb-i Arus, despite the cold.

Getting to Konya

Konya Airport (KYA), 25 minutes from the centre, has domestic flights from Istanbul. High-speed trains link Konya with Ankara. By road, Cappadocia is 2 h 55 away.

Safety

None of the European foreign ministries followed by Sabaro advises against Konya. Several European ministries call for heightened vigilance across the country; France advises checking that taxis in the city have a meter. The "Travel advice" table on this page gives the advice of your country.