Things to Do in Aladağ: 9 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Aladağ

• 2 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 6 Nature

🏺 Ancient Cities 1

i Photo: Zeynel Cebeci (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

3 🏺 Ancient City

Akören Ancient City

This ancient settlement in Akören village, dating from the Byzantine period, is known for the basilica ruins locally called the Broken Church. Water cisterns and traces of settlement show the dense population of the region in late antiquity.

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While you are in Aladağ, you can also see the highlights of Adana province. These places are in other districts.

• Taşköprü (Stone Bridge) — A Roman bridge linking the two banks of the Seyhan River, probably built in the first half of the 2nd century AD and attributed to Emperor Hadrian.
• Great Clock Tower — Begun in the time of Governor Ziya Paşa and completed in 1882 under Abidin Paşa, this 32-metre brick tower is the tallest clock tower in Türkiye.
• Adana Grand Mosque — Begun by Ramazanoğlu Halil Bey in 1509 and completed by his son Piri Mehmet Paşa in 1541, the mosque is the masterpiece of the Ramazanoğulları Principality.
• Yağ Mosque — This multi-columned building was formed when the Armenian Church of Surp Hagop was converted into a mosque in 1501 under Ramazanoğlu Halil Bey and merged with the new mosque that Piri Mehmet Paşa had built beside it; it is among the oldest mosques in the city.
• Ramazanoğlu Mansion — According to the inscription over its door, the harem section of this mansion, south-east of the Grand Mosque, was completed by Halil Bey in April 1495. One of the oldest examples of a mansion in Türkiye, it hosted the Ottoman sultans who came to Adana, and today it is used as a cultural centre.
• Sabancı Central Mosque — Opened for worship in 1998 on the west bank of the Seyhan River, south of Central Park, the mosque can hold 28,500 people including its open areas, making it one of the largest mosques in the region.

Practical Information for Visiting Aladağ

Suggested time

2–3 days

Best time to visit

May–October

Places to visit

9 places

• 🍲

  Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

  This traditional dish is made by boiling cracked wheat and meat for a long time and then pounding them together. In the mountain villages of Aladağ it is a must at wedding and festival tables. It is served with butter.

• 🥣

  Tarhana Çorbası (tarhana soup)

  Tarhana dough is prepared in the district in the summer months and dried to be stored for winter. Drunk piping hot in Aladağ's harsh winter climate, this soup has its own distinctive flavour from a blend of yoghurt, tomato and spices.

• 🍗

  Arabaşı (chicken and yoghurt soup)

  This local soup is made by adding a mixture of flour and yoghurt to chicken broth. It is a staple of winter tables in the mountain villages of the Taurus. Served with shredded chicken meat.

• 🫓

  Bazlama (flatbread)

  This traditional bread is cooked on a sač griddle and is an inseparable part of Aladağ's plateau culture. It is eaten at breakfast with fresh butter and honey.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Aladağ

• 🎨

  Aladağ Nature and Art Festival

  Organised by Adana Governorship and Aladağ Municipality, this festival aims to raise awareness of nature conservation and to make nature-related issues visible through art. It features local and national artists.

• 🏔️

  Plateau Migration Tradition

  The migration of lowland people from Çukurova to the Aladağ plateaus during the hot summer months is a tradition that has continued for centuries. This seasonal migration forms one of the cornerstones of the region's cultural identity.

• ⛺

  Yörük Culture

  The Yörük tradition, still kept alive in the mountain villages of Aladağ, carries traces of a nomadic livestock culture. Felt-making, kilim weaving and traditional tent life are important elements of this culture.

Local Products

• Mountain Honey — Mountain honey made from the rich flora of the Aladağlar is the most valued natural product of the region. This honey, with its thyme and flower aromas, is produced by traditional methods on the district's plateaus.
• Tarhana — Tarhana is made by mixing yoghurt, tomato, pepper and wheat flour and drying the mixture. It is the most important product of Aladağ's winter preparations.
• Goat's Cheese — This cheese is produced from the milk of goats raised in the mountain villages and reflects the region's livestock tradition. It matures in a natural environment, gaining its distinctive firm texture and sharp aroma.

Economy

The economy of Aladağ rests largely on agriculture and livestock farming. Small livestock dominates in the mountainous terrain, while grain and fruit are grown in the valleys. Forestry is also an important sector contributing to the district's economy. In recent years, with the growing recognition of natural attractions such as the Küp Waterfalls and Kapuzbaşı Waterfall, eco-tourism has begun to develop. The district also has chromium ore deposits, and mining activities contribute to the economy.

How to Get to Aladağ

Aladağ is about 92 km from Adana city centre and is reached by road. The nearest airport is Çukurova International Airport, on the border of Tarsus district in Mersin. Regular minibus services run from Adana's intercity bus terminal to Aladağ. The district lies in a mountainous area at an altitude of 921 metres, so road conditions should be checked in winter.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Adana

Aladağ: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Aladağ Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Adana The province's 28 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Adana

• Ceyhan 12 places Yılankale, Sirkeli Höyük and Kurtkulağı Caravanserai
• Çukurova 3 places Seyhan Dam Lake, Turgut Özal Boulevard and Mahfesığmaz and 100th Year Neighbourhood
• Feke 4 places Feke Castle (Vahka Castle), Kara Church and Göksu River
• İmamoğlu 6 places Altınini Cave and Waterfall, İmamoğlu Underground City and İmamoğlu Mound
• Karaisalı 7 places Kapıkaya Canyon, Milvan Castle and Keçi Castle
• Karataş 7 places Magarsus (Megarsos) Ancient City, Akyatan Lagoon and Tuzla Lagoon
• Kozan 7 places Kozan Castle (Sis Castle), Anavarza Ancient City and Sin Monastery
• Pozantı 6 places Gülek Boğazı (Kilikya Kapıları), Anahşa Kaleleri and İbrahim Paşa (Tekir) Tabyaları
• Saimbeyli 12 places Çatak (Obruk) Plateau, Saimbeyli (Haçin) Castle and Zamantı River and rafting route
• Sarıçam 4 places Çukurova University Balcalı Campus, East Shore of Seyhan Dam Lake and Sarıçam Forests
• Seyhan 8 places Sabancı Central Mosque, Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) and Ramazanoğlu Mansion
• Tufanbeyli 4 places Şar (Komana) Ancient City, Tufanbeyli Plateaus and Zamantı River Valley
• Yumurtalık 6 places Ayas Castle, Süleyman Tower and Yumurtalık Lagoon National Park
• Yüreğir 5 places Misis (Mopsuestia) Ancient City, Misis Mosaic Museum and Misis Bridge