Things to Do in Karaisalı: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Karaisalı

• 4 Historic
• 3 Nature

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

1 🌳 Nature

Kapıkaya Canyon

One of the district's natural beauties, used as a walking area.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Milvan Castle

A castle near Karakılıç Neighbourhood, whose history goes back to the Roman period.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Keçi Castle

A castle in Etekli Neighbourhood, 40 km north-east of Karaisalı, built by the Romans and surrounded by a dungeon.

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4 🏛️ Historic

Kesiri Han

A han near Altınova village, on the historic Silk Road.

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5 🌳 Nature

Dokuzoluk Picnic Area

A picnic area at Merkezboztahta, north-east of the district centre.

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6 🏛️ Historic

Varda Bridge

A historic bridge near Hacıkırı village, on the Adana–Ankara road.

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7 🌳 Nature

Kızıldağ Plateau

A plateau that is very popular with the people of Karaisalı.

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While you are in Karaisalı, 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 Karaisalı

Suggested time

1–2 days

Best time to visit

April–October

Places to visit

7 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 Karaisalı's mountain villages it is the crowning dish of wedding and festival tables. It is served with butter.

• 🥣

  Tarhana Çorbası (tarhana soup)

  Tarhana dough, prepared and dried in the summer months, is eaten as a hot soup in winter. Karaisalı's local tarhana offers a rich flavour of yoghurt and spices.

• 🥩

  Sacda Et (griddle-cooked lamb with vegetables)

  Lamb cooked on a griddle together with vegetables, this local dish is prepared over a wood fire in the traditional way in Karaisalı's rural restaurants.

• 🫓

  Bazlama (flatbread)

  This traditional bread, baked on a griddle over a wood fire, is an essential part of village breakfasts in Karaisalı. It is served with fresh butter, honey or pekmez.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Karaisalı

• 🤼

  Salbaş Wrestling Festival

  A traditional wrestling tournament held every year at the end of April or beginning of May in Salbaş, the most long-established cultural event in Karaisalı. It draws great interest with the participation of pehlivans from neighbouring districts.

• 🏔️

  Kızıldağ Plateau Festival

  Held every year in the last week of August at Kızıldağ, this open-air festival is a colourful event with folk music concerts, traditional competitions and local product exhibitions.

• 🏰

  Ramazanoğulları Heritage

  Karaisalı takes its name from a lord of the Ramazanoğulları principality. The district, which lived through the Seljuk, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and Ottoman periods, has a rich historical heritage.

Local Products

• Karaisalı Pepper — Karaisalı Pepper was registered as a protected geographical indication on 16 January 2025 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1689). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Karaisalı Municipality.
• Mountain Honey — Mountain honey, made from the rich flora growing in Karaisalı's forested mountains, is the most valued natural product of the region. With its thyme and pine flower aromas, this honey is produced by traditional beekeeping methods.
• Goat's Cheese — This cheese is produced from the milk of goats raised in the mountain villages and reflects Karaisalı's livestock tradition. It matures in a natural environment, gaining its distinctive aroma.
• Ceviz (walnut) — Walnut trees growing in Karaisalı's mountain villages form one of the district's important agricultural products. Eaten fresh and dried, walnuts are also used in local desserts.

Economy

The economy of Karaisalı rests on agriculture, livestock farming and forestry. Small livestock and beekeeping dominate in the mountainous terrain, while grain and fruit are grown in the valleys. The Çatalan and Nergizlik dams form the region's water sources. In recent years, with the growing recognition of natural and historical attractions such as Varda Bridge and Kapıkaya Canyon, tourism has begun to develop.

How to Get to Karaisalı

Karaisalı is about 60 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 to Karaisalı throughout the day from Adana's intercity bus terminal. The road starts on the plain and climbs towards the Taurus Mountains.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Adana

Karaisalı: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

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

Other Districts of Adana

• Aladağ 9 places Meydan Castle, Küp Waterfalls and Akören Ancient City
• 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
• 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