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8 places to visit in the Seyhan district of Adana: Sabancı Central Mosque, Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) and Ramazanoğlu Mansion. Plan your trip to Seyhan with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Seyhan is a district of Adana province, Türkiye. The district lies entirely within Adana city centre and is administered by Seyhan Municipality. Seyhan is home to 35% of the province’s residents and to roughly half of the city of Adana’s residents. The district takes its name from the Seyhan River, which forms its eastern side.

Seyhan was Adana’s first settlement and is today the administrative, business and cultural centre of the city. It contains the historic Tepebağ neighbourhood and important buildings such as the Great Clock, Ulu Mosque, Ramazanoğlu Mansion and Sabancı Central Mosque.

History and Culture

The name Seyhan is said in mythology to derive from Sarus, son of Adanus. Seyhan was Adana’s first settlement and is today the administrative, business and cultural centre of the city. Adana Museum was founded in 1924 and is counted among Türkiye’s ten oldest museums. Yağ Mosque was converted from a church into a mosque in 1501 on the orders of Ramazanoğlu Halil Bey. According to the inscription at the entrance, Ramazanoğlu Mansion was built in 1495 by Ramazanoğlu Halil Bey. A small statue from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt was found at Tepebağ Mound.

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Places to Visit in Seyhan

  • 2 Historic
  • 3 Religious
  • 1 Museum
  • 2 Cultural

Historic Sites 2

Ramazanoğlu Mansion - Seyhan Photo: Seyhan668 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source
Historic

Ramazanoğlu Mansion

A historic mansion in Seyhan district.

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Historic

Great Clock Tower

A clock tower in Seyhan district, whose construction began during the time of Governor Ziya Paşa.

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Religious Buildings 3

Sabancı Central Mosque - Seyhan Photo: Marcello Casal Jr/ABr. (CC BY 3.0 br) · Source
Religious

Sabancı Central Mosque

One of the district's important religious and architectural buildings.

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Religious

Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)

One of the district's important mosques.

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Religious

Yağ Mosque

A mosque in Alidede Neighbourhood of Seyhan district, on Ali Münif Yeğenağa Street.

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Museums 1

Museum

Adana New Museum Complex

In Seyhan district, it has been decided to restore the former National Textile Factory and convert it into a museum complex.

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Cultural Venues 2

Cultural

Tepebağ Houses

Houses in the historic neighbourhood of Seyhan district.

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Cultural

Adana Historic Girls' High School

A former high school building on Debboy Street in Seyhan district, on the bank of the Seyhan River.

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Places to Visit Around Adana Province

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While you are in Seyhan, you can also see the highlights of Adana province. These places are in other districts; Seyhan is about 35 km from the provincial centre.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Adana Museum Complex — Opened in 2017 through the conversion of the Millî Mensucat Factory, founded in 1907, the complex is the largest museum complex in Türkiye.
  • Tepebağ Mound and Houses — Continuously inhabited since the Early Bronze Age, Tepebağ is the oldest settlement in Adana and has been excavated since 2013. The restored old Adana houses around the mound, with their cobbled streets, are ideal for a short walk.
  • Adana Cinema Museum — Opened on 23 September 2011 in a two-storey old Adana house in the Kayalıbağ neighbourhood, the museum is the second cinema museum in Türkiye.
  • Kazancılar Bazaar — Built around the Great Clock, this historic bazaar keeps the trading fabric of old Adana alive with its coppersmiths and tradesmen.

Practical Information for Visiting Seyhan

Suggested time
2–3 days
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn
Places to visit
8 places

What to Eat in Seyhan

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  • Adana Kebabı

    The emblematic kebab of the city, made by grilling minced lamb hand-pressed onto skewers over charcoal.

  • Ciğer Şiş (liver skewers)

    A classic of Adana mornings, found early in the day at open-fire grills.

  • Şırdan

    Lamb tripe stuffed with rice pilaf, the evening street food.

  • Analı Kızlı Çorbası (Analı Kızlı soup)

    A sour chickpea soup with içli köfte and bulgur balls.

  • Bici Bici

    A summer dessert made with ice, starch pudding and rose syrup.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Seyhan

  • Golden Cocoon Film Festival

    The International Adana Golden Cocoon Film Festival, held every year in Seyhan since 1969, is one of Türkiye's most established cinema events. With domestic and foreign films in competition, the festival has made Adana one of the focal points of the film world.

  • Ramazanoğulları Heritage

    Traces of the Ramazanoğulları Principality, which ruled Adana between the 14th and 16th centuries, still live on in Seyhan's historic fabric. Mansions, mosques and madrasas carry the cultural heritage of this period to the present day.

  • Adana Flavours Festival

    The International Adana Flavours Festival, held every year, takes place at central venues in Seyhan. During the festival, kebab competitions, local dish stalls and cooking workshops are organised.

Local Products

  • Şalgam Suyu (fermented turnip juice) — This traditional drink, produced by fermenting purple carrot, turnip and bulgur starter, is prepared in production facilities in Seyhan and distributed throughout Türkiye.
  • Yer Fıstığı (peanut) — Grown on the fertile soils of the Çukurova plain, peanuts are an important part of Seyhan's agricultural production. They are sold roasted and raw.
  • Citrus Fruit — Citrus production, mainly oranges, lemons and mandarins, is carried out intensively in the orchards of Seyhan's southern parts.

Economy

Seyhan is the administrative, commercial and cultural centre of Adana. Home to around 35% of the province's population, the district has an economic structure in which banking, retail trade and the service sector are concentrated. Historic bazaars and modern shopping centres exist side by side. Citrus and peanut production take place on the fertile farmland on the western bank of the Seyhan River. The tourism sector also contributes to the district's economy thanks to its historic buildings and cultural events.

How to Get to Seyhan

Seyhan is Adana's central district and lies at the heart of the city's transport network. Çukurova International Airport, which serves the city, lies on the border of Tarsus and is about 35 km from the centre; the former Şakirpaşa Airport in the district closed to scheduled flights in August 2024. Adana's intercity bus terminal is also in Seyhan. Municipal buses, the tram line and minibuses reach all parts of the district. The E-5 motorway and the D-400 highway pass through the district.

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Seyhan: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Seyhan?

The highlights of Seyhan are 8 places: Sabancı Central Mosque, Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), Ramazanoğlu Mansion, Tepebağ Houses, Great Clock Tower, Adana New Museum Complex, Yağ Mosque and Adana Historic Girls' High School.

What is there to eat in Seyhan?

Adana Kebabı, Ciğer Şiş, Şırdan and Analı Kızlı Çorbası are the standout flavours on Seyhan's tables.

What is Seyhan famous for?

Seyhan is known for Şalgam Suyu and the Golden Cocoon Film Festival. This traditional drink, produced by fermenting purple carrot, turnip and bulgur starter, is prepared in production facilities in Seyhan and distributed throughout Türkiye.

How do I get to Seyhan?

Seyhan is Adana's central district and lies at the heart of the city's transport network. Çukurova International Airport, which serves the city, lies on the border of Tarsus and is about 35 km from the centre; the former Şakirpaşa Airport in the district closed to scheduled flights in August 2024. Adana's intercity bus terminal is also in Seyhan. Municipal buses, the tram line and minibuses reach all parts of the district. The E-5 motorway and the D-400 highway pass through the district.

How much time should I set aside for a trip to Seyhan?

Suggested trip length: 2–3 days. Best time to visit: spring and autumn.

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