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6 places to visit in the Yumurtalık district of Adana: Ayas Castle, Süleyman Tower and Yumurtalık Lagoon National Park. Plan your trip to Yumurtalık with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Yumurtalık is a district of Adana province. Formerly called Ayas, the district was renamed Yumurtalık in an effort to Turkicise the name. It covers 447 km² and lies at an altitude of 10 metres.

The district’s history goes back to the Middle Ages, and its harbour’s history dates back at least to 2000 BC. In the Middle Ages, particularly in the 13th century, Aegeae became an important Mediterranean port of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Marco Polo landed here in 1271 to begin his journey to China.

History and Culture

Marco Polo landed here in 1271 to begin his journey to China. The asklepion at the Ayas Ancient City is one of the three great asklepios temples of the ancient world. It is written that Emperor Caracalla, who visited the city in AD 215, was cured of his ailments at this centre. The “Hippocampus and Eros Mosaic” uncovered in excavations at Ayas Ancient City is displayed today in the Adana Museum. The national park status of the lagoon was cancelled, and it was re-registered as a nature protection area in 2023. The Dertli Kazım Folk Poets Festival is held in Gölovası village on 1 October and began for the first time in 1985. The Zeytinbeli Culture and Arts Festival is held in Zeytinbeli town on the first Saturday of August and began for the first time in 2001.

Highlights

Ayas (Aigeai) Ancient City lies in the district centre of Yumurtalık, Adana, and was an important port city in antiquity. The former name of Yumurtalık was Ayas, which was changed to Yumurtalık in order to Turkicise the name.

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Places to Visit in Yumurtalık

  • 3 Historic
  • 1 Ancient City
  • 2 Nature
Ayas Castle - Yumurtalık Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source
Historic

Ayas Castle

One of the important historic structures of Yumurtalık district.

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Historic

Süleyman Tower

The historic tower of Yumurtalık district.

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Nature

Yumurtalık Lagoon National Park

A national park within the district's boundaries.

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Ancient City

Ayas (Aigeai) Ancient City

An ancient city in the district centre of Yumurtalık, Adana.

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Historic

Marco Polo Pier

A historic pier that still stands today in Ayas (Aigeai) Ancient City; it is also known as the Marco Polo Pier.

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Nature

Yumurtalık Lagoon

A lagoon in Yumurtalık district of Adana province.

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Places to Visit Around Adana Province

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While you are in Yumurtalık, you can also see the highlights of Adana province. These places are in other districts; Yumurtalık is about 80 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.
  • 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 Yumurtalık

Suggested time
1-2 days
Best time to visit
Spring and summer
Places to visit
6 places

What to Eat in Yumurtalık

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  • Balık Ekmek (fish sandwich)

    A fish sandwich made with fish caught daily in the gulf.

  • Karides Güveç (prawn casserole)

    Prawns cooked in a clay pot with butter, garlic and kaşar cheese.

  • Grilled Sea Bass and Sea Bream

    The classic grilled fish of the coastal restaurants.

  • Yüzük Çorbası (ring soup)

    Mentioned among the dishes of Yumurtalık on the website of the Yumurtalık District Governorship, which notes that the district has no distinctive rich dish of its own.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Yumurtalık

  • Fishing Culture

    The small fishing harbour is at the centre of daily life in the town.

  • Sea Turtle Conservation

    Volunteer work is carried out on the beaches to protect turtle nests.

Local Products

  • Seafood — Fishing is one of the district's traditional livelihoods.
  • Citrus Fruit — Citrus orchards are found on the coastal plain.

Economy

The economy is based on fishing, agriculture and summer tourism; there are also a free zone and energy facilities within the district boundaries.

How to Get to Yumurtalık

Yumurtalık is 80 km from Adana city centre. It is reached via the D-400 highway to Ceyhan, and then by the coastal road to the district. There are regular minibus services from Adana and Ceyhan.

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Yumurtalık: Frequently Asked Questions

What to see in Yumurtalık?

The 6 highlights of Yumurtalık are Ayas Castle, Süleyman Tower, Yumurtalık Lagoon National Park, Ayas (Aigeai) Ancient City, Marco Polo Pier and Yumurtalık Lagoon.

What to eat in Yumurtalık?

Balık Ekmek, Karides Güveç, Grilled Sea Bass and Sea Bream, and Yüzük Çorbası are the standout dishes at Yumurtalık's tables.

What is Yumurtalık famous for?

Yumurtalık is known for its seafood and fishing culture. Fishing is one of the district's traditional livelihoods.

How to get to Yumurtalık?

Yumurtalık is 80 km from Adana city centre. It is reached via the D-400 highway to Ceyhan, and then by the coastal road to the district. There are regular minibus services from Adana and Ceyhan.

How much time should I allow for Yumurtalık?

Suggested visit length: 1-2 days. Best time to visit: spring and summer.

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