Things to Do in Aksaray Central District: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Aksaray Central District

• 3 Religious
• 1 Cultural

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  Aksaray Tava

  Aksaray tava is prepared by slow-cooking lamb with onions, tomatoes and peppers in a clay pot (güveç). It is the best-known dish of the city. The slow cooking method keeps the meat tender.

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  Arabaşı Çorbası

  Arabaşı is prepared by adding a mixture of flour and yoghurt to chicken stock, and is the traditional winter soup of Aksaray. It is served with shredded chicken.

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  Bamya Çorbası

  This soup, made by boiling dried okra in meat broth, is an indispensable flavour of Aksaray cuisine.

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  Tarhana

  Tarhana dough is prepared in summer, dried and stored for winter. Aksaray tarhana offers a distinctive flavour through a special blend of yoghurt, tomato and spices.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Aksaray Central District

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  İpek Yolu Mirası

  In the Seljuk period, Aksaray was one of the most important stopping points on the Silk Road. Sultanhanı Caravanserai is the most magnificent witness to this trade route.

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  Kapadokya Kültürü

  As the western gateway of the Cappadocia region, Aksaray has a rich cultural heritage. The Ihlara Valley and underground cities are the most important elements of this heritage.

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  Neolitik Uygarlık Mirası

  Aşıklı Höyük holds some of the earliest evidence of humanity's transition to settled life. This 10,000-year-old heritage makes Aksaray one of the starting points of civilisation history.

Local Products

• Aksaray Malaklısı (Kangal Köpeği) — The Aksaray Malaklı is a large shepherd dog breed native to the region. Bred to protect flocks, these dogs are a symbol of the area's livestock culture.
• Buğday — Wheat grown on the Aksaray plain is the region's main agricultural product. Hard wheat varieties preferred for quality flour production are grown.
• Tuz Gölü Tuzu — Tuz Lake, which lies within Aksaray's boundaries, meets a large part of Turkey's salt needs. Natural crystal salt is the region's most important industrial product.

Economy

Aksaray's economy consists of farming, industry and tourism. Wheat, barley, sugar beet and potatoes are grown on the fertile plain. Salt obtained from Tuz Lake is an important industrial product. Food, textile and machinery sectors operate in the organised industrial zone. Cappadocia tourism and Sultanhanı Caravanserai attract visitors. Aksaray University contributes to the city's educational and economic life.

How to Get to Aksaray Central District

Aksaray is 230 km from Ankara and 150 km from Konya. The nearest airport is Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (70 km). Intercity bus services connect it with all major cities. Aksaray lies at the crossroads of the Ankara–Adana and Konya–Nevşehir highways.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Aksaray

Aksaray Central District: Frequently Asked Questions

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• 🍽️ What to Eat in Aksaray Central District Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Aksaray The province's 15 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Aksaray

• Ağaçören 5 places Ağaçören Castle, Saratlı Yeraltı Şehri and Ağaçören Grand Mosque
• Eskil 8 places Tuz Lake, Eskil Castle and Tuz Gölü Flamingo Gözlem Alanı
• Gülağaç 7 places Açıksaray (Açık Saray) Harabeleri, Hasan Dağı Etekleri and Gülağaç Kaya Kiliseleri
• Güzelyurt 9 places High Church (Yüksek Kilise), Ihlara Valley and Güzelyurt Underground City
• Ortaköy 5 places Acemhöyük Mound, Ortaköy Castle and Ortaköy Grand Mosque
• Sarıyahşi 5 places Sarıyahşi Castle, Sarıyahşi Grand Mosque and Sarıyahşi Ovası
• Sultanhanı 3 places Sultan Han Caravanserai, Halı dokuma atölyeleri and Sultan Han