Things to Do in Ortaköy: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Ortaköy

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 2 Religious
• 1 Nature

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

• Ihlara Valley — A canyon 14 km long and in places 100–150 metres deep, formed as the Melendiz Stream eroded the lavas of Mount Hasan; it begins at Ihlara and ends at Selime.
• Selime Cathedral — A cathedral carved into the rock in the village of Selime at the northern end of the Ihlara Valley, its interior divided into three naves by two rows of columns; it is the largest religious building in the valley.
• Sultan Han — A caravanserai in the Sultanhanı district, commissioned by the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alâeddin Keykubad I and completed in 1229; its architect was Muhammed bin Havlan of Damascus.
• Ağzıkara Han — The covered section of the caravanserai in the village of Ağzıkarahan was completed in June 1231 and its courtyard in February 1240. The han, notable for its rich decoration, has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status as part of the "Seljuk Caravanserais on the Denizli–Doğubayazıt Route".
• Aşıklı Höyük — The mound near the village of Kızılkaya saw continuous settlement between 8200 and 7500 BC. The people of Aşıklı were among the first hunter-gatherers in the region to adopt settled life; humanity's transition from nomadism to settlement can be traced here.
• Güzelyurt (Gelveri) — Gelveri, which means "beautiful water" in Greek, is associated with the name of Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the Cappadocian Fathers.

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  Arabaşı Çorbası (chicken and flour soup)

  Prepared by adding a mixture of flour and yoghurt to chicken broth, arabaşı is the traditional winter soup of Ortaköy's tables.

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  Tandır Kebabı (tandoor-baked lamb)

  Prepared by slow-cooking lamb in a clay tandır oven, tandır kebabı is the most loved meat dish in Ortaköy.

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  Mantı

  Small pieces of dough filled with minced meat and cooked, then served with yoghurt and a garlic sauce. Its preparation with fresh, natural ingredients makes it a healthy choice.

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  Tarhana Çorbası (dried yoghurt and grain soup)

  Tarhana dough is prepared in summer, dried and stored for winter. It is an indispensable flavour of Ortaköy's winter tables.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Ortaköy

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  Assyrian Trading Colony Heritage

  Acemhöyük was one of the most important centres of the trading colonies that Assyrian merchants established in Anatolia around 2000 BC. This 4,000-year-old heritage makes Ortaköy one of the important points in the history of civilisation.

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  Farming Culture

  With its fertile plain, Ortaköy has been the centre of farming culture for centuries. Traditional events held during the harvest season keep this culture alive.

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  Seljuk Heritage

  Ortaköy lay on the Silk Road route during the Seljuk period. The castle and building remains from this period enrich the historical fabric of the district.

Local Products

• Wheat — Wheat grown on the Ortaköy plain is the basic agricultural product of the region. It is preferred for producing high-quality flour.
• Sugar Beet — Sugar beet grown on the irrigated plains of Ortaköy supplies raw material to the sugar factories in the region.
• Dairy Products — In Ortaköy, where livestock farming is important, cheese, yoghurt and butter are produced by traditional methods.

Economy

The economy of Ortaköy is mainly based on agriculture. Wheat, barley, sugar beet and potatoes are grown on the fertile plain. Large and small livestock farming is also an important source of livelihood. Ortaköy is one of the most populous districts of Aksaray, and its trade sector has also developed.

How to Get to Ortaköy

Ortaköy is 30 km from Aksaray city centre and is reached by road. Regular minibus services run from Aksaray. The nearest airport is Nevşehir Cappadocia Airport.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Aksaray

Ortaköy: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

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

Other Districts of Aksaray

• Aksaray Central District 4 places Sultan Han, Grand Mosque and Eğri Minare
• 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
• Sarıyahşi 5 places Sarıyahşi Castle, Sarıyahşi Grand Mosque and Sarıyahşi Ovası
• Sultanhanı 3 places Sultan Han Caravanserai, Halı dokuma atölyeleri and Sultan Han