Things to Do in Sarıyahşi: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Sarıyahşi

• 2 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 2 Nature

While you are in Sarıyahşi, 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.
• Acemhöyük — A mound measuring 800 × 700 metres at Yeşilova, 18 km north-west of the city; an important trading centre that had its heyday in the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period (1950–1750 BC).

Practical Information for Visiting Sarıyahşi

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

5 places

• 🥣

  Arabaşı Çorbası

  Arabaşı is prepared by adding a mixture of flour and yoghurt to chicken stock, and is the traditional winter soup of Sarıyahşi.

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  Tandır Kebabı

  Tandır kebabı, made by slow-cooking lamb for hours in a clay tandır oven, is the most popular meat dish in Sarıyahşi.

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  Bazlama

  This traditional bread, cooked on a griddle (sac), is an inseparable part of village tables in Sarıyahşi.

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  Tarhana Çorbası

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

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Sarıyahşi

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  Kırsal Yaşam Kültürü

  A traditional rural way of life based on farming and livestock continues in Sarıyahşi.

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  Osmanlı Dönemi Mirası

  The historic stone houses and mosque in Sarıyahşi are examples of Ottoman-period rural architecture.

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  El Sanatları

  Kilim weaving and wool craftsmanship continue in Sarıyahşi as traditional handicrafts.

Local Products

• Buğday — Wheat grown on the Sarıyahşi plain is the region's main agricultural product.
• Süt Ürünleri — In Sarıyahşi, where livestock farming is important, cheese, yoghurt and butter are produced using traditional methods.
• Pekmez — Grape molasses (pekmez) is produced using traditional methods. It is consumed as an energy source in the winter months.

Economy

Sarıyahşi's economy is based on farming and livestock. Wheat, barley and sugar beet are grown on the plain. Small and large livestock farming is an important source of income. The district is one of the smallest in Aksaray, and the migration of young people affects the economy.

How to Get to Sarıyahşi

Sarıyahşi is 35 km from Aksaray city centre and is reached by road. There are regular minibus services from Aksaray. The nearest airport is Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Aksaray

Sarıyahşi: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Sarıyahşi 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
• Ortaköy 5 places Acemhöyük Mound, Ortaköy Castle and Ortaköy Grand Mosque
• Sultanhanı 3 places Sultan Han Caravanserai, Halı dokuma atölyeleri and Sultan Han