Things to Do in İspir: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in İspir

• 2 Historic
• 3 Nature

i Photo: Volker Höhfeld (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

1 🌳 Nature

Çoruh Valley

The valley of the Çoruh River, one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the world. It has areas that are particularly suitable for water sports, especially rafting.

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i Photo: Bertramz (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

2 🏛️ Historic

İspir Castle

İspir Castle rises on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Çoruh River valley. With its walls from the Byzantine period, it is one of the most impressive historic structures in the region. A historic mosque also stands inside the castle.

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i Photo: Büşraphlvn (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

3 🌳 Nature

İspir Yedigöller (Seven Lakes)

Yedigöller, on the slopes of the Kaçkar Mountains 25 km from İspir, consists of a group of seven lakes left from the glacial period. Lying at 3,000 metres, the lakes are a unique destination for trekking and nature photography.

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4 🏛️ Historic

İspir Historic Houses

Traditional stone houses in the district centre show examples of Ottoman-period domestic architecture. The houses, notable for their timber balconies and stone walls, reflect the architectural heritage of the region.

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5 🌳 Nature

Çoruh River

The Çoruh River, which flows through the district, offers areas suitable for water sports such as rafting.

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While you are in İspir, you can also see the highlights of Erzurum province. These places are in other districts; İspir is about 145 km from the provincial centre.

• Çifte Minareli Madrasa — The symbol of the city, a two-storey Seljuk madrasa with an open courtyard, built in the mid-13th century.
• Yakutiye Madrasa — Built in 1310 by Hoca Cemalettin Yakut during the reign of the Ilkhanid ruler Öljeitü, this is the largest madrasa with a covered courtyard in Anatolia.
• Erzurum Grand Mosque — Built in 1179 under the Saltukid ruler Melik Nasirüddin Muhammed, this is the oldest and largest mosque in the city, also known as the Atabey Mosque.
• Three Tombs (Üç Kümbetler) — Three monumental tombs south of the Çifte Minareli Madrasa, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries.
• Erzurum Castle and Clock Tower — The inner citadel on the highest point of the city, founded in the Byzantine period and repaired under the Saltukids and the Ottomans.
• Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque — A classical Ottoman mosque attributed to Mimar Sinan, built in 1562–1563 for Lala Mustafa Paşa, the beylerbey of Erzurum.

Practical Information for Visiting İspir

Suggested time

1–2 days

Best time to visit

Summer months (June–September)

Places to visit

5 places

• 🍖

  Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

  Cağ kebabı is prepared by roasting lamb on a horizontal spit over a wood fire. In İspir, it has a special flavour from the sheep raised on the district's plateaus.

• 🥣

  Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup)

  Traditional soup made with yoghurt, cracked wheat and mint, a nourishing dish that never goes missing from tables during İspir's cold winter days.

• 🍯

  Lor Tatlısı (cheese dessert)

  Traditional dessert made with lor cheese and sugar, one of the distinctive flavours of İspir cuisine. It is served fried in butter.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of İspir

• 🏛️

  Ancient Sper Heritage

  İspir has been the centre of the ancient Sper region, known since the 3rd millennium BC. It was an important settlement centre in the periods of Hayasa-Azzi, Urartu, the Iberian Kingdom and Greater Armenia.

• 🏔️

  Kaçkar Mountains Plateau Culture

  For centuries the people of İspir have migrated to the high plateaus of the Kaçkar Mountains to raise livestock. This plateau tradition is a longstanding custom that deeply shapes the social life and cuisine of the area.

Local Products

• İspir Kaymağı (İspir kaymak) — İspir Kaymağı was registered as a protected designation of origin on 22 May 2019 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 431). Product group: dairy products other than cheeses and butter. Registered by: İspir Tradesmen and Craftsmen's Chamber.
• İspir Kuru Fasulyesi (İspir dried beans) — İspir Kuru Fasulyesi was registered as a protected designation of origin on 31 January 2011 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 141). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: İspir Tradesmen and Craftsmen's Chamber.

Economy

The economy of İspir is based on livestock farming and agriculture. Small livestock farming and beekeeping are carried out on the high plateaus of the Kaçkar Mountains. Wheat, barley and beans are grown. Nature tourism is a developing sector.

How to Get to İspir

İspir is about 145 km from Erzurum city centre. Access is by the Erzurum–Rize road, following the Çoruh Valley. The nearest airport is Erzurum Airport. The district can be reached by minibus and bus services.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Erzurum

İspir: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in İspir Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Erzurum The province's 20 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Erzurum

• Aşkale 4 places Karasu Valley, Aşkale Castle and Aşkale Hot Springs
• Aziziye 5 places Aziziye Redoubts, Ilıca Hot Springs and Nene Hatun Monument
• Çat 4 places Çat Dam and Lake, Çat Castle and Çat Plateaus
• Hınıs 4 places Hınıs Castle, Hınıs Plain and Hınıs Grand Mosque
• Horasan 5 places Horasan Castle, Aras River Valley and Horasan Grand Mosque
• Karaçoban 7 places Karaçoban Castle, Foothills of the Bingöl Mountains and Karaçoban Plateaus
• Karayazı 4 places Aras River Banks, Köyceğiz Reservoir and Çakmak Mountain
• Köprüköy 5 places Çobandede Bridge, Aras River Valley and Köprüköy Castle
• Narman 5 places Narman Fairy Chimneys, Narman Five Lakes and Red Hills (Rainbow Hills)
• Oltu 8 places Oltu Castle, Oltu Taşı Mines and Gökkaya (Rainbow) Hills
• Olur 5 places Olur Castle, Çakoş Plateau and Olur Waterfall
• Palandöken 4 places Palandöken Ski Centre, Ejder 3200 Ski Centre and Atatürk House Museum
• Pasinler 5 places Pasinler (Hasankale) Castle, Pasinler Hot Springs and Pasinler Plain
• Pazaryolu 4 places Medieval castle ruins, Pazaryolu plateaus and Norgah Castle
• Şenkaya 5 places Şenkaya Castle, Bardız Stream Valley and Şenkaya Plateaus
• Tekman 9 places Tekman Castle, Tekman Plain and Tekman Plateaus
• Tortum 5 places Hahuli Monastery, Tortum Waterfall and Tortum Lake
• Uzundere 7 places Tortum Waterfall, Tortum Lake and Öşkvank (Öşk Vank) Kilisesi
• Yakutiye 6 places Yakutiye Madrasa, Çifte Minareli Madrasa and Erzurum Castle and Clock Tower