Things to Do in Palandöken: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Palandöken

• 1 Historic
• 1 Nature
• 2 Attraction

i Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

1 📸 Attraction

Palandöken Ski Centre

A ski resort on Mount Palandöken and an important centre for winter tourism.

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2 📸 Attraction

Ejder 3200 Ski Centre

Ejder 3200 extends up to the 3,176-metre summit of Mount Palandöken and is Türkiye's highest ski facility. It hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade and caters to both professional and amateur skiers.

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3 🏛️ Historic

Atatürk House Museum

A historic mansion where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed during the 1919 Erzurum Congress, now arranged as a museum. It displays Atatürk's personal belongings, photographs and documents from the time of the congress.

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4 🌳 Nature

Palandöken Mountain Summer Hiking Trails

While Mount Palandöken is a ski centre in winter, in summer its trails are ideal for trekking and hiking. The routes up to the 3,176-metre summit are walked with panoramic views of the Erzurum plain.

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

• 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 Palandöken

Suggested time

2–3 days

Best time to visit

Winter months (December–March) for skiing, summer for trekking

Places to visit

4 places

• 🍖

  Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

  Lamb roasted on a horizontal spit over a wood fire, the signature flavour of Erzurum. It is also served in the ski hotels and restaurants of Palandöken.

• 🍮

  Kadayıf Dolması (walnut-filled kadayıf)

  A traditional sweet of fine kadayıf dough wrapped around walnuts, baked and soaked in syrup. It is Erzurum's best-known dessert.

• 🥣

  Kesme Çorbası (hand-cut pasta soup)

  A soup of thinly cut pieces of dough cooked in meat broth. In Erzurum it is a warm favourite after skiing on cold winter days.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Palandöken

• ⛷️

  Capital of Winter Sports

  By hosting the 2011 Winter Universiade, Palandöken represented Türkiye in the international winter sports arena. As one of the country's most important winter tourism centres, the district has played a pioneering role in the development of ski culture.

• 🏛️

  Erzurum Congress Legacy

  The Atatürk House in Palandöken district was Mustafa Kemal's headquarters during the 1919 Erzurum Congress. This historic link reflects the district's importance in the history of the national struggle.

Local Products

• Erzurum Civil Peyniri (stringy cheese) — Civil cheese made from fresh milk and separated into threads. It is a geographically indicated product of Erzurum and an essential part of the breakfast table.
• Erzurum Küp Peyniri (cube cheese) — Cheese pressed into cube-shaped moulds and matured in brine. It is one of Erzurum's traditional dairy products.

Economy

Palandöken is the most populous central district of Erzurum. Winter tourism is its most important economic sector; ski hotels, restaurants and sports facilities provide significant employment. Trade, the service sector and construction are also major economic activities.

How to Get to Palandöken

Palandöken lies in the southern part of Erzurum city centre. It is 20 km from Erzurum Airport. The ski centre is reached by a 5 km road from the city centre. Connections are provided by urban public transport and shuttle vehicles.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Erzurum

Palandöken: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Palandöken 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
• İspir 5 places Çoruh Valley, İspir Castle and İspir Yedigöller (Seven Lakes)
• 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
• 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