Things to Do in Yahyalı: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Yahyalı

• 2 Religious
• 5 Nature

i Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source

1 🌳 Nature

Kapuzbaşı Waterfalls

Waterfalls within the boundaries of Kapuzbaşı village, 76 km from Yahyalı. Their waters flow into the Zamantı River and then into the Seyhan River.

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2 🌳 Nature

Aladağlar National Park

A national park declared at the point where the borders of Kayseri, Adana and Niğde provinces meet.

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3 🌳 Nature

Hacer Forest

A forest with picturesque views, covering 2,750 hectares at an altitude of 2,200 m above sea level, within the boundaries of Ulupınar village in Yahyalı district.

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4 🌳 Nature

Aladağlar National Park

It is stated that within Yahyalı's boundaries are the Kapuzbaşı Waterfalls, Hacer Forest and Yedigöller.

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5 🌳 Nature

Zamantı Valley

The valley carved by the Zamantı River; its length within the district boundaries is given as 50 km.

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6 🕌 Religious

Seydi Ali Tomb

The tomb of Seydi Ali, located in the garden of Yahyalı State Hospital.

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7 🕌 Religious

Yahya Gazi Tomb

The tomb of Yahya Gazi, located in the garden of Yahyalı Grand Mosque.

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

• Mount Erciyes and Ski Resort — An extinct volcano 25 km south of the city and, at 3,916 metres, the highest mountain in Central Anatolia; its ski resort, between 2,150 and 3,400 metres, is one of the largest in Türkiye.
• Kültepe (Kaniş-Karum) — The ancient city of Kaniş, 20 km north-east of the city, where Assyrian merchants had their trading colony in the early 2nd millennium BC; the cuneiform tablets found here are the earliest known written documents in Anatolia.
• Gevher Nesibe Hospital (Darüşşifa) — The "Twin Madrasa" (Çifte Medrese), consisting of a hospital and a medical madrasa, built in 1206 at the bequest of Gevher Nesibe, daughter of the Seljuk Sultan Kılıçarslan II; it is counted among the world's first centres of medical education and healthcare.
• Hunat Hatun Complex — A complex of mosque, madrasa, hammam and tomb built in 1238 by Mahperi Hunat Hatun, wife of Alaeddin Keykubad I; it is one of the first large complexes in Anatolia built by a woman.
• Kayseri Castle — A castle of black basalt in the city centre, begun in the Roman period and repaired under the Seljuks and Ottomans; inside are the Fatih Mosque and a bazaar.
• Döner Tomb — A twelve-sided tomb (kümbet) on the Talas road, built in 1276 for Şah Cihan Hatun, daughter of Alaeddin Keykubad I; its reliefs include human-headed lions, a double-headed eagle and tree-of-life motifs.

Practical Information for Visiting Yahyalı

Suggested time

1-2 days

Best time to visit

Spring and summer (May-September for the waterfall)

Places to visit

7 places

• 🥟

  Kayseri Mantısı (Kayseri dumplings)

  Small pieces of dough filled with minced meat, boiled and served with yoghurt and garlic sauce. Prepared by local people for special occasions, this dish is a symbol of hospitality.

• 🥣

  Yahyalı Tarhana Çorbası (Yahyalı tarhana soup)

  Tarhana made with yoghurt, wheat and vegetables, an essential soup at winter tables. Tarhana is prepared in autumn and dried to be eaten throughout the winter.

• 🍽️

  Sütyüzü

  A local product of Yahyalı. Yahyalı Municipality began work to obtain a geographical indication for this product (news report dated 2016).

• 🍽️

  Bezdirme Köftesi (pounded mince and bulgur kofta)

  A type of kofta made from a mixture of minced meat and bulgur, pounded in a wooden mortar.

• 🍽️

  Üzümlü Yemeği (raisin and chickpea stew)

  Usually made at weddings, a dish of black raisins, boiled chickpeas, pekmez and black meat.

• 🍽️

  Arabaşı

  A dish prepared in the winter months and served to guests.

• 🍽️

  Yufka and Tandır Böreği (cheese and egg pastry)

  Yufka baked in tandır ovens in preparation for winter, prepared as tandır böreği with cheese and egg.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Yahyalı

• 🧶

  Carpet-Weaving Tradition

  Yahyalı has been known for carpet weaving for centuries. Traditional hand-woven carpets are made with natural dyes and geometric patterns.

Local Products

• Yahyalı Hand-Woven Carpet — Yahyalı Hand-Woven Carpet was registered as a protected geographical indication on 14 November 1997 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 18). Product group: carpets and kilims. Registered by: Yahyalı Municipality.
• Yahyalı Carpets — Yahyalı's traditional hand-woven carpets are known around the world for their geometric designs and natural dyes. It is a geographically indicated product.

Economy

Yahyalı's economy is based on agriculture, livestock farming and carpet weaving. The Kapuzbaşı Waterfalls and the Aladağlar generate tourism income.

How to Get to Yahyalı

Yahyalı is 80 km from Kayseri. There are bus services from Kayseri.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Kayseri

Yahyalı: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Yahyalı Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Kayseri The province's 12 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Kayseri

• Akkışla 6 places Akkışla Plateaus, Uğurlu Castle and Tabal Ruins
• Bünyan 5 places Bünyan Grand Mosque, Sultanhanı and Karatay Caravanserai
• Develi 9 places Sultan Sazlığı Bird Paradise, Southern Slope of Mount Erciyes and Öksüt Castle
• Felahiye 4 places Felahiye Castle, Felahiye Plain and Sıtmapınar
• Hacılar 5 places Mount Erciyes, Eğribucak Vineyards and Hacılar Mound
• İncesu 6 places İncesu Caravanserai, İncesu Underground City and İncesu Castle
• Kocasinan 7 places Kayseri Covered Bazaar, Kocasinan Park and Sultan Sazlığı Bird Paradise
• Melikgazi 12 places Hunat Hatun Complex, Kayseri Castle and Gevher Nesibe Medical Museum
• Özvatan 3 places Özvatan Plain, Özvatan Historic Mosque and Harsanız and Zırha Castles
• Pınarbaşı 6 places Zamantı River, Pınarbaşı Castle and Pınarbaşı Plateaus
• Sarıoğlan 6 places Kızılırmak Valley, Sarıoğlan Castle and Tuzla Lake
• Sarız 4 places Sarız Plateaus, Sarız Castle and Sarız Stream
• Talas 7 places Ali Dağı Ski Centre, Talas Historic Houses and Talas Virgin Mary Church
• Tomarza 7 places Tomarza Church, Tomarza Castle and Southeastern Slope of Mount Erciyes
• Yeşilhisar 4 places Soğanlı Valley, Yeşilhisar Castle and Yeşilhisar Yeraltı Şehri