Things to Do in Ilgın: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Ilgın

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

i Photo: Klaus-Peter Simon (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

1 🏺 Ancient City

Yalburt

An ancient city founded by the Hittites between 1500 and 1200 BC, 25 km north-east of the district centre.

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2 🏺 Ancient City

Lageina

An ancient Lycaonian city on which the present district centre of Ilgın was built.

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3 🌳 Nature

Ilgın Thermal Springs (Ilgın Kaplıcaları)

Thermal springs at 42°C. They are believed to help with rheumatism, skin conditions and respiratory ailments. Used since the Roman period, the baths now offer health tourism with modern facilities.

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4 🏛️ Historic

Ilgın Lala Mustafa Paşa Complex (Ilgın Lala Mustafa Paşa Külliyesi)

A complex built in 1576 by Mimar Sinan for Grand Vizier Lala Mustafa Paşa, consisting of a mosque, a madrasa and a hammam. It is one of Mimar Sinan's important works in Central Anatolia.

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5 🌳 Nature

Ilgın Lake (Ilgın Gölü)

Ilgın Lake, north of the district, is a suitable area for birdwatching and nature walks.

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6 🕌 Religious

Lala Mustafa Paşa Complex

A complex commissioned by Lala Mustafa Paşa and built in Ilgın in the second half of the 16th century. The complex stands in the town centre, within the bazaar.

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While you are in Ilgın, you can also see the highlights of Konya province. These places are in other districts; Ilgın is about 90 km from the provincial centre.

• Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum — The mausoleum and dervish lodge of Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî, a museum since 1926. With the tomb known as the Green Dome, the semahane (whirling hall), the dervish cells and manuscripts of the Masnavi, it is one of the most visited museums in Türkiye.
• Çatalhöyük — A Neolithic city in Çumra, inhabited for about two thousand years from around 7400 BC. With its adjoining houses entered through the roof, its wall paintings and its figurines, it is one of the first urban settlements in human history.
• Karatay Madrasa (Museum of Tile Works) — A madrasa built in 1251 by Emir Celaleddin Karatay; its dome, covered in turquoise and navy-blue tiles, is a masterpiece of Seljuk tile art.
• İnce Minareli Madrasa — A darülhadis (hadith school) built in 1264 by the vizier Sahip Ata, with Kölük bin Abdullah as its architect; it is famous for its richly carved portal.
• Alaeddin Hill and Mosque — On the hill in the city centre, the Alaeddin Mosque, which houses the tombs of the Seljuk sultans, and the remains of the Kılıçarslan II Pavilion; this is the oldest settled area of the city.
• Sille — A village 8 km north-west of the city where Greeks and Turks lived together for centuries; it is known for the Aya Eleni Church, which goes back to the 4th century, its rock-cut chapels and its stone houses.

Practical Information for Visiting Ilgın

Suggested time

1-2 days

Best time to visit

All year (spas), spring and autumn (nature)

Places to visit

6 places

• 🫓

  Etli Ekmek (meat flatbread)

  Konya's famous meat flatbread is also made in Ilgın's traditional bakeries. This dish, prepared using traditional recipes, has an important place on local tables.

• 🍖

  Fırın Kebabı (oven-baked lamb)

  Prepared by slow-cooking lamb in a clay oven, fırın kebabı is one of Ilgın's best-loved dishes.

• 🍽️

  Ilgın Poppy Seed Kömbe (Ilgın Haşhaşlı Kömbe)

  A bakery product with a protected geographical indication belonging to Ilgın, registered on 19 September 2023 at the request of the Ilgın Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The product group is bakery and pastry products.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Ilgın

• ♨️

  Thermal Spa Culture

  Ilgın's thermal springs have been used for healing since the Roman period. The spa tradition is an important part of the district's social life.

• 🕌

  Mimar Sinan Heritage

  The Lala Mustafa Paşa Complex, one of Mimar Sinan's important works in Central Anatolia, enriches Ilgın's cultural heritage.

Local Products

• Ilgın Poppy Seed Kömbe (Ilgın Haşhaşlı Kömbe) — Ilgın Haşhaşlı Kömbe was registered as a protected geographical indication on 19 September 2023 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1470). Product group: bakery and pastry products, pastries, and sweets. Registered by: Ilgın Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Thermal Water — The thermal water of Ilgın's spas is also sold as bottled mineral water.
• Wheat — Wheat grown on the fertile soils of the Konya plain is Ilgın's main agricultural product.

Economy

Ilgın's economy is based on agriculture, thermal tourism and livestock. Wheat, barley and sugar beet are the main crops. The spa facilities generate income from health tourism.

How to Get to Ilgın

Ilgın is 90 km from Konya city centre. The Konya-Afyon road passes through the district. There are regular bus services.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Konya

Ilgın: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

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

Other Districts of Konya

• Ahırlı 3 places Ahırlı Plateau, Ahırlı Central Mosque and Çarşamba Stream
• Akören 6 places Akören Mound (Höyük), Dinorna and Gavurlar Hammam
• Akşehir 7 places Nasreddin Hoca Tomb and Museum, Akşehir Lake and Taş Medrese
• Altınekin 2 places Zıvarık Caravanserai and Altınekin steppe
• Beyşehir 7 places Beyşehir Lake, Eşrefoğlu Mosque and Kubadabad Palace Ruins
• Bozkır 10 places Zengibar Castle, Bozkır Dam and Bozkır Grand Mosque
• Cihanbeyli 5 places Tuz Gölü (Cihanbeyli Shore), Cihanbeyli Höyükleri (Mounds) and Cihanbeyli Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii)
• Çeltik 4 places Honamlı Yörük Settlement, Gökpınar Picnic Area and Çeltik Grand Mosque
• Çumra 5 places Çatalhöyük, Çumra Plain and Çumra Grand Mosque
• Derbent 2 places Derbent Boğazı (Derbent Pass) and Derbent Dam
• Derebucak 3 places Derebucak Plateau, Derebucak Canyon and Derebucak Çamlık Caves National Park
• Doğanhisar 7 places Doğanhisar Castle, Doğanhisar Grand Mosque and Grand Mosque
• Emirgazi 5 places Kötü Dağ, Eski Kışla and Emrullah Gazi Tomb
• Ereğli 5 places İvriz Dam, İvriz Rock Relief and Ereğli Museum
• Güneysınır 4 places Güneysınır Grand Mosque, Karagüney Plateau and Bardas Village Historic Buildings
• Hadim 8 places Hadim Castle, Göksu Valley and Hadim Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii)
• Halkapınar 5 places İvriz Rock Relief, İvriz Waterfall and Eskihisar Mound
• Hüyük 5 places Shores of Lake Beyşehir, Acem Nasuh Mosque and Hüyük Mound
• Kadınhanı 5 places Kadın Hanı Caravanserai, Kadınhanı Grand Mosque and Kadınhanı Mounds
• Karapınar 7 places Meke Lake, Acı Lake and Meke Lake (Meke Salt Flat)
• Karatay 5 places Mevlâna Museum and Tomb, Karatay Madrasa (Museum of Tile Works) and İnce Minareli Madrasa (Museum of Stone and Wood Works)
• Kulu 6 places Düden Lake, Gökgöl Lake and Samsam Lake
• Meram 7 places Meram Vineyards, Sille Village and Aya Eleni Church
• Sarayönü 4 places Sarayönü Seljuk Palace Ruins, Sarayönü Grand Mosque and Sarayini Underground City
• Selçuklu 10 places Time Museum, Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden and Konya Science Centre
• Seydişehir 4 places Tınaztepe Cave, Suğla Lake and Vasada Ancient City
• Taşkent 3 places Taşkent Cave (İnönü Cave), Balcılar Canyon and Taşkent Grand Mosque
• Tuzlukçu 3 places Subatan Lake, Tuzlukçu Grand Mosque and Lake Tuz Views
• Yalıhüyük 4 places Gölcük Plateau, Historic Structures of Sarayköy and Yalıhüyük Mosque
• Yunak 8 places Yunak Castle Ruins, Yunak Grand Mosque and Yunak Mounds