Things to Do in Karapınar: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Karapınar

• 1 Historic
• 5 Nature
• 1 Other

1 🌳 Nature

Meke Lake

Salt crater lake in Karapınar.

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2 🌳 Nature

Acı Lake

Crater lake in the district.

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3 🌳 Nature

Meke Lake (Meke Salt Flat)

Meke Lake, a volcanic crater lake with a volcanic cone in its centre, is a unique geological formation. It is home to flamingos and other migratory birds. Because of its geological importance it is also called the 'Evil Eye Bead of the World'.

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4 🌳 Nature

Karapınar Sinkholes

Natural sinkholes (subsidence pits) formed around Karapınar are geologically fascinating features. Some have filled with water to form small lakes.

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

5 🏛️ Historic

Karapınar Sultan Selim Mosque

Mosque commissioned by Sultan Selim II in the 16th century, one of the important examples of Ottoman architecture in Konya.

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6 🌳 Nature

Karapınar Meke Crater Lake

Crater lake 8 km south-east of Karapınar, formed by a double eruption.

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7 📍 Other

Karapınar Solar Power Plant

Facility commonly described as the largest solar power plant in Türkiye, located in Karapınar.

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While you are in Karapınar, you can also see the highlights of Konya province. These places are in other districts; Karapınar is about 100 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 Karapınar

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn (April–May, September–October)

Places to visit

7 places

• 🫓

  Etli Ekmek

  Konya's famous etli ekmek, which is also made in Karapınar's traditional ovens. This dish has an important place at local tables and is prepared using traditional recipes.

• 🥣

  Tarhana Çorbası (tarhana soup)

  Tarhana, made by drying yoghurt, tomato and wheat flour, is an essential winter soup. Tarhana prepared in autumn is dried to be eaten throughout the winter.

• 🍽️

  Kavurga (Kavurga stew)

  Meat dish cooked outdoors, a reflection of rural life.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Karapınar

• 🌋

  Volcanic Geological Heritage

  Meke Lake and the surrounding volcanic formations have made Karapınar an important centre for geological tourism.

• 🌾

  Steppe Culture

  In Karapınar, where the Central Anatolian steppe climate prevails, dryland farming and herding traditions continue.

Local Products

• Karapınar Halısı (Karapınar rug) — Registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected geographical indication.
• Karapınar Kavurgası (Karapınar kavurga) — Karapınar Kavurgası was registered as a protected geographical indication on 29 January 2025 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1695). Product group: other products. Registered by: Karapınar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Karapınar Koyun Yoğurdu (Karapınar sheep's yoghurt) — Karapınar Koyun Yoğurdu was registered as a protected geographical indication on 5 September 2025 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1772). Product group: dairy products other than cheese and butter. Registered by: Karapınar Commodity Exchange.
• Karapınar Tülü Dokuması (Karapınar tulle weaving) — Registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected geographical indication.

Economy

The economy of Karapınar is based on farming and livestock. Wheat, barley, carrots and sugar beet are the main agricultural products. Small-livestock farming is an important source of income.

How to Get to Karapınar

Karapınar is 100 km from Konya city centre. The Konya–Ereğli road passes through the district. Regular bus services operate.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Konya

Karapınar: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Karapınar 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
• Ilgın 6 places Yalburt, Lageina and Ilgın Thermal Springs (Ilgın Kaplıcaları)
• Kadınhanı 5 places Kadın Hanı Caravanserai, Kadınhanı Grand Mosque and Kadınhanı Mounds
• 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