Things to Do in Sarayönü: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Sarayönü

• 2 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Religious

While you are in Sarayönü, you can also see the highlights of Konya province. These places are in other districts; Sarayönü is about 50 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 Sarayönü

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

4 places

• 🫓

  Etli Ekmek (meat flatbread)

  Konya's famous meat flatbread is also made in Sarayönü's traditional ovens. A dish with an important place on local tables, it is prepared using traditional recipes.

• 🥣

  Bamya Çorbası (okra soup)

  A traditional soup made with dried okra and meat stock, an essential item of winter tables.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Sarayönü

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  Seljuk Palace Heritage

  The district took its name from the palace of the Seljuk period. This historical connection forms the foundation of Sarayönü's cultural identity.

Local Products

• Wheat — Wheat grown in the fertile soils of the Konya plain is Sarayönü's main agricultural product.

Economy

The economy of Sarayönü is based on agriculture. Wheat, barley and sugar beet are the main agricultural products.

How to Get to Sarayönü

Sarayönü is 50 km from Konya city centre. The Konya–Ankara road passes through the district.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Konya

Sarayönü: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Sarayönü 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
• 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
• 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