Things to Do in Kula: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Kula

• 1 Ancient City
• 2 Religious
• 3 Nature

While you are in Kula, you can also see the highlights of Manisa province. These places are in other districts; Kula is about 120 km from the provincial centre.

• Sardis (Sart) Ancient City — 9 km from Salihli, Sardis was the capital of the Lydian Kingdom and is famous for its Roman-era gymnasium and bath complex, one of the largest ancient synagogues in Anatolia and the giant Temple of Artemis.
• Temple of Artemis at Sardis — One of the largest Ionic temples in Anatolia, begun in the Hellenistic period and continued under the Romans; two of its columns are still standing.
• Sultan Mosque and Hafsa Sultan Hospital (Darüşşifa) — A complex built in 1522 by Ayşe Hafsa Sultan, mother of Suleiman the Magnificent, made up of a mosque, madrasa, imaret (soup kitchen), hammam and a darüşşifa (hospital) where the mentally ill were also treated.
• Muradiye Mosque — The mosque of the complex designed by Mimar Sinan in 1583–1585 for Murad III; with its two minarets and the İznik tiles of the interior, it is the most elegant Ottoman building in Manisa.
• Mount Spil National Park — A national park on the border of Manisa and Izmir, declared in 1968; it is known for its yılkı horses (feral horses), where old horses have been left to roam since Ottoman times, for the endemic Manisa tulip and for the Atalanı plateau.
• Weeping Rock (Niobe) — A rock in the Çaybaşı neighbourhood, at the exit of Mount Spil, associated with the legend of Niobe, who lost her children and wept until she turned to stone.

Practical Information for Visiting Kula

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn months

Places to visit

6 places

• 🍖

  Manisa Kebabı

  Lamb marinated in special spices and then cooked. Enjoyed at local tables, this dish is prepared using traditional recipes. As it is made with seasonal ingredients, it offers a different flavour in each season.

• 🫓

  Kula Pidesi (Kula flatbread)

  A traditional pide made by placing minced meat or cheese on thin dough and baking it in a stone oven.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kula

• 🌋

  UNESCO Geopark Heritage

  Kula is the first geopark in Türkiye to be included in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Its volcanic landscape offers a unique setting for geological education and ecotourism.

Local Products

• Kula El Halısı (Kula handmade carpet) — Kula El Halısı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 14 November 1997 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 13). Product group: carpets and kilims. Registered by: Kula Municipality.
• Kula Leblebisi (Kula roasted chickpeas) — Kula Leblebisi was registered as a protected geographical indication on 21 June 2019 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 434). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Salihli Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Economy

The economy of Kula is based on agriculture, carpet-weaving and geopark tourism. Grapes, wheat and livestock are the main sources of livelihood. The UNESCO Geopark is increasing the district's tourism potential.

How to Get to Kula

Kula is 120 km from Manisa city centre. Access is by road.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Manisa

Kula: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

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

Other Districts of Manisa

• Ahmetli 3 places Ahmetli Mosque, Gediz Plain Views and Çakıcı Mehmet Efe Bridge
• Akhisar 4 places Thyateira Ancient City, Akhisar Grand Mosque and Akhisar Archaeology Museum
• Alaşehir 3 places Philadelphia Ancient City, Alaşehir Grand Mosque and Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque
• Demirci 3 places Demirci Mansions, Demirci Grand Mosque and Demirci Mountains
• Gölmarmara 7 places Lake Marmara, Gölmarmara Mosque and Halime Hatun Complex
• Gördes 3 places Gördes Carpet Museum, Gördes Dam and Gördes (Kum Çayı) stream
• Kırkağaç 6 places Nakrasa, Stratonikeia and Kırkağaç Grand Mosque
• Köprübaşı 5 places Demirköprü Dam, Historic Bridge and Köprübaşı Mosque
• Salihli 6 places Sardes Ancient City, Bin Tepeler and Daldis Ancient City
• Sarıgöl 4 places Sarıgöl Ulu Mosque, Vineyards and Afşar Dam
• Saruhanlı 5 places Gediz Plain, Saruhanlı Grand Mosque and View of the Gediz Plain
• Selendi 5 places Kınık Neighbourhood picnic area, Gavur Evleri rock tombs and Selendi Mosque
• Soma 3 places Soma Castle, Hıdırlık Hill and Emir Hacı Hıdır Bey Mosque
• Şehzadeler 4 places Sultan Mosque, Manisa Museum and Niobe Rock (Weeping Rock)
• Turgutlu 4 places Urganlı Hot Springs, Karaca Ali Canyon and Ovacık Plateau
• Yunusemre 6 places Yoğurtçu Castle, Weeping Rock and Mount Spil National Park