Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source 13 places to visit in the central district of Sivas: Sivas Congress Building (Atatürk Congress and Ethnography Museum), Divriği Grand Mosque and Darüşşifa (UNESCO) and Gök Madrasa. Plan your trip with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Sivas Merkez district lies in the east of Central Anatolia, in the Kızılırmak valley, on old trade routes that open to Eastern Anatolia. Sivas has a continental climate: winters are cold and snowy, and summers are hot and dry.
The Seljuk Turks took Sivas definitively under Turkish rule shortly after the Battle of Malazgirt. In the 13th century, Sivas became an important city under the Anatolian Seljuk State and then under the Ilkhanids.
Atatürk left Sivas for Ankara on 18 December 1919.
The Grand Mosque is a structure with 50 masonry supports connected by pointed arches, from a period when the concept of the dome had not yet developed. Abdülvahabi Gazi lived in the 8th century and served as emir in Sivas for two years.
Last updated:
The building where the Sivas Congress met from 4 to 11 September 1919 has been arranged as a museum. Documents and photographs from the congress, one of the turning points of the War of Independence, are on display.
View on map
Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source Built in 1271 by Sahip Ata Fahreddin Ali, a Seljuk vizier, this madrasa is one of the masterpieces of Seljuk architecture, with its tile-decorated minarets and portal.
View on mapBuilt in 1271 during the Ilkhanid period, this madrasa is noted for its two minarets and stonework. Today it serves as the Sivas Archaeology Museum.
View on mapBuilt in 1271 during the Seljuk period, this madrasa is famous for the stone decoration of its portal. Today it is used as a café and souvenir shop.
View on mapA two-storey dressed-stone han built at the end of the 19th century on Fevzi Çakmak Street. Today it is used as a business centre with shops and cafés.
View on mapThe castle on Topraktepe in the city centre has been settled since the early 2nd millennium BC. There are gates in the outer walls of the castle.
View on mapBuilt in 1228 during the Mengücekid Beylik period, the mosque and darüşşifa (hospital) are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its geometric and floral stone-carving motifs are unique in the world. (Note: it is located in Divriği district but is Sivas's most important historic monument.)
View on mapA mosque from the Anatolian Seljuk period, with a flat roof and Kufic-type design. According to the text, it is closed to visitors due to restoration that began in 2025.
View on mapA domed tomb with an octagonal plan on Akkaya hill in Kılavuz Quarter. Known locally as Yukarı Tekke.
View on mapHoused in the former Sivas Mekteb-i Sultânî building. The hall where the Sivas Congress was held and Atatürk's study are preserved.
View on mapA picnic and walking area higher than the city centre, known for its hillside houses, waterfalls and caves.
View on mapRocks known for their red-coloured, eroded surface forms. There are trekking routes and direction signs.
View on mapA large culture park established during the reign of Abdülhamid II, with registered structures. A museum, a children's park and the War Horses Museum are located in this area.
View on mapMade with minced meat and spices, Sivas köftesi is served grilled. It is distinguished from other types of köfte by its thin, long shape.
Made with local madımak herb, bulgur and yoghurt, this soup is Sivas's best-known traditional flavour.
Katmer, thin yufka dough spread with butter, folded and cooked on a griddle, is Sivas's breakfast treat.
The Sivas Congress is one of the most important turning points of the Turkish War of Independence. Held from 4 to 11 September 1919, the congress ensured the unity of the national struggle.
Sivas was one of the most important cities of the Anatolian Seljuk period. The Gök Madrasa, Twin Minaret Madrasa and Buruciye Madrasa are living examples of this heritage.
Sivas's economy rests on industry, agriculture and the service sector. The iron and steel industry, cement and the food sector are the main economic activities. Cumhuriyet University contributes to the economy.
Sivas Nuri Demirağ Airport is 25 km from the city centre. Ankara is 450 km away and Kayseri is 200 km away. There is a rail connection.
The 13 highlights in Sivas Merkez: Sivas Congress Building (Atatürk Congress and Ethnography Museum), Divriği Grand Mosque and Darüşşifa (UNESCO), Gök Madrasa, Twin Minaret Madrasa, Buruciye Madrasa, Sivas Grand Mosque, Sivas Atatürk and Congress Museum, Sivas Castle (Topraktepe), Taşhan, Hamidiye Millet Bahçesi (Hamidiye Culture Park), Paşabahçe Picnic Area, Abdülvahabi Gazi Tomb and Emirhan Eğribucak Rocks.
Sivas Köftesi, Madımak Çorbası and Katmer are the standout dishes on Sivas Merkez's tables.
Sivas Merkez is known for the Kangal dog and the Sivas Congress legacy. The Kangal dog, the symbol of Sivas, is a world-famous shepherd dog breed. It is bred in Kangal district.
Sivas Nuri Demirağ Airport is 25 km from the city centre. Ankara is 450 km away and Kayseri is 200 km away. There is a rail connection.