One day in central Konya: Alaaddin Hill to the Mevlana Museum

This route covers the historic centre of Konya in one day. It starts at Alaaddin Hill, the core of the Seljuk city, and ends at the Mevlana Museum. You can walk the whole way or take the T2 tram for part of it.

Morning on Alaaddin Hill

Tram T1 from the bus station (Otogar) stops at Alaaddin, at the foot of the hill. The Alaeddin Mosque stands on top. Work on it began in the 12th century, and it was completed under Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I, whose name it carries. Inside, look for the ebony minbar, dated 1155. In the courtyard, a ten-sided tomb holds Seljuk sultans, among them Kılıçarslan II. The paths up the hill have slopes and steps.

At the foot of the hill, opposite the remains of the Seljuk palace, is the Karatay Madrasa. The emir Celaleddin Karatay built it in 1251, and it opened as a tile museum in 1955. Its dome is covered in tile mosaic, mostly black and turquoise. The displays include tiles from the excavation of the Kubadabad Palace near Lake Beyşehir.

The İnce Minareli Madrasa

A short walk west, also at the foot of the hill, is the İnce Minareli Madrasa. It was built in the 13th century for the vizier Sahip Ata Fahreddin Ali. Its stone portal is carved with wide bands of inscription. Lightning destroyed part of the minaret in 1901, and only the lower section stands today. Inside is a museum of stone and wood works from the Seljuk, Beylik and Ottoman periods. A restoration of the building was ordered in 2022, so check that the museum is open.

Afternoon in the Mevlana area

From the Alaaddin stop, tram T2 runs east via Hükümet to the Mevlana stop. The Mevlana Museum was the lodge of the Mevlevi dervish order. It holds the tomb of the 13th-century poet Rumi, under a turquoise dome. The lodge closed in 1925 and reopened as a museum in 1926. It has been called the Mevlana Museum since 1954.

For lunch, look for etli ekmek, a long flatbread baked with minced meat that originated in Konya.

Practical notes

Before you set off, check museum hours on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism museum site (muze.gov.tr). Tram routes and timetables are run by Konya Metropolitan Municipality.