Old Town

Western Anatolia


The hilly cobbled streets that radiate out around the Ulu Cami are chock-a-block with a liquorice allsorts selection of colourful Ottoman timber-framed houses, some serving as teahouses and restaurants. Sunset is the best time to explore this area, when the shadows lengthen and families are strolling around their neighbourhood. Unlike some overly restored old-town neighbourhoods in Turkey, Afyon's heritage area combines renovation and renewal with its original grittier ambience.

Follow Tuz Pazarı Caddesi west, with the castle above you on your right, to head into the old town area and explore.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Western Anatolia attractions

2. Mevlevihane Museum

0.13 MILES

This old town museum, in the same courtyard as the Mevlevihane Cami, holds displays explaining dervish life. An optional audio tour (₺5) helps bring the…

3. Mevlevihane Cami

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This 13th-century Seljuk creation was a dervish lodge when Sultan Veled (son of dervish founder Celaleddin Rumi) made Afyon the empire's most important…

4. Afyon Castle

0.21 MILES

This kale (castle) or hisar (fortress) overlooks Afyon from a craggy rock. The strenuous approach up a steep but well-maintained set of stairs passes…

5. İmaret Cami

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Afyon's major mosque complex (a five-minute walk from Hükümet Meydanı) was built for Gedik Ahmet Paşa in 1472. The blue-tiled, spiral-fluted minaret…

6. Ulu Cami

0.33 MILES

Among the most important surviving Seljuk mosques in Turkey, the Ulu Cami (1273) is supported by 40 fat, soaring wooden columns with intricate stalactite…