Places to visit around Kayseri

Sultan Marshes National Park – Develi

Located 70 km, or 1 hour, from the centre of Kayseri, Sultan Marshes (Sultan Sazlığı) is one of Türkiye’s largest and most important wetlands. As a national park and a protected site, it is also under conservation. Kayseri’s Sultan Marshes is a rare combination of fresh and salt water on the migration route of birds travelling between Africa and Europe.

If you approach Sultan Marshes from the Yeşilhisar side, a 2.5 km bridge will be waiting for you among the tall reeds. As you walk across it in admiration, the calls of 301 different bird species will accompany you. If you go in the right season, you may even see flocks of flamingos. To watch the birds, you can head into the reeds by boat and watch the reeds reflected in the water against a backdrop of Erciyes. Its unique scenery makes it a favourite haunt of photographers, and a photography competition is held here every year. If your Kayseri trip brings you this way, perhaps you too will capture the most beautiful shot.

Sindelhöyük

After visiting Sultan Marshes, it’s worth stopping at the visitor information centre in the town of Sindelhöyük in Develi. If you’re going in November, you should definitely see the reed harvest. The reeds grown in Sultan Marshes are brought to the town of Sindelhöyük. Once they have dried, the women who work in the town strip off their tassels and tie them into cylindrical bundles. They are exported to many countries, especially Germany and the Netherlands. To see these lovely people working in the fields and chat with them, you need to be there early in the morning.

Kapuzbaşı Waterfalls – Yahyalı

The waterfalls, which lie within Aladağlar National Park, are 140 km from central Kayseri. As you drive along the winding roads towards the falls, the forest will greet you and you’ll find yourself surrounded by magnificent nature. Known as the world’s second-highest series of waterfalls, Kapuzbaşı has 7 falls, the shortest 30 metres high and the tallest reaching 70 metres. Unlike other waterfalls, Kapuzbaşı is fed by spring water flowing from between the rocks. Because it is far away, and if you want to see all 7 falls in full flow, you should go in spring or summer. If you’re thinking of having a picnic, come prepared and you can picnic wherever you like. If you don’t have time for a picnic and get hungry while just looking around, there are also small fish restaurants.

Hürmetçi Marshes

Hürmetçi Marshes (Hürmetçi Sazlığı) has an ecosystem made up of important wetlands such as bogs, wet meadows and reed beds. It is 13 kilometres from Kayseri city centre, within the boundaries of the Hacılar and İncesu districts. Hürmetçi Marshes lies on a migration route that crosses Europe, Asia and Africa. That’s why you may spot bird species such as the European bee-eater, the kingfisher and the magpie.

Yılkı horses of Hürmetçi Marshes

In Hürmetçi village, next to Hürmetçi Marshes, live the yılkı horses (free-roaming horses), which you should never leave without seeing. Cared for by the villagers, the horses gallop in herds with the magnificent view of Mount Erciyes behind them, making you feel as if you were in a cowboy film. Photographers and tourists alike flock to the area to photograph the spectacle of hundreds of yılkı horses galloping in all four seasons. When your travels bring you to Kayseri, don’t leave without meeting the yılkı horses and photographing this unique scenery.

Soğanlı Valley and Soğanlı Village, Yeşilhisar

We could call Soğanlı Village in Yeşilhisar Kayseri’s Cappadocian neighbour – or, in other words, Kayseri’s own Cappadocia. When you visit the village, you’ll be greeted by a valley full of distinctive landforms, ruins and rock-cut churches.

Soğanlı Valley was formed after the eruption of Mount Erciyes, once an active volcano. The valley is very inviting for trekking, and you can see old churches inside the fairy chimneys. After visiting Soğanlı Valley and the village, you can buy one of the cloth dolls in folk costume handmade by the villagers as a souvenir. The dolls have become so famous that many local residents now earn their living from them.

Cappadocia, Nevşehir

Just an hour from Kayseri, this fairy-tale landscape formed by the eruption of Mount Erciyes is the place to spend a mystical day. On a day trip to Cappadocia you can fly in a hot-air balloon at sunrise or watch the balloons, explore the fairy chimneys, enjoy outdoor activities, show off your skills at the famous pottery workshops, and watch the sunset in the Kızılçukur Valley before heading back.

Yamula Dam

Yamula Dam was created in 2003, 25 km northwest of Kayseri near the Yemliha neighbourhood, by holding back the waters of the Kızılırmak River to soften Kayseri’s climate and ease its longing for the sea.

Sailing, rowing, swimming, offshore and canoe races are held regularly on the reservoir every year. The area around the reservoir has been landscaped as a picnic and recreation area. If you’d like to explore the dam, boat tours are also available.