Çorum province covers the heartland of the ancient Hittite Empire — the central Anatolian plateau where the Hittites built their cities, temples and rock sanctuaries. Three major Hittite sites are accessible from the city: Hattusa (capital), Alacahöyük (ceremonial centre) and Yazılıkaya (rock sanctuary). Together they represent the most complete surviving picture of Hittite civilisation.
The sites are rarely crowded by international standards — most visitors are Turkish school groups or dedicated archaeology travellers. The landscapes are beautiful: central Anatolian valleys with rolling hills and vast skies.
- Region
- Central Anatolia
- UNESCO site
- Hattusa — Hittite capital (inscribed 1986)
- Distance to Hattusa
- 80 km south (Boğazkale village)
- Known for
- Hattusa, Alacahöyük, Yazılıkaya, Çorum leblebi (chickpeas)
Hattusa (UNESCO World Heritage)
Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire from around 1700 BCE, is one of the great archaeological sites of the ancient world. The ruins cover approximately 180 hectares: the Great Temple, the Royal Citadel (Büyükkale), the Great Fortification Wall with its distinctive corbelled stone galleries, the monumental Lion Gate and Sphinx Gate, and the Hieroglyphic Chamber with Luwian script inscriptions. The site is spread over several hills; plan at least 3–4 hours and hire a guide or audio guide to contextualise the ruins.
Yazılıkaya Rock Sanctuary
Yazılıkaya(“inscribed rock”), 3 km from Hattusa, is a natural rock sanctuary where the Hittites carved over 90 figures of gods and goddesses into two open-air chambers. The main chamber shows the Hittite divine assembly — gods and goddesses marching in procession in carved relief. The smaller chamber contains the famous image of the Sword God and the relief of King Tuthaliya IV. The carvings are among the finest surviving examples of Hittite art.
Alacahöyük
Alacahöyük, 50 km north of Hattusa, is a Hittite royal ceremonial city with a dramatic sphinx gate — two stone sphinxes flanking the ceremonial entrance, with Hittite relief carvings of religious processions on the gate walls. The site museum has extraordinary finds from Bronze Age royal tombs including gold vessels, bronze standards and ritual objects. The combination of gate sphinxes and relief carvings makes Alacahöyük the most visually accessible Hittite site.
Çorum Archaeology Museum
The Çorum Arkeoloji Müzesiin the city centre houses one of Turkey’s finest Hittite collections — finds from Hattusa, Alacahöyük, Kültepe and other regional sites. Highlights include Hittite cuneiform tablets, bull rhyta (ritual drinking vessels), ceramic figurines, bronze weapons and jewellery from the royal tombs at Alacahöyük. The museum is an essential pre-visit before the sites; or a good synthesis after seeing the ruins.
Çorum and Hittite heritage
Frequently asked questions
Çorum
3Fly from Istanbul to Çorum Airport (1.5 hrs, limited flights) or to Ankara (1 hr) and take a bus 2.5 hours east to Çorum. From Çorum, Hattusa is another 1.5 hours by road (80 km). Most visitors access Hattusa from Ankara or Çorum as a day trip or overnight stay.
Minimum 3 hours for a fast visit; 5–6 hours to do it thoroughly. The site is large and spread over several hills; having a car is essential — you cannot walk between all areas easily. Yazılıkaya is a separate 10-minute drive and adds 45 minutes.
Yes, completely. Çorum is a normal central Anatolian provincial city; tourists are rare and are treated with curiosity and hospitality. The Hattusa area (Boğazkale village) has small pensions and restaurants serving as bases for the site.