Konya was one of the most important cities of medieval Anatolia — the Seljuk sultans made it their capital and filled it with magnificent mosques, madrasas, hans and caravanserais. Many survive remarkably intact. The city’s most famous resident, the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi (Mevlana), drew pilgrims from across the Islamic world during his lifetime and continues to do so today — his mausoleum is one of the most visited sites in Turkey.
Modern Konya is a conservative, prosperous city that takes its religious heritage seriously. The UNESCO-listed Sema ceremony (whirling dervishes) is performed regularly and the December festival (Şeb-i Arûz) draws visitors from across the world.
- Region
- Central Anatolia
- Historical role
- Seljuk Sultanate of Rum capital
- Rumi (born)
- 30 September 1207
- Known for
- Mevlana Museum, Sema ceremony, Seljuk architecture
Mevlana Museum
The Mevlana Müzesi— the mausoleum and dervish lodge of Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī (1207–1273) — is the most visited site in Turkey outside Istanbul, with over 3 million visitors a year. The distinctive turquoise-fluted dome over Rumi’s tomb has been the skyline landmark of Konya for 700 years.
Inside, you can see Rumi’s sarcophagus, Sufi musical instruments, illuminated manuscripts of the Masnavi and the robes of Rumi and his followers. The atmosphere is one of the most moving in Turkey — prepare for emotion regardless of your religious background.
Alâeddin Hill and Mosque
Alâeddin Tepesi is a low hill in the centre of Konya that served as the Seljuk citadel. The Alâeddin Camii(1221) on its summit is the oldest surviving mosque in Konya — a beautiful building with 42 antique columns and a forest of Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk architectural fragments incorporated into its structure. The hill’s park is the city’s main public space.
Karatay Madrasa
The Karatay Medresesi (1251) is a Seljuk theological college whose interior is covered in extraordinary cobalt-blue and turquoise Iznik-style tile mosaics — a domed central hall that is one of the most beautiful interior spaces in Turkey. It now functions as a Ceramics Museum displaying Seljuk tilework from across Konya province.
İnce Minareli Madrasa
The İnce Minareli Medrese (1265), named for its slender minaret, has one of the most elaborately carved stone portals in Seljuk architecture — a breathtaking Baroque of stone-carved Arabic calligraphy and vegetal ornament. It now houses the Stone and Wood Carving Museum.
Beyşehir Lake and Eşrefoğlu Mosque
Beyşehir Gölü, 90 km west of Konya, is Turkey’s third largest lake — a vast freshwater lake with excellent birdwatching and fishing. On its eastern shore stands the Eşrefoğlu Camii (1299), one of the finest wooden mosques in Turkey — 42 carved cedar columns supporting a flat painted ceiling, the largest original wooden mosque interior in Anatolia.
Konya in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Konya
3High-speed train (YHT) from Istanbul Pendik station to Konya takes about 4.5 hours. There are also direct buses (6–7 hrs) and flights (1.5 hrs). The YHT is the most comfortable option.
The Sema ceremony is performed every Saturday evening at the Mevlana Cultural Centre (free entry, no reservation needed). The biggest event is the Şeb-i Arûz festival in December, marking the anniversary of Rumi's death.
Konya is famous for etli ekmek (flatbread with minced meat, baked in a long stone oven), fırın kebabı (oven-baked lamb), tirit (bread soaked in meat broth with lamb), and fıstıklı dürüm (pistachio wrap).