Bingöl — 'Thousand Lakes' in Turkish — is named for its glacier-scoured highland landscape dotted with small mountain lakes. One of Eastern Anatolia's most naturally pristine provinces, it sees few tourists and retains a largely traditional highland character with summer yayla culture.
The Karasu River (a source of the Western Euphrates) cuts dramatic gorges through the province, and Solhan district has natural hot springs. Wildlife — wolves, bears, eagles — is more visible here than in more developed regions.
Known for: Highland lakes (binlerce göl) · Karasu gorge · Solhan hot springs · Yaylas (highland plateaus) · Pristine wilderness
- Region
- Eastern Anatolia
- Famous for
- Highland lakes & wilderness
- Best seasons
- Jun–Sep
- Character
- Remote highland province
Bingöl on the live map
Explore Bingöl and all of Turkey on the live intelligence map — tap a city node to fly in.
What Bingöl is known for
The highland lakes and plateaus are the main draw for nature lovers; the Karasu gorge offers riverside scenery. Solhan thermal springs are a local retreat. The province's remoteness makes it appealing for those seeking authentic Eastern Anatolian wilderness away from tourist circuits.
- Highland lakes — glacier-formed mountain lakes.
- Karasu River gorge — Euphrates source valley.
- Solhan hot springs — natural thermal baths.
- Yayla culture — summer highland grazing traditions.
Getting around
Bingöl has a small airport. The city is 2 hours from Elazığ, 3 from Erzurum by road. A 4WD car is recommended for highland exploration.
On the platform
Bingöl is joining Türkiye Gez as we expand into a Turkey-wide city intelligence platform. This guide is the launch foundation — live transport data, an interactive map and deeper neighborhood content roll out city by city, on the same architecture that powers Istanbul today.
Frequently asked questions
About Bingöl
1Its glacier-scoured highland lakes (the name means 'thousand lakes'), Karasu River gorges, Solhan thermal springs and remote Eastern Anatolian wilderness.