Burdur sits at the heart of Turkey's Lakes Region, where a cluster of turquoise and saline lakes fill the Taurus plateau valleys. Burdur Lake's alkaline shallows host one of the largest flamingo colonies in Turkey, spectacular in spring when thousands of birds gather at the water's edge.
The province's greatest cultural treasure is Sagalassos — a remarkably intact Hellenistic and Roman city at 1,700 metres, with a stunning fountain and theatre ensemble carved into a mountain backdrop.
Known for: Burdur Lake (flamingos) · Ancient Sagalassos · Insuyu Cave · Lakes Region · Salda Lake
- Region
- Mediterranean / Lakes
- Famous for
- Flamingos & Sagalassos
- Best seasons
- Apr–Oct
- Site
- Sagalassos — best-preserved Pisidian city
Burdur on the live map
Explore Burdur and all of Turkey on the live intelligence map — tap a city node to fly in.
What Burdur is known for
Sagalassos is an exceptional ancient city — the restored Nymphaeum (monumental fountain) and theatre make it visually stunning, and its remote mountain setting keeps crowds low. Burdur Lake's salty shallows shelter flamingos, pelicans and other waterbirds, while Salda Lake (nicknamed 'Turkey's Maldives') has attracted viral attention for its white mineral shores.
- Ancient Sagalassos — best-preserved Pisidian Roman city, mountain setting.
- Burdur Lake — flamingo colony, birdwatching.
- Salda Lake — white carbonate shores, turquoise water.
- Insuyu Cave — illuminated stalactite cave.
Getting around
Burdur is 1.5 hours from Isparta, 3 hours from Antalya. Sagalassos is 30 km east of Burdur city; a car is essential to reach it and Salda Lake.
On the platform
Burdur 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 Burdur
2Ancient Sagalassos, Burdur Lake's flamingo colony, white-shored Salda Lake and the stalactites of Insuyu Cave.
A superbly preserved Pisidian Hellenistic and Roman city at 1,700 m altitude in the Taurus Mountains — one of Turkey's finest but least-visited classical sites.