Eskişehir is widely considered Turkey's most 'European' city — a thriving university town with pedestrian canal-side promenades, trams, rooftop cafes and colourful 19th-century Ottoman timber houses in the Odunpazarı district. The Porsuk River runs through the city centre with gondola rides and waterside cafes.
Meerschaum (lületaşı), the white mineral used for fine pipe-carving, is mined only in this area; artisan workshops carve intricate figures that are exported worldwide. Ancient Phrygia lies in the province, with rock-cut monuments at Yazılıkaya and Midas City.
Known for: Odunpazarı old district · Porsuk River gondolas · Meerschaum (lületaşı) · Phrygia ancient city · University culture
- Region
- Central Anatolia
- Famous for
- Odunpazarı & student culture
- Best seasons
- Apr–Oct
- Craft
- Meerschaum pipe carving
Eskişehir on the live map
Explore Eskişehir and all of Turkey on the live intelligence map — tap a city node to fly in.
What Eskişehir is known for
Odunpazarı is the city's most photogenic quarter — a dense grid of restored Ottoman timber houses in vivid mustard, red and blue, now hosting galleries, boutiques and cafes. The Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM), designed by Kengo Kuma, is one of Turkey's finest contemporary art spaces. Gondola rides on the Porsuk are a quirky city pleasure.
- Odunpazarı — colourful Ottoman timber house district.
- Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM) — world-class contemporary art.
- Porsuk River gondolas — city-centre waterway rides.
- Meerschaum workshops — live carving demonstrations.
Getting around
Eskişehir is 2 hours from Istanbul by high-speed train and 2.5 from Ankara. The city is compact and has an efficient tram. Odunpazarı and the river centre are a short tram ride from the station.
On the platform
Eskişehir 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 Eskişehir
2The colourful Odunpazarı Ottoman district, the Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM), Porsuk River gondolas, meerschaum pipe-carving and a famously vibrant student atmosphere.
About 330 km — 2 hours by high-speed train (YHT), making it an easy and rewarding day trip or overnight from Istanbul.