Tokat was an important Silk Road city and Seljuk-Ottoman provincial centre, leaving a legacy of beautifully painted timber Ottoman houses, the extraordinary Gök Medrese (with a Seljuk tiled portal as fine as anything in Anatolia) and a warren of hans and mosques in the old bazaar.
Ballıca Cave, 25 km outside the city, is one of Turkey's most impressive show caves — 680 metres of stalactite and stalagmite chambers open to visitors. The Yeşilırmak valley vineyards produce a distinctive local wine.
Known for: Gök Medrese · Ballıca Cave · Silk Road heritage · Ottoman painted houses · Tokat castle
- Region
- Black Sea / Central
- Famous for
- Gök Medrese & Ballıca Cave
- Best seasons
- Apr–Oct
- Heritage
- Silk Road caravanserai
Tokat on the live map
Explore Tokat and all of Turkey on the live intelligence map — tap a city node to fly in.
What Tokat is known for
The Gök Medrese (1277) has a portal of intricate Seljuk blue-and-turquoise tile that ranks with Sivas and Erzurum. The Ali Paşa Bedesteni and surrounding old bazaar have been trading since Ottoman times. The Ottoman 'painted houses' of the old residential quarter are being steadily restored.
- Gök Medrese — extraordinary Seljuk tiled portal.
- Ballıca Cave — 680 m stalactite chambers.
- Ottoman painted timber houses.
- Ali Paşa Bazaar — historic covered market.
Getting around
Tokat is 4 hours from Ankara, 2 hours from Samsun by bus. Ballıca Cave is 25 km; a car or dolmuş in season.
On the platform
Tokat 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 Tokat
1The Gök Medrese's Seljuk tiled portal, Ballıca Cave stalactites, Silk Road heritage in its old bazaar and Ottoman painted timber houses.