Kars sits at 1,750 m altitude on the Anatolian plateau, close to the borders with Armenia and Georgia. The city architecture is unusual in Turkey: wide grid streets and stone buildings from the Russian imperial period (1878–1918) give it a Central Asian or Caucasian feel, quite unlike any other Turkish city. Kars also produces some of Turkey’s finest cheese (Gravyer/Gruyère-style) thanks to the highland pastures.
The classic Kars route combines the city itself, Ani (45 km east), Sarıkamış ski resort (60 km south) and Çıldır Lake (100 km northwest). In winter, Sarıkamış offers reliable powder snow and Çıldır freezes solid enough for horse-drawn sled rides.
- Region
- Northeastern Anatolia / Caucasian border
- Key site
- Ani — medieval Armenian capital (UNESCO candidate)
- Altitude
- 1,750 m
- Known for
- Ani ruins, Kars Gravyer cheese, Sarıkamış ski
Ani Ancient City
Ani, 45 km east of Kars on the Akhurian River gorge (the Turkish-Armenian border), was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian Kingdom from 961 CE and at its peak held a population of 100,000 — rival to Constantinople, Baghdad and Cairo. The ruins cover 5 km²: the Cathedral of Ani (1001 CE), the Church of the Redeemer with its dramatic partial collapse, the Seljuk Palace, the Menüçehr Mosque (the first Seljuk mosque built on Armenian soil), and the massive defensive walls that still stand 15 m high. The site is silent, wind-swept and one of the most evocative archaeological places in the Middle East.
Kars Castle
Kars Kalesi, a fortified hilltop above the city, was substantially rebuilt by the Ottomans in the 17th century and contested repeatedly by Russia during the 19th century wars. The interior has been restored and opened as a public park; the ramparts offer 360-degree views over the city, the Kars River and the surrounding plateau. The famous novelists Orhan Pamuk set his novel “Snow” (Kar) in Kars, and the castle appears throughout the book.
Sarıkamış
Sarıkamış, 60 km south of Kars in a Scots pine forest at 2,100 m, is one of Turkey’s best ski resorts — with reliable powder snow December–March, modern lift infrastructure and beautiful forested runs. The town is also a WWI site of profound significance: the Ottoman Army lost 60,000–90,000 soldiers in the 1914–1915 Sarıkamış campaign against Russia, largely to cold and starvation rather than enemy action. A war memorial and cemetery in the forest pay tribute to this catastrophe.
Çıldır Lake
Çıldır Gölü, 100 km northwest of Kars, is Turkey’s largest natural freshwater lake at 1,959 m altitude — and in winter it freezes completely, transforming into a flat expanse of ice where locals race horse-drawn sleds. The winter sled rides are a unique cultural experience; in summer the lake is a serene destination with boat trips and fish restaurants. The ruined island fortress of Akçakale in the lake adds historical interest.
Kars in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Kars
3Fly from Istanbul to Kars Harakani Airport (2 hrs, multiple daily flights). Alternatively, fly to Erzurum (1.5 hrs, more frequent) and take the bus 3 hours east to Kars — this passes through excellent eastern Anatolian landscape and allows you to combine both cities. There is also a slow overnight train from Ankara via Erzurum to Kars.
Ani is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in Turkey — rivalling Ephesus or Hattusa for importance, and surpassing them for atmosphere. The combination of medieval scale, Armenian/Seljuk architecture, and the drama of the river gorge border makes it unlike anything else in the country. Allow at least 3 hours; a guided tour (available in Kars) adds significant context to what is a very large and not fully signposted site.
Yes — Kars is a peaceful provincial city. It borders Armenia (closed border) to the east and Georgia to the north, but these are quiet frontiers without any security issues for tourists. The city itself is calm, welcoming and sees a modest but growing number of international visitors.