Kayseri
TürkiyeCfa
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
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Why visit
It's the gateway to Cappadocia, most travellers fly into Kayseri's airport before heading 70 km west to Göreme's fairy chimneys. But the city itself rewards a half-day with a black basalt Seljuk citadel in the center, the covered Kapalı Çarşı bazaar, and the dazzling Mongol-era Çifte Medrese twin theological schools. Mount Erciyes draws skiers in winter and trekkers in summer, and the Kaıseri Archaeology Museum holds Hittite finds from nearby Kultepe.
When to avoid
Winters at this altitude are harsh, January nights drop well below freezing and snow can paralyse roads to Cappadocia. Summers are dry but intense at midday. Kayseri is religiously conservative. Dress modestly and expect alcohol to be harder to find than in coastal Turkey. Friday midday prayers shut many small shops briefly. Avoid arriving without booked transfers if connecting to Cappadocia at night, the airport is small.