Visiting a han

Caravans arriving in hans were welcomed to stay for three days at no cost, courtesy of the building's founder. You, too, can step back in time and relive history by enjoying a visit to a Seljuk han as a modern caravaneer. The excellent modern Turkish highways now passing in front of Seljuk-era hans are built on the same ancient trade routes over which the caravans traveled. You can thus cross the major trade routes of Seljuk Turkey and experience the same adventure as they did.

The Turkish Government has submitted an offıcial request to UNESCO that the "Seljuk Caravanserais on the route from Denizli to Doğubeyazit" be placed on the World Heritage List of Monuments, due to their participation in the interchange of human values and the arts, their exceptional testimony to the cultural traditions of a civilization which has disappeared, and their illustration of an outstanding type of building. By visiting one or more of these hans, you will be able to discover for yourself the universal historical, social and artistic value of the Seljuk caravanserai.

It is estimated that there were perhaps some 200 hans, both large and small, built during the Seljuk era. This site provides a listing of 40 of the most important ones still standing, with details on their location and architectural elements. The remaining hans are in ruins, faint echoes of their former glory. Those that do remain standing, however, are well-preserved and are an exciting destination to visit and explore as you step back in time. Some are run as museums, some have been restored for tourists, and others have been readapted for more modern purposes. No one traveling in Turkey should leave without visiting a Seljuk han, for walking in its vast courtyard is an evocative historical experience. Although you will not find them full of camels and bustling merchants today, these courtyards will provide you with the the insight onto the daily life of a han.

In order to plan a visit to one or several hans, the brief guide is proposed below. If you do not have the time to organize an entire regional discovery trip, every effort should be made to visit at least one of the more important hans: the Kayseri Sultan Han, the Aksaray Sultan Han (the grandest of them all), the Karatay Han, the Ağzikara Han, or the Sari Han. Other notable hans on the list are marked with an asterisk.*

The following list proposes 9 regional areas which contain hans that can be visited. As part of a discovery tour of Turkey, these hans can be visited in conjunction with the many other cultural and historic riches in the area. Each region can be traveled on its own, or can be combined into a larger, loop tour of Turkey (see proposed itinerary below). The easiest way to visit these hans is by private car, but it is completely feasible to arrange a trip by inner-city busses, then by smaller jitneys, hired drivers or taxis. The latter is a less expensive alternative, but will take more time and necessitates a very light suitcase or backpack. Directions to reach each han are listed at the beginning of its description on this website, and current guidebooks to Turkey will provide up-to-date information on hotels (some suggestions are provided below). A good road map to Turkey is essential. It is suggested to cover no more than 150-200 kilometers per day, which will allow enough time to visit the hans and other sightseeing spots in the surrounding area, as well as to enjoy the other delights of travel in Turkey: picnics, tea drinking, kebab eating, carpet shopping, swimming, hiking, and meeting people.

nota: The most outstanding hans are marked with an asterisk* The Turkish government has embarked on a major renovation program for these hans, so note that the photos on this site also include photos of their pre-restoration state.

CAPPADOCIA/AVANOS/AKSARAY REGION
AĞZIKARA* ALAY ÖRESIN (TEPSIDELIK ) SARI * SULTAN HAN AKSARAY* if time, a detour north to: KESIKKÖPRÜ	Cappadocia remains the favorite region of Turkey for many travelers, due to its 5th century cliffside cave churches and its spectacular landscape of tufa rock formations. A rich concentration of hans is tucked in this region, and stretch like a string prayer beads on the roads from Aksaray east to Nevşehir and Avanos. The Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are one of the 9 sites in Turkey on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the Konya-Aksarary Road, the Aksaray Sultan han is 52 km before Aksaray. On the Aksaray-Nevşehir Road, you may see one after the other the Ağizkara Han (15 km out of Aksaray; one of the most spectacular), the Öresun Han (6km farther), and the Alay Han (another 6km; one of the first royal hans).
KONYA REGION
DOKUZUN ELI-KESIK HOROZLU* KURUÇEŞME KIZILOREN OBRUK ZAZADIN*	The Konya region offers the second largest concentration of hans, and showcases some spectacular examples, notably the newly-restored Zazadin Han. Konya, the capital of the Seljuks, is one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey, rich with heritage, culture, spirituality and spectacular monuments, notably the Karatay, Ince, Sahipata and Sircali Medreses, the Alaeddin Mosque, and the tomb of Mevlana. Visitors may use Konya as a base for 3 han discovery drives: eastern drive: Horozlu, Zazadin, Obruk western drive: Eli-Kesik, Kizilören, Kandemir northern drive: Dokuzun
AFYON/CENTRAL REGION
CAY EĞRET KADIN SAHIPATA*
KAYSERI REGION
KARATAY* SULTAN HAN KAYSERI*	These are two of the most spectacular examples in all of Turkey. The city of Kayseri, under the shadow of the majestic Mt. Erciyes, is a goldmine of Seljuk monuments.
MEDITERRANEAN COAST REGION
ALARA* EVDIR* KARGI ŞARAFSA*	The Mediterranean Sea and the important Seljuk cities of Antalya and Alanya are the highlights of this region.
BEYŞEHIR/BUDUR REGION
EĞIRDIR ERTOKUŞ INCIR* KIRKGÖZ* SUSUZ*	The spectacular drive up from the coast to the Central Lakes region is unforgettable. This region is often overlooked by tourists despite its natural beauty and relaxing environment.
SIVAS/TOKAT/AMASYA REGION
CAKALLI DURAGAN EZINEPAZAAR PAZAR *	This region was an important trade area in the Seljuk times, although few hans remain standing. It is a beautiful natural region to discover.
WESTERN/DENIZLI REGION
AK* CARDAK	The Ak Han of Denizli is the westernmost of the hans.
EASTERN REGION
ESAB-I KEYF* HEKIM	More off the beaten path than the other regions, this area is rich in natural and historic sites.

The following two-week loop tour itinerary is proposed for those traveling by private car, and demands a fair amount of driving. It presents a compact itinerary of the major Seljuk sites and monuments. It can be done on more than one trip if time does not allow the complete loop or if a more leisurely pace is desired. nota: This itinerary does not include the western or eastern region hans listed on the table above, which can be done when taking a tour starting in Izmir or Malatya.
(For suggested hotels, see below)

For a list of cities with significant examples of monuments with ceramic decoration, click here.

Day 1	From Istanbul, fly to Antalya; rent car; drive west to Alanya	Visit of the glorious Seljuk monuments of Alanya: the Citadel, Tershane and Kizil Küle	Overnight in Alanya
Day 2	Drive from Alanya to Antalya	Visit of the Şarafsa, Alara and Kargi Hans; visit of the roman city of Side, visit of the Roman theatre of Aspendos and its Seljuk pavilion of Alaeddin Keykubad	Overnight in Antalya
Day 3	Antalya	Visit of the Seljuk monuments of Antalya: the "Kalekapisi" neighborhood is where number of buildings of Seljuk origin are concentrated: the Fluted (Yivli) Minaret, the Yivli Mosque, the Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev Medrese, the Seljuk Medrese, the Mevlevi Han, the Zincirkiran Mausoleum and the Nigar Hatun Mausoleum.	Overnight in Antalya
Day 4	Drive to Eğirdir	Visit of the Evdir, Kirgoz, Incir, Susuz and Eğirdir hans	overnight in Eğirdir
Day 5	Drive from Eğirdir to Afyon	In the morning, visit the Seljuk monuments of Eğirdir and then drive to the Ertokuş Han Afternoon drive to Afyon; and visit of the Seljuk monuments there, notably the wooden-pillared Ulu Cami and the Altigöz Bridge	overnight in Afyon
Day 6	Drive from Afyon to Akşehir; then to Konya	Visit of the Çay and Sultandağı Sahipata hans and Seljuk monuments of Akşehir (the Taş and Uç Kizlar Medreses, the Güdük Minare, Ulu Cami and the Küçük Aya Sofya Mosque with its stunning faience decoration); after lunch drive to Konya and stop along the way for a visit of the Kadin Han	overnight in Konya
Day 7	Konya	Visit of the monuments of the Seljuk capital of Konya: Alaeddin Mosque, Sahip Ata Complex, Karatay, Ince and Sircali Medreses and the Mevlana Tomb complex	overnight in Konya
Day 8	Konya	visit to hans on three side trips: eastern drive: Horozlu, Zazadin, Obruk western drive: Eli-Kesik, Kizilören, Kuruçeşme northern drive: Dokuzun	overnight in Konya
Day 9	Drive from Konya via Aksaray to Nevşehir in Capadoccia	Visit of the Obruk, Sultan Han Aksaray, Ağizkara, Alay and Öresun hans	Overnight in Nevşehir or Urgüp or Avanos
Day 10	Cappadocia	Visit the Göreme Natıonal Park and the cave churches of the 5th century, and the Sari Han	Overnight in Nevşehir or Urgüp or Avanos
Day 11	Drive from Cappadocia to Kayseri	Visit of the Seljuk monuments of Kayseri, a famous trading city and the most important city of the Seljuks after Konya: The Hunat Hatun Complex, the Döner Kumbet, the Gevher Nesibe Hospital, and the Giyasiye and Şifahiye Medreses.	Overnight in Kayseri
Day 12	Drive from Kayseri to Sivas	Visit of the Sultan Han Kayseri and the Karatay Han; visit of the spectacular Seljuk monuments of Sivas: the Çifte Minare, Gök and Buruciye Medreses, the Izzeddin Keykavus Hospital and Tomb, the Ulu Cami, Güdük Minare and the Kesik and Eğirli bridges.	Overnight in Sivas
Day 13	Drive from Sivas to Tokat and Amasya	Visit of the Yıldız Köprüsü on the Sivas-Tokat road; visit of the Seljuk monuments of Tokat and drive to Pazar and Ezinepazaar hans; visit of the Seljuk and Mongol monuments of Amasya, one of the most charming towns in all of Turkey: the Burmali Minare Mosque, the Torumtay Tomb, the Gökmedrese Mosque, and the Ilkhanid Hospital	Overnight in Amasya
Day 14	Drive from Amasya to Samsun; return car and return flight to Istanbul	visit of the Kavak han	return to Istanbul

ALANYA	The Kaptan Hotel on the Harbor or the Grand Kaptan on the beach are both excellent options. There are hundreds of hotels of all types in Alanya.
ANTALYA	Visitors may stay in a restored Ottoman house hotel the inner harbor area (Iç Kalesi) such as the charming Doğan, in a seaside hotel near town on the Lara Beach (Antalya, Dedeman) or the Konyaalti Beach (Sheraton) areas, or stay in a beach resort further out to the east (Kemer or Belek) or west towards Side if time allows a few days to rest.
EGIRDIR	The Eğirdir Hotel in the center of town facing the Lake is a calm spot to enjoy the peace of this area. The dining room built around a giant plane tree is particularly charming.
AFYON	Afyon is a noted thermal springs area. There are several spa hotels outside of town (Oruçoğlu and Iklal) or the Grand Ozer in the center of town.
KONYA	Konya has many hotels near the Mevlana Complex (Rumi, Bera), as well as several luxury options (Dedeman, Ozkaymak, Rixos). The Selçuk Hotel near the Alaeddin Hill is also an excellent choice.
AKSARAY/NEVSEHIR/AVANOS	The Ağacli Motel in Aksaray is a surprisingly refreshing oasis; also the luxury options of the Grand Eras outside of town or the Dedeman in Nevşehir. Others may prefer staying in one of the numerous small charming guesthouses or cave hotels in Avanos.
KAYSERI	The ultramodern Hilton or Almer in the center of town are good choices, as they are near all the major Seljuk monuments of the city.
SIVAS	The Köşk or Büyük Sivas are both in the center of town within walking distance of all monuments (except bridges).
AMASYA	The Apple Palace in town on the river bank or the one up on the hill (with pool) overlooking the city are excellent choices; as are the small restored Ottoman mansions on the north bank of the river, such as the Paşa Konak.