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UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photo: Muhammet Dilmaç, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Safranbolu is a town in the Western Karadeniz region of Turkey, about 200 km north of Ankara and 100 km south of the Black Sea coast, with a population in 2022 of 52,999. Its well-preserved old town is a .
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The former principal caravanserai, built in 1645. In the 21st century, it was converted into a hotel, but this venture has flopped. So you may or may not find it open to look around, for the price of a cup of tea in the courtyard.
Mansion converted into an ethnography museum.
Large karstic cave, you explore about 400 m. From the parking lot to the entrance involves many steps up a boardwalk.
Patisserie at the new town junction, selling lokum and all the trad Turkish desserts. If you buy a gift box, keep an eye on how much is going into it - some customers get a lot of box and not much lokum.
Smart downtown hotel.
Welcoming, clean and comfy.
Charming old mansion, havuzlu means the pool in its centre.
Delightful place in a knock-through of three 18th century mansions. No air-con, pet-friendly.
Modern hotel done in retro style.
Trad konak showing its age. The restaurant often has live music and noisy parties.
By road from Ankara is 220 km. Follow E89 north onto E80, turn east then north on D755 via Karabük. Summer weekends you'll be in a stream of city dwellers' vehicles heading the same way.
Read in the guideDolmuses shuttle the 2 km between the old town, new town centre and bus station. You need wheels to reach outlying sights such as the cave or aqueduct; these are within range of a taxi.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Zonguldak · Regional · ONQ
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