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Municipality in Turkey
Photo: Ingeborg Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Afyonkarahisar or Afyon is a city in Central Anatolia 250 km southwest of Ankara, with a population in 2020 of 245,405. Its fortress or citadel perches on a black volcanic crag, an obvious defensive position. The area is dotted with similar volcanic plugs, and underground heat makes this a geothermal area, with many hotel spas. These and the collection of mosques around the foot of the citadel are the main reason to visit.
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It perches atop the crag above the town. It was built by the Hittites in 1350 BC and rebuilt several times since. It's reached by a 226 m climb up some 800 steps, starting from the southwest on Kale Cd above Ulu Camii; the project to build a cable-car has stalled. The site is open 24 hours free and has extensive citadel walls, cisterns and views but not much else within except trash.
A lodge for the Mevlevi, the Sufi "whirling dervishes", now a museum.
Zafer Müzesi
This museum dedicated to the Turkish War of Independence is closed long-term for rebuilding.
Value for money hotel within walking distance of old town. No a/c and cleaning erratic.
Near the castle, this is a decent mid-range place, though the a/c doesn't work and cleaning is sometimes indifferent.
Chain hotel by riverside with spa, comfy enough.
Now you've arrived - comfy upmarket spa hotel west side of city.
Large spa hotel at the highway junction west of town. Comfy enough but only just worth what you're paying.
As the address indicates, this spa hotel is 14 km northwest of town. It earns reasonable scores for comfort, service and facilities.
By train
Konya Mavi Tren runs daily from Konya at 19:00 to reach Afyon shortly after 23:00. It trundles on through the night via Uşak and Manisa to reach Izmir by 07:30.
By road
From Istanbul follow O-7 east onto O-5 then O-22. Continue on D200 via İnegöl and Bozüyük, then D650 / D230 south past Kütahya.
AFRAY is a city suburban railway under construction. There's no word on when it might open.
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Altıntaş · Regional · KZR
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