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Metropolitan municipality in Erzurum Province, Turkey
Photo: Erzurum Lala Mustafa Paşa Camii4.jpg: Eğitmen Mahmut Erzurum Havuzbaşı Meydanı.jpg: Eğitmen Mahmut Erzurum Cumhuriyet Caddesi3.jpg: Eğitmen Mahmut Nene Hatun , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Erzurum is one of the largest cities in Eastern Anatolia, with a population of about 363,000 in 2023, half that of Erzurum Province. It's at high altitude and has a ski resort.
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Atop the hill at the heart of the city, this was established by the Byzantines in 422 AD but what you see now is mostly Seljuk, 12th century. It includes a museum and a mosque: you can climb the 19th century Tepsi minaret / watchtower for views. The outer castle walls have disappeared.
Çifte Minareli Medrese
Built as a madrasa - a theological school - circa 1260, it takes its name from the two fluted minarets that crown the monumental façade. It's now a museum and city symbol.
Ulu Cami
This was built by Nasreddin Aslan Mehmed, Emir of Saltuk, in 1179 AD / 574 AH. It's rather plain outside and within, but an impressive space with room for 10,000 worshippers.
In a modern building, this covers natural history, and from pre-history to Byzantine times.
Built in 1310, this madrasa has fine stonework and is now an ethnography museum.
19th century merchant's house, used as the German consulate 1915/16, and later as the Governor's residence. It accommodated Atatürk for 52 days in 1919. Signage is only in Turkish.
Comfy and central, mostly good reviews, but some intended guests had bookings cancelled at short notice.
Mostly good reviews, some fittings tatty.
Basic but clean and central, toilets are shared. Friendly and helpful staff but they can't speak English.
Boxy modern place west edge of city towards the airport. Comfy enough, service a bit shambolic.
Smart modern hotel south on the road to the ski area.
Smart modern hotel south on the road to the ski area.
By train
Doğu Express runs daily from Ankara, departing at 18:00 and taking 22 hours via Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan and Divriği. From Erzurum it continues at 16:00 to Kars, another 4 hours.
By bus
Buses from Istanbul run six times a day, taking 15 hours via Bolu. From Ankara is 12 hours, from Trabzon is 4 hr 30 min via Gümüşhane, and from Diyarbakır is 5 hours.
Most sights are in walking distance. Buses and dolmuşes ply the main streets.
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Erzurum · Regional · ERZ
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