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- Çifte Minareli Medrese — The city’s postcard: 13th-century Seljuk madrasa with those two elegant minarets and stone-carved details. Great spot for photos and to feel how medieval Erzurum announced itself to travelers.
- Yakutiye Medrese — A beautifully restored medrese that now functions as a small museum and exhibition space. The courtyard and tile work are worth lingering over, and it gives real context to the city’s scholarly past.
- Erzurum Castle (Erzurum Kalesi) — Ruined fortifications on a hill with sweeping views across the city. Not a pristine fortress, but the stones, the ramparts and the panorama tell the city’s long story better than a guidebook.
- Erzurum Ulu Camii (Grand Mosque) — A layered, atmospheric mosque complex where Seljuk and later Ottoman touches meet. Quiet corners,
- Çifte Minareli Medrese — The city’s postcard: 13th-century Seljuk madrasa with those two elegant minarets and stone-carved details. Great spot for photos and to feel how medieval Erzurum announced itself to travelers.
- Yakutiye Medrese — A beautifully restored medrese that now functions as a small museum and exhibition space. The courtyard and tile work are worth lingering over, and it gives real context to the city’s scholarly past.
- Erzurum Castle (Erzurum Kalesi) — Ruined fortifications on a hill with sweeping views across the city. Not a pristine fortress, but the stones, the ramparts and the panorama tell the city’s long story better than a guidebook.
- Erzurum Ulu Camii (Grand Mosque) — A layered, atmospheric mosque complex where Seljuk and later Ottoman touches meet. Quiet corners, old wooden doors and a living religious site — useful to visit outside prayer times to soak it in respectfully.
- Erzurum Congress Museum (Erzurum Kongre Binası) — The actual building where the 1919 congress that shaped modern Turkey took place. It’s compact, well-presented and gives good insight into local political history and Atatürk’s presence in the city.
- Taşhan and the Old Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) — A stone caravanserai and a maze of covered lanes selling everything from çorap (socks) to local foods. Best for wandering, cheap bites, and finding those small everyday souvenirs that say “Erzurum.”
- Erzurum Archaeology and Ethnography Museum — Small but solid collection of regional artifacts, traditional clothing, and archaeological finds. Perfect when you want historical depth without committing to a full-day museum crawl.
- Aziziye Fort (Aziziye Tabyası) & Martyrs’ Monument — A key 19th-century defense site with monuments remembering the Russo-Turkish conflicts; the setting gives a real sense of local resilience and memory politics.
- Saat Kulesi (Clock Tower) & Cumhuriyet Caddesi — The city’s old clock tower anchors a lively street where locals meet, cafes buzz and you can watch daily life up close. Good for people-watching and an easy evening stroll.
- Palandöken Mountain & Ski Area — The city’s nearby high slopes, famous for long, reliable snow and short runs from downtown to lift. In winter you can ski; in summer the mountain offers hikes and alpine views without leaving the Erzurum district.
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All-inclusive Private Guided Walking Tour of Erzurum City
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All-inclusive Private Guided Tour of Erzurum City
✓ Free cancellation
All-inclusive Private Guided 2-day Tour of Erzurum
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Palandoken Ski Resorts to Erzurum Airport ERZ Transfers
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Erzurum Airport ERZ Transfers to Palandoken Ski Resorts
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Erzurum Airport to Sarikamis Ski Resort Hotels
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Erzurum Airport to Palandoken Ski Resort Hotels
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Erzurum City Center to Palandoken Ski Resort Hotels
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.