Erzincan City Guide

Located on the Silk Road, Erzincan has been home to many civilizations from the Bronze Age to the present day, and is known for being a vibrant city both culturally and commercially. If you are ready to travel in time in this beautiful city, you can set off after renting a car in Erzincan.

We asked the locals: What to eat in Erzincan, what are the historical sites of Erzincan and what should be given priority in the list of places to visit? And we prepared a pleasant travel plan for you based on the answers we received.

Kemaliye comes first on the list of places to visit with its magnificent nature. Kemaliye, an ancient Armenian settlement, has the second largest dark canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon. If you are interested in nature sports, Kemaliye is the right address for rafting, boat safari, canoeing and many sports activities. If you are one of those who want to have a quiet day, we recommend you to join the boat tours organized in the Dark Canyon. You can discover the magnificent structure of the canyon with a boat tour that takes about 2 hours.

Kadıgölü is another place that you should definitely see after the Dark Canyon in Kemaliye. Kadıgölü, located within the greenery, consists of natural water resources. When you come to this natural paradise where you can spend peaceful hours, do not go back without seeing Orta Mosque. Orta Mosque, thought to belong to the 17th or 18th century, is also the largest mosque in Erzincan.

We continue to explore the city after dinner. Our next stop is Kemah, which is about 52 km from the city center. Kemah Castle is the most important building you should see in this lovely place, which has been used as a residential area since the Paleolithic Period. Although the exact date of construction of the castle built on rocks is not known, it is thought to have been built by the Hittites. The castle was also used in the Ottoman period, and even a neighborhood was created in the interior part. You can also see the ruins of these houses during your trip.

Another important historical building you will see in your Kemah tour is Melik Gazi Tomb. The tomb located on the hill on the banks of the Euphrates belongs to the period of the Mengücek Principality, which dominated the region between the years 1071-1228. The mummy of Sultan Melik, who lived during the Mengücek Principality, is located in the tomb.

Another frequent destination for visitors to the city is Erzincan Museum. Erzincan Museum, where archaeological and ethnographic artifacts are exhibited, is open to visitors since 1986. In the museum, you can see many precious artifacts belonging to prehistoric times and Anatolian principalities.

You can have your dinner in a stylish venue with a city view. Although local flavors come to the fore in Erzincan, it is possible to find rich menus consisting of Turkish and world cuisine in many venues. Kesme soup, Erzincan doner, grape leaf wraps with meat are among the options you can prefer for dinner. After a nice meal, you can end the evening with a sweet flavor with Erzincan Turkish delight.