A Guide to Visiting Kars in Türkiye (Turkey)

The city of Kars in Eastern Türkiye (Turkey) is home to a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Whilst Kars is nowhere near as popular with foreign visitors as Istanbul, Pamukkale or Cappadocia, it’s definitely been gaining more popularity recently for two reasons. One is that the city is close to the Ani Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The second reason is that the Tourist Eastern Express, a beautiful train ride you can take from Ankara, ends in Kars, passing through Anatolia’s impressive landscapes along the way.

In this guide we’ll detail some of the best things you can do if you’re visiting Kars, as well as some useful information on how to get to Kars, where to stay, when the best time to visit is, and how long you should stay for. We spent 2 days in Kars and really enjoyed wandering around the city, chatting with locals, visiting the Ani Ruins and eating some delicious food.

Introducing Kars in Türkiye (Turkey)

The city of Kars is located in eastern Anatolia, only a short distance away from the border with Armenia and Georgia. It is the capital of the Kars province and is situated at 1,750 m above sea level. As you can imagine, Kars has had a long and rich history that can be seen in its architectural heritage.

In the 9th and 10th centuries it was part of the Armenian kingdom. Then, in the 11th century, it was captured by the Seljuk Turks. Kars was then captured by the Mongols in the 13th century. In 1514, the city became part of the Ottoman Empire. Russia annexed it in 1877-78. Finally, it became part of Türkiye in 1918.

Things to Do in Kars in Türkiye (Turkey)

1. Visit the Ancient Ani Ruins

Many people – including us – come all the way to Kars to visit the Ani Ruins. The ruins are located 42km to the east of the city. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was inhabited for 2500 years and was once an important stop along the Silk Road. Ani managed to keep its important status up until the Mongol invasion in 1237, which was the start of the city’s decline. The devastating earthquake in 1319, and then the change in trade routes, resulted in even more people leaving Ani. By the 18th century, Ani was completely abandoned. This eerie site is still home to many intact structures, from religious buildings to military ones. Ani somewhat reminded us of the ghost town of Kayaköy, near Fethiye along the Turkish Riviera.

The site is open every day between 8AM and 7PM, with slightly reduced hours during the winter months. The Entry fee is currently 8 EUR per person, however you can also use your Türkiye Museum Pass. Note that prices are prone to change, so always check the official website for more up-to-date information.

There are a few ways you can get to the Ani Ruins from Kars. You can join an organised tour, hire a car or a taxi driver for the day, or take the ‘tourist bus’. We’ve written a detailed guide on everything you need to know about visiting the Ani Ruins from Kars, so make sure to check it out.

2. Climb up to Kars Castle

Another must-do activity when visiting Kars in Türkiye (Turkey) is to climb up to Kars Castle for some incredible views of the city and beyond.

Kars Castle was built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city in 1153 by the Saltukid rulers. Over the years it has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. It originally had 22 towers, but only a few remain today.

We could climb up to it and enjoy the beautiful views over Kars for free.

3. Check Out Kümbet Mosque

An iconic landmark in Kars is Kümbet Mosque, also known as the 12 Apostles Church, or the Cathedral. It was built by King Abas I in the 10th century. When the city was conquered by the Seljuk in 1064 they converted the church into a mosque. Luckily, the building wasn’t damaged or destroyed during the Mongol invasion, or in the devastating earthquake of 1319.

During the Ottoman period it was still used as a mosque. However, after the Ottoman-Russian War it was converted into a Russian Orthodox Church. In 1918, when the Turks took control of Kars, it was once again used as a mosque. Then, in 1919, it became an Armenian Church for a year until 1920, when it was turned back into a mosque again. For a short while, the building was used as a museum. Since 1993, it’s operated as a mosque.

Note. It is an active place of worship. Therefore, if you want to enter, you’ll need to dress modestly and also cover your hair if you’re a female.

We actually ended up having a good chat with the caretaker of the mosque, who told us some interesting facts about its history.

4. Walk Around the Park next to Kars River

After your visit to Kümbet Mosque, we recommend taking a stroll around the immediate area. This part of the city has undergone some development and now looks really nice, with wide walkways, greenery and a few other landmarks.

You can see other religious buildings such as Ulu Camii, or the great mosque, and Evliya Mosque, which was built in 1579 by Sultan Murat III. From this vantage point, we also got a great view of Kars Castle. There are a few cafes and restaurants along the wide walkway where you can sit down and enjoy a light lunch or snack.

Whilst in the park area, make sure to also walk across the old stone bridge called Taş Köprü. The original bridge was built in 1579 by the Ottoman ruler Murat III. However, it was destroyed in a flood and re-built in 1719.

5. Visit Kars Museum

There are two museums in Kars we recommend visiting. One is Kars Museum, also known as the Archaeological Museum.

It displays archaeological artifacts from Kars and the surrounding region, including some objects found in Ani. The items are from various time periods ranging from prehistoric times to the Bronze Age, and the Urartu period to the Ottoman Empire.

Note. The museum is closed on Mondays. It is also free to enter.

6. Visit the Kars Military History Museum of the Caucasus Front

If you’re interested in the history of war, then we recommend also visiting the Kars Military History Museum of the Caucasus Front (Kafkas Cephesi Harp Tarihi Müzesi). The museum is housed in a former bastion designed by the Ottoman Empire to protect the borders of Anatolia.

Note. The museum is closed on Mondays. It costs 60TL to enter.

How to Get to Kars in Türkiye (Turkey)

By Flying. The closest airport to Kars is Kars Harakani Airport (KSY), located about 6km from the city. If you’re coming from abroad, the easiest way to reach Kars is to fly to Istanbul first, then get a connecting flight to Kars. You can also fly direct from Ankara or Izmir for a limited time during the year.

By Train. One of the most scenic ways to reach Kars is by riding the Eastern Express (Doğu Ekspresi) from Ankara. There are essentially two trains that make the same route: one is catered for tourists, and the other is for those who just want to get to Kars.

Now, the touristy option will take about 30 hours to reach Kars and includes longer stops along the way. It also only goes about 3 days a week, whereas the non-tourist train goes every day. It’s definitely a memorable journey, but just know that it can sell out pretty quickly. You can buy your ticket from 30 days prior to your journey.

Alternatively, you can also get to Erzurum and get a connecting train to Kars from there.

By Public Buses. If you’re already in the country then travelling by bus is normally more affordable and better for the environment than flying. You can reach Kars from many major cities in the country. We travelled from Van to Kars, and then from Kars we took a bus to Trabzon. It’s worth asking about timetables at the bus stop wherever you’re departing from.

By Car. If you want to have a road-trip, then you can always hire a car and drive all the way to Kars.

Where to Stay in Kars in Türkiye (Turkey)

There are plenty of accommodation options in Kars, depending on your needs and budget. Below we’ve listed a few places that you could consider booking.

Hotel Katerina Sarayı 1877 is in a stunning historical building around Kars Castle that also has a restaurant, garden and shared lounge. Breakfast is included.

Cheltikov Hotel is also located in a beautiful historical building, has a gorgeous garden and a shared lounge. It also offers breakfast.

Kar’s Hotel is set in a historical building with a garden, terrace and a bar. They also offer breakfast.

Best Time to Visit Kars in Türkiye (Turkey)

You can visit Kars all year round, however the best time to visit will mainly depend on your interests.

Kars is located in the coldest region of Eastern Anatolia. This means that if you’d like to enjoy a winter-wonderland landscape, go skiing and enjoy the Tourist Eastern Express train ride, then definitely visit Kars during the winter months. Note that this can be quite a popular time of year to visit, so make sure to book your train ride and accommodation in advance.

Summer time is also normally busy, but the temperatures are definitely much warmer than in winter. We visited around mid October, which is just on the shoulder season. The temperatures were very pleasant, especially after hiking in Cappadocia in some crazy heat. We believe that spring would also be a good time to visit, especially if you’re also visiting other parts of the country.

How Long Do You Need in Kars, Türkiye (Turkey)

It depends on what time of year you’re visiting and what activities you’re planning on doing, but we recommend spending a minimum of 2 full days in Kars. This way you’ll be able to take a half day trip to the Ani Ruins and also spend a day walking around Kars.

However, if you’re here during the winter season, you might want to go skiing at Sarıkamış Ski Resort, or take a trip to Lake Çildir. If that’s the case, you could easily spend a week in Kars doing a ton of fun winter activities.

We only spent 2 days in the city but that was enough to see the highlights. However, it would be nice to come back one day for a bit longer and go skiing.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Kars in Türkiye (Turkey)

Kars was the furthest east we traveled during our six weeks in Türkiye. Although it’s quite a popular place to visit for Turks, it still attracts international tourists too thanks to the Ani Ruins and Eastern Express train. We definitely enjoyed our stay and loved our visit to the Ani Ruins. However, we wish that we could’ve experienced the Tourist Eastern Express. Well, there’s always next time.

Have you ever been to Kars in Türkiye before? If so, how was your visit and what did you get up to? If not, would you add Kars to your Türkiye itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.