[Turkey] Introducing the Tourist Spots of Kahramanmaraş｜What Is the Charm of This Southern City?

Below, we introduce the tourism points and recommended attractions of Kahramanmaraş, a city in southern Turkey.

Kahramanmaraş Province has long developed as a major transportation hub and is a city with historical attractions.
Today, Kahramanmaraş remains one of Turkey’s important cities. What kind of tourist spots does it have?

1. Tourism Points in Kahramanmaraş

Kahramanmaraş is a province located slightly to the south from central Turkey. Until 1970, it was known simply as “Maraş,” which is the name more familiar in local historical records.

Kahramanmaraş has been a city since before the Common Era and was long under the control of the Ottoman Empire (the ancestors of modern-day Turks). As a result, its tourist attractions include buildings and castle ruins from the medieval period as well as mosques—the temples of Islam, which was the state religion.

• Kahramanmaraş is Famous for Its Ice!?

Kahramanmaraş is also the birthplace of döndürme (also known as Turkish ice). In Turkish, “döndürme” means “something that is frozen” and refers to ice cream and frozen desserts in general.

While döndürme looks just like ordinary ice cream, it is remarkably chewy and stretchy like mochi or cheese. This viscosity is due to a plant called salep used in its production, and because of export restrictions, opportunities to enjoy authentic döndürme are limited.

When you visit Turkey, you definitely want to try authentic döndürme!

Döndürme is also famous for the performance by the vendor—often making headlines on social media. When you try to take your ice, they use its stretchiness to lift it with a long stick, making it hard to pass over.

It might startle you at first, but this is a traditional Turkish performance designed to entertain customers using the stretchy döndürme. Some vendors even have government-issued licenses.

Enjoy the genuine Turkish ice and create a memorable travel experience—be sure to try it when you’re there!

• Notable People from Kahramanmaraş

Yusuf Dikeci, a native of Kahramanmaraş, won a silver medal in the mixed air pistol team event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Competing with minimal equipment while others were fully geared, he earned the nickname “Free-Spending Uncle” due to his bare-bones approach.

For example, while most shooters wear earmuffs to counter loud noises, Yusuf chose to use inexpensive earplugs bought at a pharmacy. He explained that, having tried proper competition gear, he found that the commercial earplugs were more comfortable—comfort that he credits for helping him win the medal.

• The Origin of the Name “Kahramanmaraş”

In 1920, during the Turkish Revolution, the revolutionary forces defeated the British and French in the “Battle of Maraş.” In celebration of that victory, the word “Kahraman,” meaning “hero,” was prefixed to “Maraş,” and the city came to be called “Kahramanmaraş.”

City names around the world often preserve the names of notable figures, but in this case the name was given to the place to honor its heroic history.

2. Tourist Spots in Kahramanmaraş

Below are detailed introductions to the tourist attractions in Kahramanmaraş.

As mentioned above, the tourist spots include medieval castle ruins, old buildings, and religious sites. These cultural structures, so different from those in your country, are all fresh and highly recommended.

Let’s take a look at what’s available:

• Kahramanmaraş Castle

Kahramanmaraş has several hills, but one particularly eye-catching hill hosts Kahramanmaraş Castle.

Although now in ruins, this medieval fortress sits atop a hill in the center of the city, offering an outstanding panoramic view of Kahramanmaraş.

It is within walking distance from the city center, making it a must-visit starting point for exploring Kahramanmaraş.

• Kahramanmaraş Museum

Opened in 1947, this is the oldest museum in Kahramanmaraş. Housed in a building originally constructed in the 16th century, even the exterior is worth seeing.

Inside, the museum consists of four main areas: the Archaeology Hall, the Stone Tools Hall, the Ethnography Hall, and the Garden and Porch. Each area displays numerous artifacts that tell the history of Kahramanmaraş. The enormous complete skeleton fossil of a mammoth is particularly impressive.

Strolling through the garden also allows you to enjoy the historical ambiance of Kahramanmaraş.

• Abdulhamid Han Mosque

The third largest mosque in Turkey is located in Kahramanmaraş. Rising to the west of the city center, the massive Abdulhamid Han Mosque began construction in 1993 and was completed in 2011. With a capacity of about 20,000 people, its grand scale is sure to leave visitors in awe.

At night, it is illuminated with LED lights. The four minarets and the dome with a rounded ceiling appear resplendently against the night sky—a sight truly worth seeing.

• Piazza Mall

For shopping in Kahramanmaraş, Piazza Mall, located to the south of the city center, is recommended. This large-scale, multi-use commercial facility is one of the biggest in Kahramanmaraş and houses a wide variety of shops ranging from daily necessities to a food court.

If you feel a bit tired after touring Kahramanmaraş, take a break at the modern Piazza Mall. It’s also a convenient spot for bulk buying souvenirs or checking your upcoming travel plans.

3. How to Access Kahramanmaraş

To travel from your country to tour Kahramanmaraş, the first step may be to head to Istanbul Airport, the hub for Turkish airlines.

From Istanbul, domestic flights to Kahramanmaraş Airport are available. Note that Kahramanmaraş Airport is not very large, with only three flights per day. It connects with routes to Ankara and Istanbul. Since the number of flights is limited, be sure not to miss your connection.

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[Turkey] Introducing the Tourist Spots of Kahramanmaraş｜What Is the Charm of This Southern City?