Kahramanmaras travel guide

Kahramanmaras, Turkey

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Kahramanmaras

Introduction

Kahramanmaraş, historically known as Marash and Germanicea, sits in Turkey's Mediterranean region and serves as the administrative centre of its province. The city spreads across a plain at the foot of Mount Ahır.

Its name carries history: after 1973, Maraş was officially renamed Kahramanmaraş, adding the prefix kahraman to commemorate the Battle of Marash.

Before you go

Kahramanmaraş is the capital of its province in southeastern Turkey, set on a plain at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. The region is known above all for salep, a flour made from dried orchid tubers, and for its distinctive ice cream — both worth seeking out once you arrive.

For its size, the city is considered one of the safest in Turkey. There are no slums or districts you need to avoid, and you can generally visit any part of the city at any time of day as long as you use common sense. At night, it is wise to steer clear of parks and the area in and around the Ulu Mosque and the Castle; a drug scene gathers at the Castle during the day, but its members take no interest in tourists, so simply ignore them and they will ignore you.

Getting there

Kahramanmaraş has its own airport, with Turkish Airlines flying direct from Istanbul daily and Anadolu Jet connecting the city directly to Ankara. If you prefer the train, note that no rail services reach Kahramanmaraş itself; the nearest station is in the small town of Türkoğlu, roughly 20 kilometres to the south, served by a single daily train on the Adana–Elazığ route.

Getting around

Getting around Kahramanmaraş is straightforward: there is no metro, tram or light rail, and the city has no railway station of its own. Instead, public transport rests on two modes. Dolmuş minibuses run along set routes and are the traditional way to move around a Turkish city; you pay the driver in cash on board. Halk otobüsü, the municipal bus network, is also paid in cash on board. Fares are low and paid directly, so you do not need to seek out a travel card or pass in advance — simply have small change ready. Taxis are widely available and metered, and are the simplest option if you are carrying luggage, travelling late, or heading somewhere off the bus routes; ride-hailing apps are not part of the transport picture here, so plan on conventional taxis.

The city centre is compact enough that walking is realistic for short trips between nearby destinations. Much of the city was destroyed in the February 2023 earthquakes, however, so some services and routes may be disrupted or operating differently from normal, and parts of the centre may be closed, rubble-strewn or under reconstruction. Expect to adjust your route on foot, follow local signage and advice, and allow extra time for any journey. If you arrive by train, note that the nearest station is in the small town of Türkoğlu to the south, served by a single daily train on the Adana–Elazığ route; the onward leg to Kahramanmaraş is a road journey, so plan it in advance.

Where to stay

Where you sleep in Kahramanmaraş is largely a question of which avenue or highway you want as your base. Budget travellers can look to Arıkan Oteli on Azerbaycan Avenue, while the mid-range option is Buyuk Kahramanmaras Oteli on Trabzon Avenue.

At the top end, two four-star properties serve the city: the Ramada Hotel on Hanefi Mahcicek Avenue in Ungut, and the Arsan Hotel on the South Highway toward Gaziantep, at Arsancenter. The latter suits you if you are arriving or leaving by road, since it sits right on the highway corridor.

Food & drink

Kahramanmaraş has a distinctive food culture worth exploring. Soups include tarhana, eşkili soup, döğmeli mercimekli soup, yoğurtlu döğmeli soup and Maraş paçası. The city is also known for its köftes, with many varieties to try: simit köftesi, kısır köftesi, içli köfte, sömelek köfte, suluyağlı köfte, eşkili köfte, yoğurtlu köfte, yavan köfte and eşkili aya köftesi. Kebabs are widely available, and you should also seek out the local ice cream, available at Yasar Patiserie on Trabzon Ave., and the city's baklava.

For budget meals, try Cinaralti Kebab on Azerbaycan Ave., Cumhuriyet Lokantasi in the Covered Bazaar, or Antepli Lahmacun in Binevler. Mid-range options include Selale Park Café and Kucuk Ev Kebab on Trabzon Ave., Kasap Ibrahim on Hukumet Ave., Yenisehir Lokantasi on Trabzon Ave., and Turaç on Sait Zaifoglu Ave. For a splurge, Sezal Restaurant on Hanefi Mahcicek Ave. near the Kahramanmaraş Zoo is an option. To drink, the open-air café at Selale Park offers relief and shade while watching the city on a summer day, and the patisseries and cafes along Trabzon Ave. are all attractive.

What to see and do

Start with the landmarks at the centre of the city: the Castle of Kahramanmaras and the Ulu Mosque, with the Taş Medrese, an Islamic centre of learning, close to the mosque. The Covered Bazaar is a large market where you can browse clothes and pick up presents, and it also has plenty of lounges where you can sit and take a break. For a wider view of the city, walk around Trabzon Ave. Several sights sit a short trip out of town. The Kahramanmaras Museum on Azerbaycan Blv. is a small archaeological museum with a varied collection, most notably a large Hittite holding. You can also visit the Kahramanmaras Zoo on Hanefi Mahcicek Ave. in Üngüt, Pinarbasi, and the Dongel Caves, which lie along the Kahramanmaras–Kayseri road at Tekir. Further north, past Afşin, the Eshab-ı Kehf Külliye is a 13th-century Seljuk-built fortified complex with a mosque and a caravanserai, dedicated to the Ashab al-Kahf, the Islamic version of the Seven Sleepers. The site has seen continual religious use, beginning as a Hittite temple and later serving as a Roman temple and a Byzantine church.

When to go

Kahramanmaraş has a Mediterranean climate with continental influences, which means very hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. In summer, expect intense heat and little rain, with daytime temperatures that can quite easily reach very high levels. Plan your outdoor sightseeing for the early morning or evening, when conditions are more comfortable.

Winters are cool and wet, with daytime temperatures typically in the single digits to low teens. Rain is common, and the surrounding continental influence can bring cold snaps, so pack warm, waterproof layers if you visit during this season.

Three days in Kahramanmaras

Day one: Begin in the city centre, where the Ulu Mosque and the Castle anchor the old core of Kahramanmaraş. Walk the streets around them to get your bearings, then use Azerbaycan Avenue as your orientation point for the days ahead. If you arrive by air, Turkish Airlines and Anadolu Jet connect through Istanbul, while Anadolu Jet also serves Ankara; from Gaziantep or Adana you can reach the city by dolmuş instead. February is bitterly cold here, so plan indoor stops and short walks.

Day two: Look beyond the centre toward the Taurus Mountains and Mount Ahır, the high ground that frames the city and gives the region its character. The city carries several names across its long history — Marash, Maraş, Germanicea — and the Battle of Maraş is part of how it is remembered. Budget travellers have traditionally stayed at places such as Arıkan Oteli, and taxis and dolmuşes make it easy to move between the centre and the surrounding districts.

Day three: Use the day to understand the wider setting. Türkoğlu lies within the province, and the city sits in Turkey's Mediterranean region, with Elazığ and Gaziantep among the neighbouring centres you can connect to. Fares on local transport are modest, so getting around by dolmuş, Halk, or taxi keeps costs down. Expect cold weather in February and pack accordingly before you leave.

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