Stand on Cumhuriyet Caddesi and the two fluted minarets of the Twin Minaret Madrasa rise directly ahead of you, their brickwork still sharp after seven centuries. Behind them, up the hill, the walls of Erzurum Castle catch the late light, and the call to prayer moves between the mosques along the same street. This is a city where the Seljuk, Saltuk and Ottoman layers sit within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Erzurum suits travellers who are already in eastern Turkey and want a compact, walkable dose of Anatolian architecture and history, or who are using the city as a base for the Palandöken ski area. It is a high, cold place, and much of what is worth seeing clusters around one central street and the hill above it.
This guide covers the sights and activities the sources describe, in the order that makes the most sense for a short visit, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions travellers ask most often.
Top things to do in Erzurum
1. Erzurum Castle
On the hill at the heart of the city, the castle was established by the Byzantines in 422 AD, though most of what you see today is Seljuk work from the 12th century. The site includes a museum and a mosque, and the outer castle walls have disappeared.
Climb the 19th-century Tepsi minaret, a watchtower, for views over the city. It is open daily from 08:00 to 19:00, and adult admission is 150 TL. Pair it with the Cumhuriyet Caddesi sights below, since the hill sits directly above them.
2. Twin Minaret Madrasa (Çifte Minareli Medrese)
Built as a theological school around 1260, this is the building that gives Erzurum its silhouette: a monumental façade crowned by two fluted minarets. It now serves as a museum and is the city's symbol.
It stands at Cumhuriyet Cd 3 and is free to enter. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 09:00 to 18:00, so plan around a Monday closure. The Grand Mosque is right next to it.
3. Yakutiye Madrasa
Built in 1310, this madrasa is known for its fine stonework and now houses an ethnography museum. It sits on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, within the same central cluster as the Twin Minaret Madrasa.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00 to 19:00, with adult admission of 150 TL. The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, built in 1562, stands next to it, so you can see both in one stop.
4. Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)
Built by Nasreddin Aslan Mehmed, Emir of Saltuk, in 1179, the Grand Mosque is plain outside and within, but the interior is an impressive space. It sits on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, next to the Twin Minaret Madrasa.
Because it is an active place of worship, time your visit outside prayer times and combine it with the madrasa next door rather than making a separate trip.
5. Erzurum Museum
Housed in a modern building on Şahinbey Sk, a block south of the Twin Minaret Madrasa, the museum covers natural history and the region from prehistory through to Byzantine times. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00, with adult admission of 150 TL.
It works well as a single stop with the Three Tombs, which are across the street to the east, and the Stone Mosque, 200 m further east.
6. Three Tombs (Üç Kümbetler)
These are fine structures with conical roofs, standing across the street east of the Erzurum Museum. The largest is the tomb of Emir Saltuk, from the late 12th century; the occupants of the others are unknown, though they appear to be 14th century.
Another tomb, that of Rabia Hatun, is 100 m south. The grouping makes a natural extension of a museum visit rather than a destination on its own.
7. Atatürk House
This 19th-century merchant's house on Yukari Mumcu Sk, off Çaykara Cd, served as the German consulate in 1915 and 1916 and later as the Governor's residence. It accommodated Atatürk for 52 days in 1919.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00 to 17:00, and entry is free. Signage is only in Turkish, so read up before you go if you want the context.
8. Stone Mosque (Taş Cami)
Originally the Church of the Virgin Mary, this building 200 m east of the Erzurum Museum was converted into a mosque in the 19th century. It is a short addition to the museum and Three Tombs circuit.
9. Hamams
Traditional Turkish baths are found in a dozen central spots around the city. They are a good way to end a cold day of walking between the castle and Cumhuriyet Caddesi.
10. Palandöken Ski Center
The base station is 6 km south of the city centre and is linked by bus. Park there and take the cable car up to the ski area.
In summer, the Palandöken summit can be reached by hiking up the dirt road from the centre. Note that the Turkish word kayak means skiing, not canoeing.
11. Mecidiye Fort
Built during the 1877–78 war with Russia, this fort 2 km east of town is now just a neglected shell. Visit only if you have a specific interest in the period, and set your expectations accordingly.
12. Erzurumspor FK at Kazım Karabekir Stadium
Erzurumspor FK play soccer in the Süper Lig, the top tier. Their Kazım Karabekir Stadium is 2 km west of the city on the main road to Erzincan.
Check the fixture list before you travel if a match is the reason for your visit.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Erzurum Castle when it opens, and climb the Tepsi minaret for the view while the light is still clear. Walk down to Cumhuriyet Caddesi and see the Twin Minaret Madrasa and the Grand Mosque beside it, then continue to the Yakutiye Madrasa and the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque next door.
Afternoon. Head a block south to the Erzurum Museum, then cross the street east to the Three Tombs and continue 200 m to the Stone Mosque. If time allows, walk or take a short ride to Atatürk House before it closes at 17:00.
Evening. Finish with a hamam in the centre, which is the natural end to a cold day on your feet.
Frequently asked questions
When are the main sights open?
The Erzurum Castle is open daily 08:00–19:00. The Twin Minaret Madrasa opens Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 09:00–18:00, and the Yakutiye Madrasa Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00–19:00. The Erzurum Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30–17:00, and Atatürk House Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00–17:00.
What does it cost to visit?
Adult admission is 150 TL at Erzurum Castle, the Yakutiye Madrasa and the Erzurum Museum. The Twin Minaret Madrasa and Atatürk House are free.
Can I ski without going far from the city?
Yes. The Palandöken Ski Center base station is 6 km south of the city centre and is linked by bus. Park at the base station and take the cable car up to the ski area.
Is the Oshki or Öşkvank Monastery worth the trip?
The monastery is in Çamlıyamaç village, off the D950 in the mountains 60 km northeast of Erzurum. Its centrepiece, the Church of John the Baptist, was built around 970 and was one of the great centres of Georgian medieval culture, but it is now a ruin hidden behind walls and metal barriers and is not worth seeking out.
Work out which of these fit your dates, check the opening days against your travel calendar, and start building your Erzurum itinerary around the Cumhuriyet Caddesi cluster.