Stand on Taşköprü in the late afternoon and you can watch the Seyhan River slide past a bridge that has carried people across it for roughly two thousand years. Behind you, the minarets of Sabancı Central Mosque rise over the rooftops; ahead, the old streets of Tepebağ climb away from the water. Adana does not present itself as a museum city, but its centre rewards slow walking.
The city suits travellers who are already in southern Turkey and want a day or two of riverside walks, Ottoman religious architecture, and a serious archaeology collection, rather than a resort stay. It also works well as a stop between Tarsus and Mersin, both reachable by TCDD train.
This guide covers the sights of the old town and the riverside, the museums worth your time, and a few places further out. Almost everything in the first group sits within walking distance of each other.
Top things to do in Adana
1. Taşköprü
This Roman bridge over the Seyhan River was probably built around 120-135 AD, on the trade routes from Persia and Anatolia to the Mediterranean. It carried motor traffic until 2007 and is now a footbridge and a popular place to hang out. Its names have included Saros Bridge, the Bridge of Justinian and al-Walid Bridge.
Come in the late afternoon, when the light is soft and the bridge is busy with locals rather than traffic. It pairs naturally with Sabancı Central Mosque and Central Park on the same stretch of river.
2. Sabancı Central Mosque (Sabancı Merkez Camii)
Built in 1998, this huge mosque dominates the skyline with its six minarets, the four inner ones reaching 99 m. The interior is richly decorated with calligraphy and Iznik tiles. The mosque was built over a confiscated Armenian cemetery.
It sits directly by the river, so combine it with a walk across Taşköprü and time in Central Park just to the north.
3. Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)
Also known as Ramazanoğlu Mosque, this was built between 1513 and 1541 and extended in a mix of styles. It is the nucleus of a külliye, a religious complex that includes a madrasah and mausoleums, all well preserved. It was damaged in the earthquake of 1998 but restored by 2004.
It opens daily from 08:00 to 21:00, which makes it an easy stop at either end of a day in Tepebağ. The Ramazanoğlu Mansion next door is worth adding while you are there.
4. Archaeology Museum
This relocated from the riverside in 2019 and now occupies a former textile mill, with space to display an extensive high-quality collection. You need two or three hours to see it properly. Entry is free.
It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00. Because it takes a good chunk of the day, put it in the morning and keep the afternoon for the old town.
5. Atatürk Museum
A traditional 19th-century mansion where Atatürk stayed in 1923, restored as a museum in 1981. Signage is only in Turkish. It opens daily from 08:30 to 17:00.
The Cinema Museum is right next door on Seyhan Cd, so the two make a natural pair.
6. Cinema Museum
Exhibits and screenings from the history of Turkish cinema, with the best-known figure in the west being Yılmaz Güney (1937-1984) for Yol. It sits on Seyhan Cd next to the Atatürk Museum.
Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 08:00-17:00, and Sunday and Monday 10:00-17:00. Check the day before you go, since the hours differ from its neighbour.
7. Oil Mosque (Yağ Cami)
Built around 1250 AD as the Surp Hagop (St Jacob) Armenian Church, it became a mosque circa 1380. From 1501 it acquired a külliye, of which the medrese survives. The name "Hagop" morphed into Yağup and was later shortened to Yağ, meaning "oil".
It is a short walk from the Grand Mosque, so the two fit into the same circuit of the old town.
8. Great Clock Tower (Büyük Saat)
Built between 1879 and 1882 and 32 m high, this is a sturdy brick tower that looks more like a campanile than a clock tower. It stands on Ali Münif Yeğenağa Cd.
It is a landmark rather than a long visit, so use it as a waypoint while walking between the old town sights.
9. Saint Paul Church (Bebekli Kilise)
Built in Italianate style as an Armenian Apostolic Church in 1870, it was handed over to the Roman Catholics after the Armenians were slaughtered or deported in 1915. It stands on 27046th Sk.
It is close to the New Mosque, so the two can be seen together on the same walk.
10. New Mosque (Yeni Cami)
This was built in 1724 in Mamluk style. About 100 m north of it on Ziyapaşa Blv stands the Kuruköprü Monumental Church, formerly the Greek church of Agios Nikolaos, built in 1845, with a small museum in the adjacent house. The church was re-consecrated in 2015.
Treat the two as one stop, since they are only a short walk apart.
11. Ramazanoğlu Mansion
Built in 1495, this was a government mansion, which is a polite way of saying it is where the sultans kept their harem. Earlier parts of the building have fallen down. Since 2009 it has been run by the university as a cultural centre.
It sits next to the Grand Mosque on 25009th Sk, so see it immediately after the mosque.
12. Central Park
This is the relaxing riverside area north of Sabancı Central Mosque. It is the obvious place to sit down between sights rather than a destination in itself.
Use it to break up a walking day, particularly after Taşköprü and the mosque.
13. Cukurova Süleyman Demirel Arboretum
This arboretum is managed by the university. The public are free to stroll here, though barbecues and picnics are not allowed, despite the amount of trash suggesting otherwise.
It is further out than the old town sights, so save it for a day when you have transport and time to spare.
14. Çatalan Bridge
This 1575 m bridge crosses the west arm of the barrage lake. It carries traffic, but it is a relaxing spot with restaurants on both sides.
It works best as a meal stop rather than a sight on its own, and pairs with the lake and arboretum area to the north.
15. Seyhan Barajı
This is the lake created north of the city in 1955 by the Seyhan Dam. There are several recreation areas around it, and beneath its waters lies the Roman city of Augusta.
The Lunapark funfair sits by the Seyhan lake dam on the north edge of town, so the two can be combined in an afternoon away from the centre.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Archaeology Museum when it opens at 08:30 and give it two to three hours. It is free and the collection is extensive, so it deserves the freshest part of your day.
Afternoon: Walk the old town. Begin at the Great Clock Tower, then the Grand Mosque with the Ramazanoğlu Mansion next door, then the Oil Mosque, and finish with the New Mosque and the Kuruköprü Monumental Church. If time allows, add the Atatürk Museum and the Cinema Museum, which are next to each other on Seyhan Cd.
Evening: Cross Taşköprü as the light softens, look at Sabancı Central Mosque from the river, and end with a walk through Central Park. If you still have energy, Saint Paul Church is a short walk away.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Adana?
The closest public airport is Çukurova International Airport. The city is also connected to Tarsus and Mersin by TCDD train.
Which part of the city should I stay in or focus on?
Tepebağ is the core of the Old Town, and most sights are there. The riverside area around Sabancı Central Mosque and Central Park is a short walk from it.
Is the Archaeology Museum worth several hours?
Yes. It relocated in 2019 to a former textile mill with space for the extensive collection, and you need two or three hours to see it. Entry is free and it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30 to 17:00.
Can I get to a beach from Adana?
Karataş is the closest beach, 55 km south, but Mersin is better. Karataş also has the ruins of the ancient city of Magarus, where the amphitheatre is the best of them, though they are not worth a special trip.
Work out which of these fit your days, check the opening hours that differ from place to place, and start planning your route through Tepebağ and the riverfront.