Amasya



Amasya is a city in the Central Karadeniz region of Turkey. It was the hometown of Strabo, an ancient Greek geographer and historian.

By train
The Hattı train runs three days a week from Sivas, which has fast trains from Ankara, and slow trains from the east of Turkey. It sets off around 08:30 and take 5 hours to Amasya, continuing to Havza and Samsun. The return to Sivas leaves Amasya at 11:40. Another leaves Amasya early morning and takes 3 hours to Samsun, returning late afternoon - this is shown on the regional or Bölgesel part of TCDD timetables, while the Hattı is a mainline or Anahat train.

This line was closed for years for track upgrading, with the promise of speedy journeys once the work was complete. Passenger services resumed in April 2023 but are as slow as ever; it's not clear if further work on the line is in hand to improve this.

If on the regional train from Samsun you can get off at the tiny station near the Kings tombs if you move to the front of the train, as it only pauses very briefly. This stop is convenient for many small riverside hotels. If you get off at the main station turn left and walk for 5 or 10 minutes then continue along tiny Yalı Sokak rather than crossing the river. There are many guesthouses on Yalı Sokak, but you may want to carry your suitcase rather than making a racket wheeling it over the cobbles.

(Amasya Garı) is in the west part of town. If you are catching the very early train to Samsun you will probably find a guy on the platform selling samovar tea and simit.

By bus
Many bus companies serve Ankara and Istanbul throughout the day. Most of these lines will offer you a free shuttle service to the town square. There are also a few buses every day going to and from Antalya, Çorum, Izmir, Kayseri, Malatya, Tokat and Trabzon.

To come and go from Samsun, the nearest city on the Black Sea coast, there are small Metro minibuses that leave several times a day.



Get around
Once you get a bus service or taxi to the town square, everything is within easy walking distance. If you are going on day trips to other places in the province, you can find small privately-owned buses that come and go if you ask around.

If you are interested in a day trip, for example to Hattuşa the Hittite capital, there is car rental.

See


The major sights of the city include the whitewashed Ottoman houses lining the river and the ancient Pontic rock tombs carved into the side of the mountain overlooking the city.

Harşena hill
High above the city on Harşena hill there is a castle. However, this hill has much more to offer. The climb begins at the Kızlar Sarayı.

City center
Ziya Paşa Bulvarı on the south bank of the Yeşilırmak river has some pleasant waterfront with busts of former crown princes but is still blighted by traffic, as is the parallel shopping street of Mustafa Kemal Paşa Caddesi. Perhaps they will be improved when the bypass is completed. There are many sights from the historical past of Amasya around these two streets. From east to west:

Amasya was a religious and political center for central Anatolia, and there are many small mosques that date back to pre-Ottoman times.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.
 * There are two separate wax museums, one dedicated to the 7 Padishahs and one dedicated to Anatolian life in the 16-19th centuries.


 * In front of it there is
 * There is a "house of suffering" that you can get to if you walk up the hill from the town square, which was an important Alevi pilgrimage spot, as its founder's turbe (tomb) is nearby. You can go into the "suffering house" now that it's no longer in use, and explore the small cells men would live in for months at a time, with little food and water and outside contact, simply reading the Qur'an and meditating on it.
 * In front of it there is
 * There is a "house of suffering" that you can get to if you walk up the hill from the town square, which was an important Alevi pilgrimage spot, as its founder's turbe (tomb) is nearby. You can go into the "suffering house" now that it's no longer in use, and explore the small cells men would live in for months at a time, with little food and water and outside contact, simply reading the Qur'an and meditating on it.

Geothermal spas
Taking advantage of the North Anatolian Fault there are several geothermal spas in Amasya Province, however those in neighboring Havza and Çorum are more accessible by public transport. If you can't stand the heat of the water in Havza try:

Do

 * Stroll along the river walk along with Amasya's townspeople. In the summer months, the street is closed at night because so many people are out.
 * Amasya has several very old, nice hamams. They are all single-sex, open to men from 06:00-10:00, women 10:00-17:00, and men again 17:00-00:00. There are special days in the week for working women to come at night, and the weekends are generally reserved entirely for men. Check with the hamams ahead of time; if you are staying at a hotel they can call and ask for you.
 * Hiking. Mountains surround the city on all sides and can easily be walked.
 * Hiking. Mountains surround the city on all sides and can easily be walked.
 * Hiking. Mountains surround the city on all sides and can easily be walked.
 * Hiking. Mountains surround the city on all sides and can easily be walked.

Drink
Generally, all the places in Amasya to go out at night have live music, with the exception of the three or four pubs.

Ali Kaya overlooks the entire city on its southeastern side, and offers great views at night. Mostly plays Turku, Turkish folk music, with a combination of classical and modern instruments.

Eylul Bugusu, Grand Pasha, Emin Efendi and Mithridat are all basically indistinguishable bars and restaurants in the old part of town. You come, get a table, and drink or eat there while listening to covers of Turkish pop or folk music, depending on the night. If you are there on a weekend, a reservation may be required. If you're traveling around the old city during the day, the best thing to do is pop in the various local joints, pick which one suits your taste the most, and ask for a reservation.

For Turkish tea time, there is a local chain called Yesil Ev (green house) that you'll see around town. For a more interesting experience the Municipal Tea garden is on the riverside near the clock tower: at night in the warm months there is generally live music. If you are a large party and you'd like to relax for a while, order the Semaver Cay which is the Turkish version of the Russian Samovar, and you'll be drinking tea for hours. According to locals, though, the best tea and Turkish coffee is to be found at Gamasuk Cay Evi, which is on the main road, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Caddesi, called Ust caddesi (high street) by locals. Men and women are welcome at all of these places.

Sleep
There are many small “konak” hotels on the north bank of the river below the rock tombs. Unless the town is particularly crowded (for example if parents are visiting for a graduation ceremony) you can usually just walk along Yalı Sk. and Hazeran Sk. and choose one.

Go next

 * Sivas —
 * Hattuşa —