Kahramanmaras

Kahramanmaraş, which used to be known as Maraş, is a city in Turkey, located on the crossroad of southern, eastern and southeastern Turkey.

Understand
Kahramanmaraş is the capital city of Kahramanmaraş Province in southeastern Turkey. The city lies on a plain at the foot of the Taurus Mountains and has a population of about 570,000 (2022). The region is best known for its production of salep, a flour made from dried orchid tubers, and its distinctive ice cream.

By plane
Turkish Airlines operates daily direct flights from Istanbul, and Anadolu Jet operates direct flights from Ankara.

By train
As of 2019, there are no rail services to Kahramanmaras. Nearest train station is in the small town of Türkoğlu, 20 kilometers south, which is served by one train per day on the Adana-Elâzığ route.

By car
Adana - 2 hours (230 km) Gaziantep - 55 minutes (80 km)

By bus
Available from every city in Turkey

Get around
In the city of Kahramanmaras you can travel with the dolmuş minibuses (Fare: 1.25 TL), public urban buses (Halk otobüsü) (Fare: 1.15 TL) or taxi.

See

 * The Castle Of Kahramanmaras
 * The Covered Bazaar of Kahramanmaras
 * Pinarbasi
 * Ulu Mosque
 * Kahramanmaras Zoo - Hanefi Mahcicek Ave. Ungut/Kahramanmaras
 * Taş Medrese — An Islamic center of learning close to Ulu Mosque
 * Dongel Caves — Kahramanmaras - Kayseri road (57 km) Tekir/Kahramanmaras
 * Kahramanmaras Museum on Azerbaycan Blv. — a small archaeological museum containing a diverse array of artifacts, most notably including a large Hittite collection.
 * (123 km north, 7 km past Afşin) is a 13th-century, Seljuk-built fortified complex with a mosque and caravanserai. It is dedicated to the Ashab al-Kahf, the Islamic version of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, a legendary group of people who hid in a cave to escape the persecution of early Christians and slept for 300 years, to wake into a society where Christianity became the dominant belief. The site has had a long history of continual religious use: it was originally a Hittite temple, then a Roman one and later still a Byzantine church.

Do

 * Walk around at Trabzon Ave.
 * Covered Bazaar: A must see. A big bazaar, where you can buy clothes, presents, etc. There are also a lot of lounges where you can sit.

Eat

 * Soups: Tarhana, Eşkili Soup, Döğmeli Mercimekli Soup, Yoğurtlu Döğmeli Soup and Maraş Paçası
 * Koftes (Burgers): Simit Köftesi, Kısır Köftesi, Içli Köfte, Sömelek Köfte, Suluyağlı Köfte, Eşkili Köfte, Yoğurtlu Köfte, Yavan köfte, Eşkili Aya Köftesi.
 * Kebabs
 * Ice Cream - In Yasar Patiserie Trabzon Ave.
 * Baklava

Budget
 Cinaralti Kebab (Azerbaycan Ave.)

 Cumhuriyet Lokantasi  (Covered Bazaar)

 Antepli Lahmacun  (Binevler/Kahramanmaras)

Mid-range
Selale Park Café  (Trabzon Ave.)

Kasap Ibrahim  (Hukumet Ave.)

Kucuk Ev Kebab  (Trabzon Ave.)

Yenisehir Lokantasi  (Trabzon Ave.)

Turaç  (Sait Zaifoglu Ave. Orman St. No: 101)

Splurge
Sezal Restaurant (Hanefi Mahcicek Ave. near Kahramanmaras Zoo)

Drink

 * The open-air café at Selale Park is good for a relief and some shade while watching the city during a summer day.
 * All patisseries and cafes in Trabzon Ave. are attractive.

Budget
 Arıkan Oteli (Azerbaycan Ave.)

Mid-range
Buyuk Kahramanmaras Oteli  (Trabzon Ave.)

Splurge
Ramada Hotel (4*)  (Hanefi Mahcicek Ave. No:286 Ungut/Kahramanmaras)

Arsan Hotel (4*)  (South Highway - Gaziantep Highway Arsancenter Kahramanmaras)

Stay safe
Kahramanmaras is one of the safest cities in Turkey for its size. There are no slums or districts you should avoid. In general, you can visit any part of the city at any time of the day without taking many risks — just use your common sense. At night, though, it is wise to avoid parks, as well as the area within and around Ulu Mosque and Castle. The drug scene at Castle hangs out there during the day, but they do not care at all about tourists. Just ignore them and they will ignore you.

Go next

 * Andirin
 * Baskonus
 * Yesilgoz
 * Tekir
 * Dongel Caves