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A Guide to Sivas's Historic Sites and Getting Around
A short guide to the historic and cultural landmarks of Sivas: Ulu Mosque, Şifaiye Madrasa, Gökmedrese, the Congress Building and the Kızılırmak riverside.
Sivas, with its architectural heritage from the Seljuk era and its place in Republican history, is one of Anatolia's most deeply rooted cities. Whether you're visiting briefly or staying for a few days, a handful of stops stand out that you shouldn't leave without seeing. In this article we've brought together Sivas's leading sightseeing spots along with practical information on getting between them.
One of the buildings that could be considered a symbol of the city center is the Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque). This historic mosque from the Seljuk period is regarded as one of Sivas's oldest religious buildings, known for its simple yet striking architecture, and thanks to its location close to the city center, it's easy to visit alongside the other historic sites.
Just nearby, the Şifaiye Madrasa and Gökmedrese are among the most remarkable examples of Sivas's Seljuk heritage. The Şifaiye Madrasa holds a special place historically as one of the institutions where medical education was once given, and today it has also become a local meeting point thanks to the shops around it. Gökmedrese, known for the rich stonework on its portal, is a building that visitors interested in architecture will definitely want to see. Both madrasas are within what could be called walking distance of the city center, but if you're traveling with luggage or have limited time, planning a route by taxi can save you time.
An important stop for anyone interested in Republican history is the Congress Building (the Atatürk Congress and Ethnography Museum), where Atatürk convened the Sivas Congress and which is now open to visitors as a museum. Displaying documents and items from the National Struggle period, this building is one of the most significant stops in the city for history enthusiasts.
For those who'd like to venture a little further out, the area around the Kızılırmak river offers a natural spot that can be chosen for a day trip. Since this area lies farther from the center than the historic sites in town, a taxi is a practical option here, letting you plan a round trip without waiting on a scheduled service.
If you'd like to see more than one spot in a single day, you can share your route with us in advance and visit the Ulu Mosque, Şifaiye Madrasa, Gökmedrese and the Congress Building in turn with a single taxi, and if you like, take a break by the Kızılırmak later in the day. Our drivers, who know the city well, can help you plan the visiting order and waiting times together so you make the most of your day.
To plan your sightseeing route, request a tour with waiting time, or get current information, simply call us; we're here so you don't have to worry about transport while discovering Sivas's historic fabric.
For visitors from out of town with limited time, our suggestion is to rough out your sightseeing route a day ahead and share it with your driver. This way you can decide in advance roughly how long you'll spend at each stop, and whether to keep the taxi waiting based on that. Since things like stopping briefly for photos, the time spent touring a madrasa's inner courtyard, or the time spent inside a museum can vary from person to person, giving your driver a rough time window makes planning easier if you don't have a fixed schedule. It's also possible to change the order of your route depending on the weather, especially on hot summer days or in winter; we suggest ranking your stops by priority so we can plan accordingly.
One of the buildings that could be considered a symbol of the city center is the Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque). This historic mosque from the Seljuk period is regarded as one of Sivas's oldest religious buildings, known for its simple yet striking architecture, and thanks to its location close to the city center, it's easy to visit alongside the other historic sites.
Just nearby, the Şifaiye Madrasa and Gökmedrese are among the most remarkable examples of Sivas's Seljuk heritage. The Şifaiye Madrasa holds a special place historically as one of the institutions where medical education was once given, and today it has also become a local meeting point thanks to the shops around it. Gökmedrese, known for the rich stonework on its portal, is a building that visitors interested in architecture will definitely want to see. Both madrasas are within what could be called walking distance of the city center, but if you're traveling with luggage or have limited time, planning a route by taxi can save you time.
An important stop for anyone interested in Republican history is the Congress Building (the Atatürk Congress and Ethnography Museum), where Atatürk convened the Sivas Congress and which is now open to visitors as a museum. Displaying documents and items from the National Struggle period, this building is one of the most significant stops in the city for history enthusiasts.
For those who'd like to venture a little further out, the area around the Kızılırmak river offers a natural spot that can be chosen for a day trip. Since this area lies farther from the center than the historic sites in town, a taxi is a practical option here, letting you plan a round trip without waiting on a scheduled service.
If you'd like to see more than one spot in a single day, you can share your route with us in advance and visit the Ulu Mosque, Şifaiye Madrasa, Gökmedrese and the Congress Building in turn with a single taxi, and if you like, take a break by the Kızılırmak later in the day. Our drivers, who know the city well, can help you plan the visiting order and waiting times together so you make the most of your day.
To plan your sightseeing route, request a tour with waiting time, or get current information, simply call us; we're here so you don't have to worry about transport while discovering Sivas's historic fabric.
For visitors from out of town with limited time, our suggestion is to rough out your sightseeing route a day ahead and share it with your driver. This way you can decide in advance roughly how long you'll spend at each stop, and whether to keep the taxi waiting based on that. Since things like stopping briefly for photos, the time spent touring a madrasa's inner courtyard, or the time spent inside a museum can vary from person to person, giving your driver a rough time window makes planning easier if you don't have a fixed schedule. It's also possible to change the order of your route depending on the weather, especially on hot summer days or in winter; we suggest ranking your stops by priority so we can plan accordingly.