Corum sits in the heartland of the Hittite Empire, one of the great powers of the ancient world, and it is the natural base for exploring its capital. Yet the modern city is also a place of its own: a lively provincial center with a famous specialty in roasted chickpeas, a working bazaar, and the wide wheat plains of central Anatolia around it. It is a region where history is not a museum but a landscape.
This guide covers everything a first-timer needs: how to arrive, where to stay, what to see, and how to enjoy Corum like a local.
Getting to Corum
Corum lies in north-central Anatolia, on the main road between Ankara and the Black Sea coast, and it is well connected by road. The nearest major airport is in Ankara, about two and a half hours away, and regular buses run to Corum from Ankara, Istanbul, Samsun, and the surrounding cities. The bus station is close to the center.
Once you arrive, the city itself is walkable and easy to navigate, with the museum and the bazaar within reach on foot. For the Hittite sites, which are spread through the countryside, you will need a car or organized transport. A rental car from Ankara makes the whole region far easier to explore.
Where to Stay in Corum
Corum has a growing range of accommodation, from business-style hotels in the center to a few more characterful guesthouses. The center is the most practical base, close to the bazaar, the museum, and the restaurants, and it works well for a night or two. The hotels are comfortable and reasonably priced.
For the Hittite sites, many travelers choose to stay near Boğazkale, where simple pensions and guesthouses sit at the foot of the ancient capital. This allows you to see Hattuşa and Yazılıkaya at sunrise and sunset, when they are at their best. A combination of both bases gives the ideal Corum experience.
Hattuşa and Boğazkale
The great reason to visit Corum is Hattuşa, the capital of the Hittite Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city spreads over a vast ridge, enclosed by massive walls and gates, including the famous Lion Gate and the King’s Gate. For almost five centuries, this was the seat of a power that rivaled Egypt and Babylon.
The site is best explored with time, and the scale of the walls and the temples is genuinely impressive. The nearby village of Boğazkale provides services and accommodation, and the visitor center helps you understand the layout. Allow a full day for Hattuşa, and walk the ridge for the finest views.
Yazılıkaya
A short drive from Hattuşa, Yazılıkaya is the open-air sanctuary of the Hittite capital, a natural rock gallery where the gods were carved into the stone. The processions of deities, carved in the thirteenth century BC, are among the most important works of Hittite art, and the setting, in a rocky valley, is dramatic.
The site is compact, and the main rock gallery can be seen in under an hour, but it deserves a slow look. The details of the carvings, the processions of gods and kings, repay close attention. Visit Yazılıkaya on the same day as Hattuşa, and you will have seen the religious heart of the Hittite world.
Alacahöyük
About an hour from Corum, Alacahöyük is the other great Hittite site of the region, a fortified city with a history stretching back to the Bronze Age. The famous Sphinx Gate, with its carved stone guardians, is the emblem of the site, and the excavations have revealed royal tombs and rich finds. It is less visited than Hattuşa, which adds to its appeal.
The site is compact and easy to explore, with the gate, the temple foundations, and the museum of the site giving a full picture. Alacahöyük combines well with a visit to Hattuşa in a single day, or it can stand alone for those with limited time. It is an essential stop for anyone following the Hittite story.
The Archaeology Museum
The Corum Archaeology Museum holds the finest collection of Hittite artifacts in the region, and it is the essential indoor stop of the city. The exhibits range from the royal finds of Alacahöyük to the tablets, vessels, and tools of everyday Hittite life, and the presentation is excellent. The museum brings the sites of the region into focus.
Give the museum at least an hour, and let it set the scene before you visit the ruins. The collections also cover the wider history of the region, from the earlier Bronze Age to the later civilizations that followed the Hittites. It is the perfect starting point or finishing touch for a Hittite itinerary.
The Old Bazaar and the City Center
The center of Corum is a lively provincial city, and its bazaar is the heart of local life. The old market streets are lined with shops selling everything from textiles and household goods to the spices and dried goods of the region, and the pace is unhurried and friendly. The clock tower in the center is the meeting point of the town.
The bazaar is a working market rather than a tourist attraction, which is exactly its charm. Buy leblebi from the stalls where it is roasted, take tea in the cafes, and watch the daily life of the city go by. The center gives you the modern Corum, built on the foundations of an ancient region.
Leblebi and the Local Table
The famous specialty of Corum is leblebi, roasted chickpeas, and the city is known across Turkey for the craft of roasting them to perfection. The varieties range from the plain salted to the spiced and the candied, and the stalls of the bazaar sell them fresh. No visit to Corum is complete without trying them.
Beyond leblebi, the local table is the table of central Anatolia: hearty grills, soups, and pastries, made with the wheat and chickpeas of the plains. The breakfast is a generous spread, and the lokantas serve the daily dishes of the region. Eat where the locals eat, and let the plain feed you well.
The Sungurlu Plains and Countryside
South of the city, the Sungurlu plains stretch across one of the great wheat-growing areas of Turkey, and they are the agricultural heart of the region. The golden fields, the villages, and the wide skies give the landscape a quiet grandeur, and the roads across the plains connect the Hittite sites. In summer, the harvest brings the countryside to life.
The plains are also dotted with small towns and villages that preserve the traditional life of central Anatolia. A drive through them, with stops at the village markets and tea gardens, is a rewarding day in itself. Between the ancient sites and the modern fields, the region around Corum tells the full story of the land.
Day Trips from Corum
Beyond the Hittite heartland, Corum makes a good base for the wider region. The historic town of İskilip, set among the hills, has a traditional character and its own local dishes, while Osmancık, on the Kızılırmak river, is famous for its rice and its riverside setting. Both are within easy reach for a day trip.
The road west toward Ankara passes through the plains and the town of Sungurlu, and the road north leads into the mountains of the Black Sea region. With a car, you can combine the ancient sites with the towns and countryside of the province. Each trip returns you to the calm of Corum in the evening.
Practical Tips for First-Timers
A few practical notes will smooth your visit. Turkish is the language of daily life, and English is limited, so learn a few phrases and be patient. Carry cash for the bazaar and the small lokantas. The summer is hot and dry, while the winter is cold, and the spring and autumn are mild and green, so pack for the season.
Dress modestly for the mosques, and wear comfortable shoes for the archaeological sites, which involve walking over uneven ground. Water and sun protection are essential in summer. The sites are spread out, so plan your days and start early. Finally, give the Hittite sites the time they deserve; they are among the great experiences of Turkey.
When to Visit Corum
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for Corum. From April to June, the plains turn green, the weather is mild, and the archaeological sites are at their most pleasant for walking. September and October are equally good, with warm days, cool evenings, and the harvest bringing the countryside to life. Both seasons are ideal for Hattuşa and Alacahöyük.
Summer, from July to August, is hot and dry, and the sites are best visited in the early morning and late afternoon, when the light is also at its finest for the stone. Winter brings cold and occasional snow, when the plains have their own quiet beauty and the museum and the bazaar make comfortable indoor stops. Whenever you come, the Hittite sites reward the traveler who starts early and carries water.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Corum?
Two days are ideal: one for Hattuşa and Yazılıkaya, and one for Alacahöyük, the museum, and the bazaar. Three days allow you to add the countryside and the towns of the province. If you are passing through, even a single day with Hattuşa is worthwhile.
What is Corum best known for?
Corum is best known as the gateway to the Hittite heartland, with the UNESCO site of Hattuşa and the great site of Alacahöyük. The city itself is famous for leblebi, roasted chickpeas, and for its working bazaar. The Sungurlu plains around it are the agricultural heart of central Anatolia.
Is it better to stay in Corum or Boğazkale?
Corum has more hotels, restaurants, and services, and it is the better base for the museum and the city itself. Boğazkale, at the foot of Hattuşa, offers simple guesthouses and the chance to see the site at sunrise and sunset. Many travelers stay in Corum and visit Hattuşa as a day trip, or combine both.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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