Afyonkarahisar sits at the center of a region that is far richer than most travelers realize. Within an hour or two of the city lie fairy chimneys and rock-cut churches, spa villages around ancient springs, the hills where a decisive offensive was fought, a vast wetland lake and towns that carry their own histories. The city makes a natural base for exploring all of it.
This guide collects the best day trips from Afyon, from the essential valley of the fairy chimneys to the longer excursions into the surrounding provinces.
Iscehisar and the Fairy Chimneys
The essential excursion from Afyon is the drive to Iscehisar, where the fairy chimneys of the Phrygian Valley rise from the fields. These tall towers and cones of soft rock, carved by wind and water, stand in clusters across the countryside, and the landscape feels older than history.
The formations are best in the morning or late afternoon light, when their colors deepen, and the area around them is quiet enough that you may have the views to yourself. A few paths and viewpoints make the walking easy. The trip takes about an hour from the city each way, and a half-day covers it comfortably.
The valley is the region’s most striking scenery, and it is still little visited.
Ayazini: The Rock Churches
Near the fairy chimneys, the village of Ayazini holds one of the region’s hidden treasures: churches, chapels and tombs hollowed into the soft rock by the early Christian communities that lived here. The carved spaces, with their arches, niches and weathered details, climb the hillsides above the village.
Wandering the site is an adventure, part archaeology and part landscape, and the silence of the rock-cut rooms is remarkable. The village below is simple and friendly, and the local tea gardens make a natural rest stop. Combine Ayazini with the fairy chimneys for a full day in the valley.
The rock churches are the kind of place that stays in the memory out of all proportion to their fame.
Gazligol: The Classic Spa Village
A short drive from the city, the village of Gazligol has grown up around its famous hot springs, and it is the classic Turkish spa retreat. The thermal hotels and bathhouses cluster around the source, and the village’s whole rhythm is devoted to health, rest and the mineral water.
A day at Gazligol means a long soak, a slow lunch and the pleasant idleness of the spa village. The waters have been used for generations, and the village has a settled, reassuring atmosphere. It works perfectly as a half-day from the city, or as the destination itself for travelers who love the springs.
For the purest thermal experience of the region, Gazligol is the place.
Sandikli and the Southern Springs
South of the city, the town of Sandikli is the center of another thermal district, with its own springs and facilities. The town itself is a quiet provincial center, and the springs around it draw visitors who prefer a less polished version of the spa life.
The thermal water here has its own reputation, and the facilities range from modern hotels to simple village baths. The surrounding countryside, with its fields and orchards, makes the drive pleasant. Sandikli suits travelers who want the springs in their traditional, unhurried setting.
Pair Sandikli with a drive through the southern countryside for a full day.
Kocatepe and the Campaign Sites
The hills around Afyon carry the memory of the final offensive of the Turkish War of Independence, and Kocatepe, the hill from which the operation was directed in August 1922, is the most moving of the sites. A road climbs to the summit, where a monument stands over the plain.
The panorama from Kocatepe is the campaign understood in one view: the hills, the roads and the vast plain across which the offensive rolled. The nearby sites and memorials complete the picture, and a guide brings the events to life. For anyone who has visited the Victory Museum in the city, the hill is the essential complement.
Give the campaign sites a half-day, and go with the history fresh in your mind.
Şuhut: A Town of the War Years
South of the city, the town of Şuhut is woven into the same story of the War of Independence, and it preserves the quiet atmosphere of the provincial Turkey of the era. The town is modest, and its interest is historical and human rather than monumental.
Walking the streets, you can picture the war years and the movements of the armies, and the locals are proud of their town’s place in the story. The countryside around Şuhut is pleasant, with fields and orchards rolling toward the hills. It suits travelers who like their history grounded in place.
Şuhut is a quiet stop, best combined with the campaign sites or the southern countryside.
Eber Lake and Bolvadin
East of Afyon, the town of Bolvadin sits beside Lake Eber, a large, shallow wetland that is one of the most important bird habitats of the region. The lake is edged with reeds, and its waters reflect the mountains in a landscape of strange calm.
A day here means the lakeshore, the birds and the town, which keeps its own quiet character with old buildings and a traditional pace. The lake is best in the early morning, when the birds are active and the light is soft. Bolvadin and its lake make an easy, gentle trip for nature lovers.
Bring binoculars and patience, and the lake will give you its rewards.
Sultandağı: Apple Country and Lake Views
The district of Sultandağı, on the road toward the lake country, is a land of orchards and high views, known for its apples and its position above the plain. The roads climb through the orchards, and the panoramas over the valley are the reward.
The towns of the district are simple and friendly, and the local produce, from the apples to the honey, fills the roadside stalls in season. The area is also close to the wetlands and the mountain scenery that frame the region. Sultandağı works well as part of a longer circuit rather than a destination in itself.
For orchard country and valley views, the district is a pleasant day out.
Akşehir: The Town of Nasreddin Hodja
For a longer day trip, the town of Akşehir, just over the provincial border, is one of the most enjoyable excursions from Afyon. It is the town most associated with Nasreddin Hodja, the beloved folk philosopher of Turkish humor, and his memory is everywhere: in the square, the museum and the tomb.
The town has a genuinely old center, with mosques and a lake at its edge, and the atmosphere is warm and unpretentious. A day in Akşehir means the Hodja’s sites, a walk of the old streets and a lunch of the local cooking. It is the most substantial day trip on this list.
For culture and humor together, Akşehir is well worth the road.
Practical Tips for Planning Day Trips
A car is the key to the best day trips, since the valley, the lakes and the campaign sites are spread across the countryside. If you do not drive, taxis and minibuses cover the nearer destinations, and drivers can be hired for the day at reasonable rates. Ask your hotel to arrange a car.
The seasons shape the trips: the fairy chimneys and the rock churches suit any weather, the springs are a winter classic, and the lake is best in the mornings of spring and autumn. Start early, carry water, and remember that the countryside roads are slow. With three or four days in Afyon, you can cover the valley, the springs and the war sites without repetition.
Plan around the season, and the region will reward you. Ask the hotel staff for the current road conditions before the longer drives, and keep the weather forecast close, since the region’s seasons each bring their own magic to the trips.
Combining Trips: Route Ideas
Several of these day trips pair naturally into single circuits. The classic combination joins Iscehisar and Ayazini in one valley day, with the fairy chimneys in the morning and the rock churches after lunch. Kocatepe and Şuhut also fit together, linking the campaign sites with the town of the war years on a single southern route.
For a thermal day with a difference, combine Gazligol with a drive through the surrounding countryside, and for the lake lovers, Bolvadin and Sultandağı make one continuous loop around the wetlands and the orchards. With a car, the region becomes a set of circles rather than a list of destinations, and the unexpected stops along the way are often the best part of the day.
Build your routes around the morning light, and let the tea gardens decide the pauses.
Frequently asked questions
How many day trips can I fit in from Afyonkarahisar?
With two days, do the valley of Iscehisar and Ayazini, and one thermal excursion. With three or four, add Kocatepe and the campaign sites, and the lake country or Akşehir. Each trip is a half or full day, and the distances are short enough to combine several in a week.
Do I need a car for day trips from Afyon?
A car makes the trips much easier, especially the valley and the lakes. The nearer sights like Gazligol are reachable by taxi or minibus, and drivers can be hired for the day. For the full range of excursions, a rental car is the best investment.
Which day trip is best in winter?
The thermal trips, to Gazligol or Sandikli, are the classic winter choice, when the cold air and the hot water are at their best. The fairy chimneys also work in winter on clear days, and the campaign sites are atmospheric in the low light of the season.
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.
More guides like this
Best Local Food in Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar is one of the great eating cities of Turkey, a place where the food alone justifies the journey.
Top Things to Do in Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar is a city of contrasts: a medieval fortress on a black rock, a mosque with carved wooden columns, museums of a…
A First-Timer’s Guide to Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar, known simply as Afyon to most Turks, is a city that travelers pass on the road between Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara…
History and Culture of Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar is a city whose name is a history lesson.
Where to Stay in Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar is a city that many people pass through and too few stay in, but its accommodation scene rewards an overnight or…