Bingöl makes a surprisingly good base for exploring eastern Anatolia. The city sits at the meeting point of several provinces, which means a surprising variety of landscapes lie within a day’s drive: drifting islands, waterfalls, high plains, mountain lakes, and the deep valleys of neighbouring regions. You can return to the same hotel room each night and still feel like you have travelled through several different Turkeys in a week. This guide collects the best day trips from the city, with a sense of what makes each one worth the journey.
Yüzen Ada, the Floating Island
The most famous excursion from Bingöl is Yüzen Ada in Solhan district, roughly an hour east of the city. This is the floating island that made Bingöl famous: a mat of soil, grass, and reeds that drifts slowly across a mountain lake.
The trip is straightforward. Drive to the lakeside, find a spot on the shore, and watch the island move. On calm days its drift across the water is clearly visible, and the sight of a small piece of landscape sailing past is genuinely strange and lovely.
Allow half a day, bring a picnic, and go on a weekday if you can. The lakeside fills with Turkish families at summer weekends, and the morning hours are the most peaceful.
Çır Waterfall
A little further into the Solhan countryside lies Çır Waterfall, where a stream drops through a steep, forested gorge into a clear pool below. It is a classic eastern Anatolian picnic spot: green, cool, and loud with falling water.
The drive there takes you through rolling mountain country, past grazing herds and small villages. The last stretch of road can be rough after heavy rain, so check locally before you set out in wet weather.
Bring food and a blanket. The local habit is to spend several hours here, eating, swimming in the pool when the weather allows, and simply sitting in the spray. It is an easy half-day that pairs well with the floating island in a single circuit.
Karlıova’s High Plain
East of Bingöl, the road climbs onto the Karlıova plain, one of the most dramatic open landscapes in eastern Turkey. This high basin sits where several major fault lines meet, and its geology has shaped a country of long ridges and enormous skies.
There is no single monument to see; the plain itself is the attraction. In summer it is green and almost empty, scattered with flocks, haystacks, and the occasional village, with mountain ranges visible in every direction.
Stop at a roadside tea garden, take in the scale, and drive a loop through the plain before heading back. It is a day for the eyes and the spirit rather than the camera, though the camera will be busy anyway.
The Yaylas: Summer Pastures by Car
Across the highlands around Bingöl, summer pastures known as yaylas host the herds and the families who follow them. These green shelves above the tree line are the region’s true treasure.
A day trip by car is simple: pick a yayla on the map, drive until the road gives out, and walk from there. You will be rewarded with rolling grass, cold wind, and views across ridge after ridge of mountains.
Pack a sweater even in July. The shepherds are used to visitors and will usually wave you over for tea, so carry a little cash and be ready for the conversation. This is the day trip that turns a visit to Bingöl into a story.
Village Visits and Tea Invitations
Some of the best days from Bingöl involve no sights at all, only villages. Stop anywhere that catches your eye, and the pattern repeats: tea appears, questions are asked, and you are treated as a guest.
Bring something to share if you want to reciprocate: fruit, sweets, or a simple gift for the family. Village hospitality is generous but not greedy, and a small gesture goes a long way.
Ask before photographing people, especially women and older villagers. A request and a smile will usually get you a yes, and the hour you spend at a village table will outshine any monument on your itinerary.
Harput and the Heights Above Elazığ
The neighbouring province of Elazığ offers a full day of history and views. The old town of Harput, perched on a hilltop above the modern city, holds a ruined fortress, mosques, and the narrow streets of a former Ottoman town.
The panorama from Harput is the reward: the modern city, the reservoir lakes, and the Euphrates valley all spread out far below. In the evening the view of the lights is superb.
Allow the whole day for the round trip from Bingöl. The road crosses fine mountain scenery on the way, and Harput’s cool height makes it a pleasant destination even in summer heat.
Lake Hazar’s Blue Water
Below the hills near Elazığ lies Lake Hazar, a long, deep lake of startlingly blue water surrounded by mountains. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in eastern Turkey and a favourite weekend escape.
You can swim in summer, walk the shore, or simply sit in a lakeside tea garden and watch the light change across the water. The setting is calm and uncommercial, with local families rather than tourist crowds.
Combine Lake Hazar with Harput in a single long day from Bingöl: the heights in the morning, the lake in the afternoon. It is a generous day, but the two landscapes complement each other perfectly.
The Keban Dam Reservoir
The Euphrates valley east of Elazığ holds the great Keban Dam reservoir, one of the largest artificial lakes in the region. Its wide waters and indented shores make for a scenic day of driving and stopping.
The road along the reservoir offers long views over the water and the dry hills beyond, and the towns along the shore make natural lunch stops. Boating and fishing are part of the local rhythm.
For most visitors the drive itself is the experience. Combine the reservoir with a loop through the valley, and you will come home with a proper sense of the scale of Turkey’s great rivers.
The Pülümür Valley Toward Tunceli
West of Bingöl, the road toward Tunceli threads the Pülümür valley, a deep, green corridor between steep mountains. It is one of the most scenic drives in the region and a completely different landscape from the plains.
The valley is a river country of orchards, terraced fields, and dramatic rock faces. You can drive up it, stop for a picnic by the water, and turn back at any point; the journey matters more than the destination.
The full route to Tunceli and back makes a long but memorable day. If you have a hire car and a sense of adventure, this valley is the trip you will describe to everyone at home.
Planning Your Day Trips
A few habits make day tripping from Bingöl painless. Start early: the highland light is best in the morning, and the summer heat builds quickly. Fill the car with water and snacks, because services are sparse once you leave the main roads.
Carry cash, keep your phone charged, and check road conditions locally before setting out, especially in spring and autumn. Turkish drivers on these roads are generally patient, but the roads themselves demand attention.
Finally, don’t overpack your days. One or two stops are enough, because the driving between them is part of the pleasure. The best day trips from Bingöl leave room for the unexpected invitation, and those are the ones you will remember.
The Road South Toward Mus
South of Bingu00f6l, the road drops toward the great plain of Muu015f, one of the emptiest and most atmospheric landscapes in eastern Turkey. The plain spreads wide and open, ringed by distant mountains and crossed by slow rivers.
The drive is the point. The scenery shifts from the folded hills around Bingu00f6l to the vast, level floor of the plain, and the sense of space is extraordinary after the mountains. You can stop in the town of Muu015f itself for lunch and a walk around its old quarter before turning back.
The round trip fits comfortably into a day, and the road is good. For travellers who love big skies and empty country, this is the classic eastern Anatolian experience.
A Morning in the Bazaar Before You Go
Every day trip deserves a proper start, and Bingu00f6l’s produce bazaar is the right one. In the morning the market fills with village produce: fruit, vegetables, cheese, and the honey the province is famous for.
Buy your picnic here rather than at a roadside shop. Fresh bread, cheese, and fruit assembled at the bazaar cost little and taste like the region itself, and they make the highland stops much more enjoyable.
The bazaar also sets the day’s rhythm. It is busiest before noon, so shop early, pack the car, and be on the road while the morning is still cool and the light is still soft.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the floating island from Bingol?
Yüzen Ada lies in Solhan district, roughly an hour east of the city by car. The road is generally good in summer, and the lake makes an easy half-day trip that can be combined with Çır Waterfall in the same circuit.
Do I need a hire car for day trips from Bingol?
A car makes the highland trips dramatically easier, and most visitors hire one. Public transport reaches the main towns, including Solhan and Elazığ, but the waterfalls, yaylas, and valley drives are best done by car.
Which day trip is best in winter?
The high passes and mountain lakes are difficult in winter, so the floating island and the Elazığ area are the safer choices, depending on conditions. Ask locally about open roads before setting out, and keep the city and its bazaar as your backup plan.
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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