Corum is one of the most underrated bases in central Turkey for day trips. Within an hour or two of the city lie the ruins of the Hittite capital, an open-air rock sanctuary, one of Anatolia’s most important archaeological sites, and towns that preserve the region’s traditional character. You can visit the headline ancient sites on well-signed roads and still be back in the city for a kebab dinner. This guide lays out the best day trips from Corum and how to time each one.
Hattusa: The Hittite Capital
The greatest day trip from Corum is also the most famous: Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient city sprawls over a ridge near the village of Bogazkale, about an hour’s drive from the city, enclosed by some six kilometers of cyclopean walls pierced by monumental gates.
Give yourself a full day. The site is large, and the highlights demand time: the Lion Gate with its carved beasts, the King’s Gate with its warrior relief, the Sphinx Gate raised on a rampart at Yerkapı, and the Great Temple at the foot of the ridge. A network of paths links the gates, and the walking is moderate but exposed, so carry water and wear serious shoes.
The reward is a genuine sense of place. Hattusa was one of the great capitals of the ancient world, the seat of kings who negotiated treaties with Egypt, and standing on its ruined ramparts is an experience no guidebook can prepare you for. Plan to arrive at opening time and let the site have the whole day.
Yazilikaya: The Rock Sanctuary
A short drive from Hattusa lies Yazilikaya, the open-air rock sanctuary of the Hittites, and the two are best visited together. Here, processions of gods and goddesses are carved into the natural rock walls of two chambers, meeting in the famous central scene of the storm god embracing his consort.
The reliefs date to the final centuries of the Hittite Empire, and their quality is remarkable: kings and deities in horned crowns, processions moving along the living rock, and inscriptions recording the names of gods. A roof now protects the main chamber, but the setting, in a rocky defile on the edge of the plateau, still feels sacred.
Because the sanctuary is compact, most travelers stop here after a morning at Hattusa. Visit in the late afternoon if you can, when the light rakes across the carvings, and take the short walk to the chamber’s upper level for a view down over the procession. Yazilikaya is small enough for an hour, memorable enough for a lifetime.
Alacahoyuk: Sphinx Gate and Royal Tombs
The third great archaeological stop in the Corum area is Alacahoyuk, roughly an hour from the city. The site was a major Hittite center, and its most famous monument is the Sphinx Gate, guarded by stone sphinxes whose originals now reside in Ankara, with the sturdy replacements still standing guard over the ancient city.
Alacahoyuk’s deeper claim to fame lies beneath the Hittite layer: the royal tombs of the Early Bronze Age, whose grave goods of gold, bronze, and iron rewrote the understanding of Anatolian prehistory. The on-site museum displays the gold diadems, bull figurines, and metal vessels found in those tombs, making the site satisfying even in the rain.
The layout is compact, the walking easy, and the combination of royal tombs, sphinx gate, and museum makes Alacahoyuk the most complete single-site experience in the province. A morning here pairs naturally with lunch in the nearby village and a relaxed drive back to the city in the afternoon.
Bogazkale Village: Lunch and Local Life
After a morning at Hattusa, the village of Bogazkale is the natural place for lunch. The settlement has grown with its archaeological fame, and a handful of family restaurants serve the hearty plateau cooking that suits the appetite you will have earned: grilled meats, bean stews, fresh bread, and the ubiquitous leblebi.
The village also has a small local museum and a cluster of souvenir shops where the Hittite sun disk, the emblem of the ancient civilization, appears on everything from wall plates to fridge magnets. Prices are fair, the welcome is warm, and the museum is a worthwhile ten minutes even for casual visitors.
If you have stayed overnight in the village, this is also the moment to linger: afternoon tea in the shade, a stroll past the village mosque, and the plateau quiet that descends once the tour buses leave. Bogazkale is a working village rather than a resort, and its modest pace is part of its charm.
Osmancik: Rice Country on the Kizilirmak
Head north from Corum and you reach Osmancik, a town on the banks of the Kizilirmak, the longest river entirely within Turkey. The town’s name is inseparable from its rice: Osmancik rice is among the most prized in the country, and the flat valley floors around the river are a patchwork of paddy fields in summer.
The drive from Corum winds through the plateau and then descends into the river valley, a pleasant change of scenery about an hour from the city. In the town itself, the rice mills and market stalls sell the famous grain, and the riverfront is a calm place for a walk and a fish lunch.
Osmancik also has a legacy of bridges and Ottoman-era buildings worth a stroll. The combination of river scenery, rice country, and a relaxed provincial lunch makes this the best day trip from Corum for travelers who want a break from archaeology.
Iskilip: A Traditional District Town
Southeast of Corum, the district town of Iskilip sits at the edge of the mountains that separate the plateau from the Black Sea coast. The drive is scenic, climbing through pine woods as the flat plateau gives way to forested slopes, and the town itself is a friendly, old-fashioned place that sees almost no tourists.
Iskilip is known across Turkey for its culinary traditions, and a local lunch here is the day’s event. The town is celebrated for its stuffed dishes and the patient home cooking of the region, so eat where the locals eat and order whatever the house recommends.
After lunch, a walk through the old quarters reveals stone houses, a lively bazaar, and the slow rhythm of a provincial town. Iskilip makes a good half-day trip from Corum, best combined with the countryside drive.
Kargı: Highland Valleys
For scenery rather than sights, drive to Kargı, the northernmost district of Corum province. The road climbs steadily toward the mountains, and the landscape shifts from open plateau to forested highland valleys watered by fast streams.
The village highlands of Kargı are known for their summer pastures, where villagers move their herds for the season. In the villages, the wooden houses, haystacks, and the unhurried work of the countryside create a pastoral scene that photographers will struggle to leave.
The drive is the attraction: winding roads, sudden views, and the scent of pine. Pack a picnic, allow a generous half-day each way, and treat the trip as an escape rather than a checklist. Kargı rewards travelers who like to wander with no destination in mind.
Amasya: The Neighboring Ottoman Jewel
Amasya, the provincial capital to the northeast, is the longest and most rewarding day trip from Corum. The two-hour drive crosses the plateau and drops into the narrow valley of the Yesilirmak, where Amasya clings to the riverbanks beneath cliffs crowned with the rock-cut tombs of the kings of Pontus.
The town is famous for its rows of Ottoman-era wooden houses reflected in the river, and for the tombs that watch over it from the cliff face. The traditional houses, some restored as hotels and museums, line both banks, and the small museum holds the mummies and artifacts of the Ilkhanid period.
A full day here runs: morning at the rock tombs and the citadel, lunch on the riverfront, an afternoon among the Ottoman houses and the museum, and early evening tea by the water. Amasya is a genuine highlight of northern Anatolia, and it is worth an early start from Corum.
The Plateau Countryside: Villages and Viewpoints
If you have a car, one of the best day trips from Corum is simply to choose a direction and drive. The plateau around the city is dotted with wheat fields, sunflower plots, and villages of mud-brick and stone where the pace of life has not changed much in generations.
Head southwest toward the district of Sungurlu and you pass through the rolling grain country that defines the Anatolian plateau. Pull over at any village for tea, and you will be met with curiosity and kindness, the standard welcome of rural Turkey. In summer, the sunflower fields are spectacular; in early autumn, the harvest turns the whole landscape gold.
The practical advice is to keep the drive simple: pick a loop, allow stops, and carry water and snacks. The destination matters less than the slowing down itself, and travelers who embrace it will find it one of their most memorable days.
Planning Your Day Trips: Transport and Timing
The logistics of Corum’s day trips are simple if you plan a little. Renting a car in the city is the easiest way to combine the ancient sites, and the roads to Bogazkale, Alacahoyuk, and Osmancik are well maintained. Public minibuses serve the main towns, including Bogazkale, but they run on their own schedules, so check return times carefully.
A common three-day rhythm is: one day for Hattusa and Yazilikaya with lunch in Bogazkale, one day for Alacahoyuk combined with a relaxed afternoon, and a third day for a longer trip such as Amasya or the Kargı highlands. In summer, start the outdoor sites early and take a long midday break.
Above all, resist the temptation to rush. The ancient sites of the Corum region are among the most atmospheric in Turkey, and the day trips here work best with one site per morning and one good meal per day. Travel slowly, and the plateau will reward you.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Hattusa from Corum?
Hattusa is about an hour’s drive from the city, near the village of Bogazkale. The road is good, and you can drive there and back easily within a day. Public minibuses also connect the city with Bogazkale, though a car gives you far more flexibility.
Can I visit Hattusa and Yazilikaya in one day?
Yes, they are close together and are usually visited as a pair. Start early at Hattusa, walk the walls and gates through the morning, then drive to Yazilikaya for the afternoon. Lunch in Bogazkale village in between breaks the day nicely.
Which day trip from Corum is best for scenery?
The drive to Kargı in the north is the most scenic, climbing from the plateau into forested highland valleys. Amasya is the most beautiful destination overall, with its cliff tombs and Ottoman houses along the river, though it takes a full day.
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
A First-Timer’s Guide to Corum
Corum sits in the heartland of the Hittite Empire, one of the great powers of the ancient world, and it is the…
Where to Stay in Corum
Corum rarely appears on first-time Turkey itineraries, and that is precisely why you should consider it.
History and Culture of Corum
Few provinces in Turkey can claim a deeper past than Corum.
Top Things to Do in Corum
Corum is the gateway to the Hittite heartland, and it offers something few regions can match: the chance to walk the streets…