Corum is the gateway to the Hittite heartland, and it offers something few regions can match: the chance to walk the streets of an ancient empire’s capital. Around that great experience lies a working provincial city, famous for its roasted chickpeas, and a landscape of wheat plains and historic towns that rewards the traveler who lingers.
Here are the top things to do in Corum, in the order worth thinking about.
1. Walk the Walls of Hattuşa
The greatest experience in the region is walking the walls of Hattuşa, the capital of the Hittite Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient city spreads over a vast ridge, enclosed by monumental fortifications that still stand in long stretches. Standing on those walls, looking over the plains, you understand why the Hittites chose this place.
The site is large, so give it time and wear good shoes. The circuit of the walls takes several hours, and the views over the surrounding countryside are part of the reward. Start early, carry water, and let the scale of the place sink in. It is one of the great archaeological experiences of Turkey.
2. See the Lion Gate and the King’s Gate
Among the many gates of Hattuşa, two stand out and are unmissable. The Lion Gate, at the western end of the walls, is guarded by massive stone lions, carved with a power that still carries across the centuries. The King’s Gate, in the eastern walls, bears the relief of a warrior god that is among the finest works of Hittite art.
These gates are the icons of Hattuşa, and they photograph beautifully in the low light of morning and evening. Take the time to look closely at the carving, and to imagine the processions that once passed through. They are the face of the Hittite Empire, and they have waited millennia for your visit.
3. Visit Yazılıkaya
A short drive from Hattuşa, the open-air sanctuary of Yazılıkaya is the religious heart of the Hittite world. In a natural rock gallery, the Hittites carved the gods of their pantheon in long processions, and the reliefs, dating from the thirteenth century BC, are among the most important works of the empire. The setting, in a quiet rocky valley, is unforgettable.
The sanctuary is compact, and the main gallery can be seen in under an hour, but the carvings deserve a slow look. The two processions of gods and goddesses, meeting in the main chamber, tell the story of the Hittite religion. Visit it with Hattuşa, and the picture of the empire becomes complete.
4. Explore Alacahöyük and the Sphinx Gate
About an hour from Corum, Alacahöyük is the other great Hittite site of the region, and it deserves a full visit. The fortified city has a history reaching back to the Bronze Age, and its Sphinx Gate, with its carved stone guardians, is one of the emblematic monuments of the ancient world. The site is less crowded than Hattuşa, which adds to its atmosphere.
Walk through the gate, explore the temple foundations, and visit the small museum of the site, which holds finds from the excavations. The royal tombs discovered here produced some of the richest treasures of the region. Alacahöyük combines easily with Hattuşa in a day, or stands alone for those with less time.
5. Spend Time in the Archaeology Museum
The Corum Archaeology Museum is the essential indoor stop of the region, holding the finest collection of Hittite artifacts in the area. The exhibits range from the royal finds of Alacahöyük to the tablets, vessels, and everyday objects of the Hittite world, and the presentation is clear and engaging. It brings the ruins of the region into focus.
Give the museum at least an hour, and consider visiting it before the archaeological sites, so the artifacts give context to the stones. The collections also cover the earlier Bronze Age and the civilizations that followed the Hittites. It is the perfect frame for your Hittite itinerary.
6. Taste Leblebi in the Old Bazaar
No visit to Corum is complete without leblebi, the roasted chickpeas that are the city’s famous specialty. The craft of roasting them, to exactly the right crunch and flavor, is a point of local pride, and the varieties range from the plain to the spiced and the candied. The stalls of the old bazaar sell them fresh, and the tasting is part of the ritual.
The bazaar itself is the heart of the city, a working market of textiles, spices, and household goods with an unhurried, friendly pace. Buy a bag of leblebi, take tea in the cafes, and watch the daily life of Corum go by. It is the most delicious introduction to the city.
7. See the Clock Tower and the City Center
The center of Corum is anchored by its clock tower, the meeting point of the town, and the squares and streets around it hold the daily life of the city. The center mixes the modern shops with the older market streets, and it is a pleasant place to wander, especially in the late afternoon, when the town comes out to stroll.
The cafes around the center are the best places to rest and watch, and the restaurants serve the hearty food of central Anatolia. The center is compact and walkable, and it connects easily to the bazaar and the museum. Give the modern city an hour or two, and it will repay you with its warmth.
8. Drive the Sungurlu Plains
South of Corum, the Sungurlu plains are one of the great wheat-growing areas of Turkey, and driving across them is one of the simplest pleasures of the region. The golden fields, the wide skies, and the scattered villages give the landscape a quiet grandeur, and the roads across the plains connect the Hittite sites. In summer, the harvest brings the countryside alive.
Stop at the small towns and villages along the way, buy fresh produce at the markets, and take tea in the village squares. The plains are the agricultural heart of the region, and they explain the wealth that supported the ancient empires. A drive across them is a journey through the living landscape of Corum.
9. Day Trip to İskilip
The historic town of İskilip, set among the hills of the province, is a rewarding day trip from Corum. The town has a traditional character, with old streets, a lively market, and a reputation for its own local dishes, which the people of the region speak of with pride. It is a place where the pace of life remains firmly traditional.
A day in İskilip covers the town, the market, and the surrounding countryside, with lunch in a local restaurant. The drive from Corum passes through the hills and the plains, and the scenery is part of the pleasure. For travelers who want to see the traditional Anatolia beyond the ancient sites, İskilip is the perfect choice.
10. Day Trip to Osmancık and the Kızılırmak
On the Kızılırmak river, the town of Osmancık is famous for its rice, one of the celebrated varieties of Turkey, and for its riverside setting. The town has a relaxed atmosphere, and a walk along the river, a visit to the market, and a meal built around the local rice make a gentle and pleasant day trip.
The Kızılırmak, the longest river of Turkey, gives the region its water and its character, and the countryside around Osmancık is green and fertile. The town also has historic monuments, including a bridge and a castle above the river. For a different Corum, by the water rather than among the ruins, Osmancık delivers.
11. Watch the Sunset from the Boğazkale Ridge
The village of Boğazkale, at the foot of Hattuşa, is the natural place to end a day among the Hittites, and the ridge above the village offers one of the finest views in the region. As the sun drops toward the plains, the great walls of the ancient capital glow in the long light, and the landscape takes on the colors that have greeted travelers here for three thousand years.
Many visitors leave the site at closing time and miss this moment. Instead, plan to be on the ridge for the last hour of light, with water and a little patience. It is the quietest and most beautiful hour at Hattuşa, and it costs nothing but time.
12. Try the Anatolian Table of Corum
Beyond leblebi, the food of Corum is the food of central Anatolia, and it deserves a place in your itinerary. The grills of the region, the soups of the lokantas, and the pastries of the bakeries are built on the wheat and chickpeas of the plains, and the breakfasts are generous spreads of local cheeses, eggs, and bread.
The restaurants of the city serve the daily dishes of the region, and the tea gardens are the social heart of the town. Eat where the locals eat, order what is in season, and finish the meal with a handful of fresh leblebi. The Anatolian table is honest, hearty, and exactly right for the landscape around it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single best thing to do in Corum?
Walk the walls of Hattuşa, the Hittite capital. The scale of the fortifications and the views over the plains make it the defining experience of the region. Combine it with Yazılıkaya, the nearby rock sanctuary, and you have seen the political and religious heart of the Hittite Empire in a single day.
How many days do I need for Corum and the Hittite sites?
Two days are ideal: one for Hattuşa and Yazılıkaya, and one for Alacahöyük, the museum, and the city. A third day allows you to explore İskilip or Osmancık and the countryside. With limited time, prioritize Hattuşa, which is the essential site of the region.
When is the best time to visit the Hittite sites?
Spring and autumn are best, when the weather is mild and the sites are pleasant for walking. In summer, go early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the heat is manageable and the light is at its finest. Winter is cold but quiet, and the sites have a stark beauty under the low sun.
All Over Information
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