Understand
[edit]
Dating back to the Hellenistic era when it was founded as Philomelion, Akşehir (meaning "White City") became an important city during the Seljuk era, as a center of Turco-Persian culture.
The city is best known as the home of Nasreddin Hoca or Mullah Nasruddin, a wise fool and Sufi sage famous for his folk wit. The city features in many of Hoca's stories, and holds a Hoca festival every year from July 5–10.
Get in
[edit]By bus
[edit]Buses run from the Konya bus station, and you may be able to catch a minibus/dolmuş from the center of Konya. It's possible that buses may also run to Isparta, Burdur, and Afyon, which are all nearby.
By train
[edit]As of 2023, passenger services are limited to the once daily Konya Mavi overnight train which runs between Izmir and Konya. Connections can be made in Konya to high-speed YHT trains from Ankara and Istanbul.
- 1 Akşehir railway station (Akşehir istasyonu) (2½ km northeast of the town centre).
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]
- Tomb of Nasreddin Hoca. There's apparently some controversy over whether or not this is actually his tomb.
- 1 Tomb of Seydi Mahmut. Another important Sufi, prominent disciple of Rumi.
Do
[edit]- Come between July 5–10 for the annual Hoca festival, and celebrate the life and legacy of the Hoca.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Connect
[edit]Akşehir and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Nov 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Go next
[edit]- If you didn't come from Konya, consider going there, to visit the tomb of another Sufi sage (and poet): Rumi founder of the whirling dervishes.
- Otherwise, consider going further into the Lakes District, a little-explored area of Turkey.
| Routes through Akşehir |
| Izmir ← Afyonkarahisar ← | W  E
|
→ Konya → Kayseri |