Aksaray is a province in Central Anatolia (İç Anadolu), Turkey, on the southwestern edge of the Cappadocia region. It is best known for the Ihlara Valley, a 14-kilometre canyon lined with Byzantine rock-cut churches and frescoes, the towering Selime Monastery, and the Sultanhanı Caravanserai, the largest Seljuk han in Turkey. With the volcanic cone of Hasan Mountain on the horizon, the salt expanse of Lake Tuz to the north, and Göreme roughly an hour east, Aksaray serves as an uncrowded gateway to Cappadocia.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Aksaray is a conservative Anatolian province — modest dress is the social norm and widely appreciated by residents
Remove shoes before entering any mosque and leave them neatly at the entrance rack
Photography inside working mosques is permitted outside prayer times but should be done discreetly, without disturbing worshippers
Greet shopkeepers and guesthouse staff with 'Merhaba' (hello) or 'İyi günler' (good day) — small courtesies go a long way
Bargaining is not standard in shops or restaurants in Aksaray, but gentle negotiation is normal in the open market (pazar) and for taxi fixed prices
Visiting during Ramadan brings a charged atmosphere; restaurants may have limited daytime hours, and eating or drinking openly in public requires sensitivity
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Dress modestly: women should cover shoulders and knees, particularly in villages, mosques, and markets; men should avoid sleeveless shirts in religious sites
- Accept an offered glass of çay (tea) when visiting a shop or guesthouse — refusing can be seen as unfriendly
- Use two hands when giving or receiving items, money, or business cards — a sign of respect
- Ask before photographing local people, especially women in conservative dress
- Say 'Afiyet olsun' (bon appétit) at the end of a meal when passing near other diners
Don't
- Do not enter a mosque during the call to prayer (ezan); wait a few minutes until the prayer is underway, or visit between prayer times
- Do not sit or stand with your feet pointing toward someone — pointing the soles of the feet at a person is considered disrespectful
- Do not criticise Atatürk, Turkish institutions, or the flag — this is a criminal offence under Turkish law
- Do not make disparaging remarks about Islam or the local religion in public
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the street during Ramadan daylight hours without checking the local atmosphere, especially in villages
Local customs
Traditions and practices you'll encounter.
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Merhaba
Hello
Günaydın
Good morning
İyi günler
Good day / goodbye
Teşekkür ederim
Thank you
Lütfen
Please
Evet / Hayır
Yes / No
Ne kadar?
How much?
Su lütfen
Water, please
Hesap lütfen
The bill, please
Afiyet olsun
Bon appétit (said to others eating)
İngilizce biliyor musunuz?
Do you speak English?
Yardım edin lütfen
Please help me
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Aksaray.
Items:
- Faith
- Islam (Sunni)
- Presence
- Dominant; essentially all residents are Muslim. Five daily prayers (ezan) are broadcast from the Egri Minare and other city minarets. Ramadan is widely observed.
- Visitor note
- Visitors are welcome in mosques as long as dress codes are respected and prayer times are avoided. The Ulu Mosque and Red Minaret area welcome visitors outside prayer hours.
- Faith
- Byzantine Christianity (historic)
- Presence
- The Ihlara Valley and Güzelyurt were major centres of Byzantine Christian monasticism from the 4th century onward. The rock-cut churches and Monastery Valley are the most tangible legacy.
- Visitor note
- The churches are protected historical monuments; do not touch or attempt to restore frescoes, and photograph with care as flash can damage pigments.