Konya is one of Turkey's oldest continuously inhabited cities, lying at the heart of the Anatolian plateau at 1,016 m elevation. It served as the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum (1077–1307) and is revered worldwide as the birthplace and final resting place of the 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi. The Mevlana Museum — one of Turkey's most-visited sites — draws pilgrims and curious travellers alike to its turquoise-tiled dome. Beyond spiritual tourism, Konya offers an extraordinary concentration of Seljuk monuments, a lively bazaar district, and a regional cuisine famous for etli ekmek (elongated meat-topped flatbread) and firin sut (baked milk dessert). As a conservative, predominantly religious city, Konya offers a glimpse of traditional Anatolian life rarely found in Turkey's coastal resorts.
Best photo spots
Iconic and lesser-known locations worth shooting.
Mevlana Museum Courtyard — Turquoise Dome
Best time: Golden hour (1 hour before sunset, October–April); blue hour at dusk
Karatay Medrese Interior — Starlight Dome
Best time: Mid-morning (10:00–11:30) when light streams through the central oculus
Alaeddin Hill — City Panorama
Best time: Sunrise for dramatic light over the city; sunset for Mevlana Museum dome visible to east
Ince Minare — Ornate Stone Portal
Best time: Morning (09:00–11:00) for direct light on the southern portal
Bedesten Bazaar Interior
Best time: Morning (08:30–10:00) when traders set up and shafts of light penetrate the roof
Sille Village Rock Churches
Best time: Late afternoon for golden light on cream-coloured limestone cliffs
Mevlana Square — Night Illuminations
Best time: 30 minutes after sunset to 22:00; the dome glows green and turquoise under floodlights
Çatalhöyük Archaeological Site
Best time: Morning for soft light on the excavation shelters; clear blue sky days
Photography tips
Make your shots stand out.
Shoot during golden hour (1 hour after sunrise, 1 hour before sunset) for warm, directional light.
Always ask permission before photographing people, especially in religious or cultural contexts.
Carry spare batteries and storage — opportunities for great shots appear unexpectedly.