Kayseri's small archaeological museum is a minor magpie's nest, featuring finds from nearby Kültepe (ancient Kanesh, chief city of the Hatti people and the first Hittite capital). Other exhibits include a stunning sarcophagus illustrating Hercules' labours and a fascinatingly creepy exhibit of child mummies. In 2019 the museum was closed in readiness for all the artefacts to be moved to their new home inside the restored Kayseri Castle, which will hopefully be open by mid-2020.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.32 MILES
This excellent museum is set in the restored Çifte Medrese, a 13th-century twin hospital and seminary built at the bequest of Seljuk sultan Keyhüsrev I…
0.01 MILES
The monumental black-basalt walls of Kayseri castle were first constructed under Roman emperor Gordian III and rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Justinian…
0.2 MILES
Ignore the scruffy mannequin-inhabited dioramas and instead feast your eyes on the glorious interior of painted wooden wall-panels and ceilings. The…
0.77 MILES
The 19th-century Surup Krikor Lusavoriç Kilise is one of Anatolia's few remaining Armenian churches. Its domed interior, complete with dilapidated…
0.08 MILES
The austere and stately Mahperi Hunat Hatun complex is one of Kayseri's finest Seljuk monuments, built in the 13th century during the reign of Sultan…
27.97 MILES
This finely restored Seljuk royal caravan lodging was built in the 1230s and is one of the largest in Anatolia. It's 45km northeast of Kayseri, near…
0.56 MILES
The gloomy interior of this 13th-century technical school for artisans and craftspeople is great to poke about in. It's crammed with a jumble-sale-style…
Historic Kayseri Neighbourhood
0.4 MILES
Kayseri spent years bulldozing away the central city's dilapidated neighbourhoods so that shiny, modern towers could rise up in their place, but this…
Nearby attractions
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The monumental black-basalt walls of Kayseri castle were first constructed under Roman emperor Gordian III and rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Justinian…
2. Mahperi Hunat Hatun Complex
0.08 MILES
The austere and stately Mahperi Hunat Hatun complex is one of Kayseri's finest Seljuk monuments, built in the 13th century during the reign of Sultan…
0.16 MILES
This creaky 19th-century Ottoman house with its doll-house-proportioned mezzanine and 1st floor furnished in late Ottoman style was where Turkey's founder…
0.18 MILES
This Seljuk theological school dates from 1268. Today its courtyard is a cafe with the surrounding rooms used as bookshops. Its richly decorated doorway…
0.19 MILES
Kayseri's Ulu Cami (grand mosque) was begun in 1142 by the Danışmend Turkish emirs and finished by the Seljuks in 1205. Despite all the 'restoration' over…
0.2 MILES
Ignore the scruffy mannequin-inhabited dioramas and instead feast your eyes on the glorious interior of painted wooden wall-panels and ceilings. The…
0.22 MILES
The Ottoman-style Kurşunlu Cami (also called the Ahmet Paşa Cami after its founder) was completed in 1585 possibly following plans drawn up by the great…
8. Museum of Seljuk Civilisation
0.32 MILES
This excellent museum is set in the restored Çifte Medrese, a 13th-century twin hospital and seminary built at the bequest of Seljuk sultan Keyhüsrev I…