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Top Places to Visit in Amasya: A Scenic Trip by the Yesilirmak River

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Known as the place where princes were educated during the Ottoman Empire, Amasya attracts attention not only with this feature but also with its thousands of years of history. The city, which has been home to 13 different civilisations, offers a unique cultural heritage to its visitors with a history of approximately 9,000 years.

Amasya is home to the first medical centre in Anatolia to be treated with music, the legendary love of Ferhat and Shirin, the magnificent Pontic Rock Tombs and many other historical buildings, legends and cultural values. This city, where you will feel the traces of a different era at every step, is almost an open-air museum for those who love history.

So, what is special about Amasya? And where to visit in Amasya? Let's explore together 👇

1. The Amasya Clock Tower

1. The Amasya Clock Tower Görseli

The Amasya Clock Tower was built in 1865 by Ziya Pasha, the governor of the sanjak. However, it was damaged by a fire shortly afterwards and was rebuilt resembling the original. Located side by side with the historical Amasya Houses, this clock tower draws attention as one of the most iconic structures of the city.

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2. The Sabuncuoğlu Museum of Medicine and Surgery

2. The Sabuncuoğlu Museum of Medicine and Surgery Görseli

The Sabuncuoğlu Museum of Medicine and Surgery, which dates back to the Ilkhanid Period, stands out as one of the most beautiful examples of Anatolian Seljuk Architecture. This historical building is also known as the first centre in Anatolia where music therapy was applied. Sabuncuoğlu Museum of Medicine and Surgery offers a unique experience to visitors with its contributions to the history of medicine and its architecture.

Entrance Fee: 150 TL

Visiting Hours: Open from 08:00-17:00 every day except Monday.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

3. Amasya Archaeology Museum

First established in 1925 in the Bayezid II Complex and moved to its current location in 1980, Amasya Archaeology Museum is an important cultural stop reflecting the deep-rooted history of the city. In addition to coins, manuscripts and stamps from the Ottoman Empire, the museum also exhibits Islamic mummies, which are unique in the world. Thanks to these special collections, the museum offers a very interesting historical and religious experience for visitors to Amasya.

You can visit the Amasya Archaeology Museum every day of the week between 08:15 and 16:45. The museum entrance fee is 150 TL and free entrance is offered for MuseumKart holders. It is an accessible and informative stop for those interested in history.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

4. Pontus Rock Tombs

The Pontic Rock Tombs in the centre of Amasya were carved into limestone in the 4th century BC. There are more than twenty tombs in this area, which was used as a place of worship for deified kings. The tombs on the hill overlooking the view of Amasya belong to three important kings of the Pontic Kingdom. There are also the ruins of the Girls Palace Baths in the area.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

5. Amasya Castle

Rising on Mount Hasan, Amasya Castle is a historical structure bearing the traces of many civilisations from the Pontic period to the Ottoman Empire. In the castle, which was used for military and defence purposes, ruins such as cisterns, baths, dungeons, water tanks and mosques can be seen. It is one of the most remarkable points of Amasya with its view and historical importance.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

6. The Şehzadeler Museum

The Şehzadeler Museum in Amasya displays wax statues of Ottoman princes and ethnographic artefacts in a two-story wooden building. In addition to artworks such as traditional carpets, calligraphy works, illumination samples, accessories and items used in Anatolian Turkish houses can also be seen in the museum. The museum also offers an enriched experience with short films depicting the period in which each prince lived.

Entrance fee: 150 TL

Visiting Hours: You can visit the Şehzadeler Museum seven days a week between 08:30-17:30.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

7. Ferhat and Shirin Lovers Museum

Located in Amasya, in the region where the traces of the legendary love of Ferhat and Shirin are located, Ferhat and Shirin Lovers Museum is an important place that keeps this saga alive. Located around the Ferhat Water Canal, the museum also draws attention with the beautiful views around it. Offering its visitors both traces of love and a historical atmosphere, the museum reflects the cultural richness of the region.

Entrance Fee: 150 TL

Visiting Hours: Open seven days a week between 08:00-19:00.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

8. Gumuslu Mosque

The oldest Ottoman mosque in the city, Gumuslu Mosque, was built in the first half of the 12th century. Although it was damaged by natural disasters, especially earthquakes and fires, it was rebuilt in the 17th century to resemble the original.

Location

Source: Türkiye Kültür Portalı

9. The Miniature Amasya Museum

Opened in 2010, the Miniature Amasya Museum was inspired by an early 20th-century photograph of Amasya. This museum is designed as a small model of the city, allowing you to more closely explore the architectural features of Amasya's important and special monuments. It is also the largest model museum in Turkey.

Entrance Fee: 150 TL

Visiting Hours: Open from 09:00-18:00 every day except Monday.

Location

Source: Türkiye Kültür Portalı

10. Hazeranlar Mansion

Built in the second half of the 19th century by the Ottoman bookkeeper Hasan Talat Efendi, Hazeranlar Mansion is one of the beautiful examples of traditional Ottoman architecture. In the mansion, which was expropriated in the 1970s and now serves as the Ethnography Museum House, historical rooms and ethnographic artefacts are waiting for visitors.

Entrance Fee: 150 TL 

Visiting Hours: Every day of the week 08:00-17:00

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

11. The Alçak Köprü bridge

The Alçak Köprü bridge, located on Yesilirmak, was built during the Roman Empire to facilitate the passage from Amasya Castle to the other side. As the water level of the river rose over time, a part of the bridge was flooded. For this reason, the bridge became known as “Low Bridge” among the people.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

12. The Bayezid II Complex

Built in the 15th century by the order of Sultan Bayezid II, the Bayezid II Complex is a complex structure that includes a mosque, a school, a bridge and a madrasah. In time, the tomb of Şehzade Osman Çelebi was added to the complex and all parts of the complex, except the school, have survived to the present day.

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13. Burmalı Minaret Mosque

Burmalı Minaret Mosque, mentioned in Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatname, was built in the 1200s by the order of the Seljuk ruler Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II. As a result of earthquakes and fires, the wooden minaret of the mosque was destroyed and a stone minaret was built instead.

Location

Source: Türkiye Kültür Portalı

14. Merzifon District

When you visit Amasya, you should definitely visit Merzifon District, which is 45 kilometres from the city centre. Do not forget to explore Taşhan, one of the impressive examples of Seljuk Architecture, the historical Merzifon Bedesten, Çelebi Sultan Madrasah and Karatepe Village, a historical settlement. These places are among the important buildings that reflect the rich history and culture of Merzifon.

Location

Source: Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü

15. The Mirror Cave

The Mirror Cave dates back to 200 BC and is 13 meters high and 10 meters wide. Also known as “Güzelce Kız” among the people, there are colourful paintings from the Hellenistic Period on the walls of this cave. According to the legend, the daughter of a king named Güzelce Kız hid her face from anyone because of her beauty. When she reached the age of marriage, her father sent around to find someone who dared to unveil her veil. When a young man opened her veil with the king's permission, a flame suddenly burst into flames, and he burned to death. The man was buried in a rock tomb and when the light shone on the tomb, the glow resembled the face of the Beautiful Girl. Over time, this cave became known as the “Mirror Cave” because of its brightness.

Location

Source: Türkiye Kültür Portalı