Getting to Know the City of Kars
Updated at11 August 2024
3 Minutes
Kars, in the northeast of Turkey, is one of the tourist cities in this country, where has the largest number of ancient statues. This city, one of the first places in Turkey where the sun rises, also sees the first snowfall in this country every year. Traveling to Kars is accompanied by different features and many surprises and brings memorable moments.
The Kurdish city of "Kars" is located in the province of the same name, in the eastern Anatolia region and the northeast of Turkey, and its climate is considered a cold region due to its mountainous nature. This city, which dates back to the very distant past, used to be part of the territory of Armenia, and in the 10th century AD, it witnessed the rule of the most famous kingdom of that era, the "Bagratid Kingdom".
Today, the city of Kars has one of the most important winter tourism centers named "Sarıkamış" in Turkey, and the cities of "Iğdır," "Ağrı," "Ardahan," "Erzurum" and the country of Armenia are among its neighbors. You can easily travel to Kars by booking a flight ticket to "Kars Harakani Airport".
With its mostly cold and mountainous climate, Kars has relatively long and cold winters, and its summers are usually cool. This city, which is popular among both domestic and international tourists for spending winter holidays, can also be accessed by taking the "Doğu Ekspresi" train; because, in this way, just like the methods of car rental in Turkey, you can enjoy watching the beautiful scenery around, especially in February, March and April.
Therefore, spending winter vacations in Kars and months like January and February are great and suitable for fun winter sports such as skiing. It should be noted that the nature of Kars is full of red and gray colors in spring and summer, similar to some of the beautiful landscapes of mountain regions in Europe.
This city, which sees the presence of many tourists throughout the year, especially in winter, is why finding a suitable place to stay in Kars is a very easy task; among these options, we can refer to: boutique hotels, guesthouses, and 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels. Therefore, always try to book a hotel in Kars in your desired area after booking your flight ticket so that you have easier access to the centers you want.
Contrary to the imagination of some travelers, there are many places of interest in the city of Kars, which in recent years have made traveling to Kars one of Turkey's most popular tourist destinations. Therefore, in addition to sightseeing in the city and going to the shopping centers of Kars, you can visit the historical and natural attractions of this city, such as "Ancient City of Ani Harabeleri," "Cildir Lake (Çıldır Gölü)," Consider "Sarıkamış District," "Kars Castle" and "Kars Museum" in your schedule.
Note: By renting a car in Van Turkey and driving to Kars, you can not only visit more attractions on your way but also stop at your favorite places and spend more time with your friends or family; also, traffic and access to Kars tourist attractions will be easier for you.
Due to the tourism boom and suitable investments in Kars, this city has various new and local shopping centers; in this way, you can buy not only the items you need but also many souvenirs from them. In the local bazaars, you can buy all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, spices, paste, jam, and noodles.
Note: If you travel to Kars with a tour, make sure that they include visiting the shopping centers of this city in their itinerary.
In addition to its many beauties and attractions, Kars is famous for its variety of food, such as "Kasar Cheese (Kaşar Peyniri)," and has easily attracted the attention of tourists. In this city, most of the food is made from flour, legumes, and animal sources, and its most famous dishes are: Umac Halva (Umaç Helvası), Kars Böreği, Ekmek Aush (Ekmek Aşı), Haşıl, Hangel, Kuymak, Katmer, Pişi, Elma Dolması, and Horre soup (Hörre Çorbası).
Although there is no nightlife in Kars like some Turkish cities such as Istanbul, in the summer, you can listen to music in some centers such as discos and bars; of course, in the winter because of the travelers who come to enjoy the "Kari Ski Resort," you can experience happy moments in all kinds of happy and fun gatherings with music performances.
To go to Kars, you can use various Turkish cities and rail, road, and air routes; keep in mind that the distance between Kars and Istanbul is 1535 km, and you can reach Kars by bus, private, or rented car in about 21 hours and 24 minutes.