Safranbolu walking tour & city guide

Çarşı, the old town

The heart of Safranbolu is the old bazaar, a web of cobbled streets lined with craftsmen's shops: blacksmiths, coppersmiths, shoemakers and saddlers, alongside stores selling Turkish delight and saffron. The Cinci Han, a large 17th-century caravanserai with a rooftop terrace, overlooks the whole quarter.

Around the bazaar, white-plastered mansions with dark timber frames and overhanging upper floors climb the slopes. Several, such as the Kaymakamlar House, are open as museums, showing rooms with built-in cupboards, wooden ceilings and the large pools that cooled the main halls.

Viewpoints and surroundings

The Hıdırlık Hill viewpoint, a short climb from the bazaar, gives the classic panorama over the red-tiled roofs, best at sunset. Across the valley, the old government house and the clock tower stand on the hill opposite.

Nearby, the village of Yörük has its own group of old stone and timber houses, and the Tokatlı Canyon has a glass viewing terrace hanging over the gorge, close to an old aqueduct. The Bulak cave is also within a short drive.

A classic walk around Çarşı

Start at the Cinci Han and wander through the arasta and craftsmen's streets to the Köprülü Mehmet Pasha Mosque. Climb to Hıdırlık Hill for the view, then continue up to the clock tower and the Kaymakamlar House before winding back down to the bazaar. The route is only about three kilometers but steep in places, so wear good shoes.