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Voykit pocket guide · Türkiye (Turkey)
Amasya
Give Amasya one full day and one night: rock tombs and castle in the morning, the riverfront old town and museums after lunch, then move on.
Amasya is a small Black Sea hinterland city in the Yeşilırmak gorge, 333 km northeast of Ankara, with Pontic rock tombs cut into the cliff, a hilltop castle and an Ottoman riverfront that survived because heavy industry never arrived. Most sights sit within walking distance of the river, so a single overnight stop covers the core; add a second night only for a hamam, a spa or Lake Borabay. It is a stop on the way to Samsun, not a destination in itself.
- Country
- Türkiye (Turkey)
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid), Dec–Feb (cold, wet)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TRY
- Money
- Currency is the Turkish lira (₺, TRY). About ₺56 to €1 in late September 2026 — check; inflation was still in the double digits, so prices rise several times a year.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₺1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₺2,000–3,500 excl. bed · High ₺3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom sell tourist SIMs at airports (passport needed); they are dearer than in town shops — check.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Lokanta / simple café: Leave the coins or round up.; Sit-down restaurant: 5–10% in cash, even if the card machine does not offer a tip; check for a 'servis' charge first.; Taxi: Round up to the next ₺10–50.; Hamam: 10–15% to the attendant (tellak/natır).; Guide / driver day: €10–20 for a guide, €5–10 for a driver per day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₺50–100.
- Water
- Tap water is treated and chlorinated but tastes of it; locals buy bottled or 19-litre dispenser water. Restaurants charge for bottled water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets (alaturka) in older mosques and bus stops. Public toilets (WC) cost ₺10–30 — carry coins or small notes. Most toilets have a bidet spray; paper goes in the bin in older buildings.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (çay) in a café | ₺20–40 |
| Mantı main course | ₺200–350 |
| Simit from a street seller | ₺15–30 |
| 5 km taxi ride3.1 mi taxi ride | ₺250–400 |
| Hamam entry with scrub (kese) | ₺400–800 |
| Museum entry | ₺50–150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MZH · Amasya Merzifon Airport
- Daily flights from Istanbul, about 90 min; 42 km northwest of the centre, so budget a taxi or shuttleDaily flights from Istanbul, about 90 min; 26 mi northwest of the centre, so budget a taxi or shuttle
Typical fares
- Taxi, otogar to city centre
- about ₺400–600, 15–20 min
- Dolmuş within the centre
- about ₺25–40
- Bus Amasya to Samsun
- about 3 h, fare varies by operator
Get around
The old town is traffic-restricted and most sights are a 10–20 min walk apart along the river. Take a taxi up to the castle and walk down; dolmuşes cover the centre and the otogar. Inter-city buses use the new otogar 10 km northwest, and your ticket may include a downtown transfer — ask when booking.The old town is traffic-restricted and most sights are a 10–20 min walk apart along the river. Take a taxi up to the castle and walk down; dolmuşes cover the centre and the otogar. Inter-city buses use the new otogar 6.2 mi northwest, and your ticket may include a downtown transfer — ask when booking.
See and do
Known for
- Tombs of the Pontic Kings
- Amasya Castle on Harşena hill
- Ottoman Yalıboyu houses along the Yeşilırmak
- Apple growing and army passing-out parades
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Borabay | Drive or taxi 50 km northeast towards Taşova; no useful public transportDrive or taxi 31 mi northeast towards Taşova; no useful public transport | About 1 h each way |
| Havza thermal spas | Bus or train towards Samsun, then a 1.5 km climb from the stationBus or train towards Samsun, then a 0.9 mi climb from the station | 1.5–2 h |
| Samsun | Bus or the regional train, about 3 h | 3 h |
| Boğazkale (Hattuşa) | Bus or drive via Çorum, about 3 h | 3–3.5 h |
Sleep
- Yalıboyu / riverfront old town
- Ottoman konaks and pensions on the north bank; walk to the tombs, castle path and bazaar. Best for a one-night stop.
- City centre (Ziya Paşa Bulvarı)
- Modern hotels on the south bank, close to the archaeology museum and bus dolmuşes; more traffic noise.
- Near the railway station (west)
- Budget pansiyons along Yalı Sokak; convenient only if you arrive or leave by train.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Merhabamer-hah-BAH |
| Thank you | Teşekkürlerteh-shek-kewr-LER |
| How much is it? | Ne kadar?neh kah-DAR |
| The bill, please | Hesap, lütfenheh-SAHP, lewt-FEN |
| Where is the toilet? | Tuvalet nerede?too-vah-LET neh-reh-DEH |
| Can I pay by card? | Kartla ödeyebilir miyim?KART-lah ur-deh-yeh-bee-LEER mee-yim |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Merhaba' (hello) or 'Selamün aleyküm' in conservative areas; cheek kisses between friends of the same sex; avoid: Offering a hand to a conservative woman first — wait for hers
- Mosques: Covered clothing, headscarf for women, shoes in hand, quiet voice; avoid: Walking in front of people praying; visiting during Friday midday prayer
- Hospitality: Accept tea or at least a sip; bring sweets or pastries to a home; avoid: Refusing food repeatedly; showing the soles of your feet
- Politics and history: Listen; let hosts raise it; avoid: Opinions on Atatürk, the Kurdish issue, Armenia or Cyprus with people you just met
- Ramadan: Eat discreetly in conservative towns during the day; avoid: Eating, drinking or smoking in front of fasting people in small towns
- Gestures: A slight upward head nod with a tut means 'no'; avoid: The OK hand sign (can be read as rude) and a thumb between fingers
- Dress in town: Shorts are fine in Istanbul and resorts; longer clothes in the interior and east; avoid: Swimwear away from the beach
- Names: First name plus Bey (men) or Hanım (women): 'Ahmet Bey'; avoid: Using the surname alone
Scams and watch-outs
- The otogar has no ATM; bring cash for ticket kiosks and taxis.
- The old bus station in Kirazlıdere is a demolition site and still appears on some maps.
- Castle and museum hours are short and change; confirm before you climb.
- Army passing-out ceremonies (usually the second Wednesday of the month) can fill every hotel — book ahead if your dates coincide.
Amasya is calm and walkable, and violent crime against visitors is rare. The real issues are the steep, uneven castle path, short museum hours, cash-only kiosks at the otogar and summer heat; women travelling alone report few problems but normal late-night caution applies.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Amasya yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tombs of the Pontic Kings
- Amasya Castle on Harşena hill
- Ottoman Yalıboyu houses along the Yeşilırmak
- Apple growing and army passing-out parades
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Amasya Municipality: amasya.bel.tr
- Amasya provincial culture and tourism office: amasya.ktb.gov.tr
- Turkey culture portal — Amasya sights: www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/amasya
- Wikivoyage: Amasya, revision 5267207 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5267207
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Amasya
Bu adrese, lütfen
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All emergencies112
No embassy in Amasya; most countries keep embassies in Ankara and consulates-general in Istanbul. The US, UK and others: check your embassy's Ankara page for after-hours numbers.
Carry small lira notes: ticket kiosks and some pensions are cash-first.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/amasya). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.