National park · Türkiye (Turkey)
Çatalhöyük
Make it a half-day from Konya: taxi or rental car 42 km (26 mi) southeast, 1–1.5 h on the two mounds and the reconstruction, back by late afternoon; a summer shuttle from Konya may run around 13:00 — confirm it is operating before you plan around it.Make it a half-day from Konya: taxi or rental car 42 km (26 mi) southeast, 1–1.5 h on the two mounds and the reconstruction, back by late afternoon; a summer shuttle from Konya may run around 1:00 PM — confirm it is operating before you plan around it.Make it a half-day from Konya: taxi or rental car 26 mi (42 km) southeast, 1–1.5 h on the two mounds and the reconstruction, back by late afternoon; a summer shuttle from Konya may run around 13:00 — confirm it is operating before you plan around it.Make it a half-day from Konya: taxi or rental car 26 mi (42 km) southeast, 1–1.5 h on the two mounds and the reconstruction, back by late afternoon; a summer shuttle from Konya may run around 1:00 PM — confirm it is operating before you plan around it.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
approximate
Established
1958
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 5
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Check whether your passport is visa-exempt; if it is not, apply only at evisa.gov.tr — lookalike sites charge extra and some sell nothing.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗At mosques cover shoulders and knees, take shoes off at the door, and women carry a headscarf; stay out during prayer times.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Taxis must run the taximeter; refuse flat quotes, or book through BiTaksi or Uber so the ride is logged.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Carry lira in small notes for tea, markets, tips and toilets; prices move with inflation, so treat every printed price as dated.
- Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Do not take stones, coins or tiles from ancient sites, and export no antiques without a museum certificate; travellers have been detained at airport customs.
At a glance
- Country
- Türkiye (Turkey)
- Area
- 0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
- Excavated area of the two mounds only; the wider Neolithic settlement spread over roughly 13 ha (check).
- Established
- 1958
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Konya
Çatalhöyük is a forked mound on the Konya plain, occupied roughly 7500–5700 BC and one of the oldest known towns, from the moment people traded a nomadic life for settled farming. There are no streets and no palace: mud-brick houses were packed together and entered through gaps in the walls, the dead were buried under the floors, and some rooms carried wall paintings and plastered skulls. Two excavated mounds now sit under shelters, with a visitor centre and a reconstructed Neolithic house beside them. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site (2012) and a short, strange visit rather than a full day out.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2012Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük.
Size and age
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²) · national park since 1958
Excavated area of the two mounds only; the wider Neolithic settlement spread over roughly 13 ha (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Konya.
Why go
- The clearest place in the world to see how a town worked before streets, doors or rulers existed.
- Wall paintings, plastered skulls and burial pits are visible in the excavated rooms under the shelters.
- A full-scale reconstructed Neolithic house shows the roof-entry, hearth and ladder you read about.
- Easy to combine with Konya's Seljuk architecture in one day.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold on the plain; snow possible
- FebCold; short days
- MarChangeable, windy
- AprMild and green
- MayWarm and usually dry
- JunHot by midday; go early
- JulHot, little shade
- AugHot, little shade
- SepCooling; plain turns gold
- OctMild and clear
- NovCool; quiet
- DecCold, short days
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmland birds and larks on the plainApr–Jun, Sep–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Reptiles and insects on the mound slopesMay–Aug | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Winter flocks and raptors over the fieldsDec–Feb | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Konya
Taxi or rental car southeast on the D330/Karaman road, then local roads to the site; 42 km (26 mi).Taxi or rental car southeast on the D330/Karaman road, then local roads to the site; 26 mi (42 km).
45–60 min
Open the page →
From Konya (summer shuttle)
A seasonal bus has left from the Mevlana Square area, Tuesday–Sunday around 13:00, returning in the afternoon; confirm locally before relying on it.A seasonal bus has left from the Mevlana Square area, Tuesday–Sunday around 1:00 PM, returning in the afternoon; confirm locally before relying on it.
1 h
Open the page →
From Çumra
Bus or train from Konya to Çumra, then taxi 12 km (7.5 mi); a bus to Karkın has also stopped about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the site.Bus or train from Konya to Çumra, then taxi 7.5 mi (12 km); a bus to Karkın has also stopped about 1.9 mi (3 km) from the site.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Karaman
Train or bus to Çumra, then taxi; the site is a detour off the Konya–Karaman line.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor centre | Ticket desk, small gift shop, cafe, toilets and the orientation displays. | Open with site hours; step-free. |
| East mound (under shelter) | The main Neolithic excavation: house walls, hearths, burial pits and painted plaster. | Walkways under the shelter; some steps. |
| West mound (under shelter) | The later, Chalcolithic layers of the settlement. | Walkways; check whether the shelter is open on your date. |
| Reconstructed house | A full-size mud-brick house with roof entry, ladder and oven, just off the excavation. | Open; short walk from the centre. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Site coordinates from Wikidata; mound, house and town positions are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site entry (visitor centre and mounds) | Free | person | Entry has been free in recent years; confirm at the gate or on the official museum listing before you travel. |
| Taxi from Konya, return with waiting time | TRY 1,000–1,500 (≈ US$25–40) | car | 2026 estimate; agree the wait and the return fare in Konya before leaving. |
| Taxi from Çumra to the site and back | TRY 400–700 (≈ US$10–18) | car | 2026 estimate; Çumra is 12 km south of the site. Agree the price before setting off. |
| Summer shuttle from Konya (when running) | Free | person | Fare not confirmed; ask at the Konya tourist office whether the service is running. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site entry no permit
Excavation areas permit or guide
Drone or professional filming permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ₺1,000–1,500≈ US$25–40
- ₺400–700≈ US$10–18
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Çatalhöyük official site before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on the walkways
- The trenches and exposed mud-brick are fragile; do not step off the marked routes or touch the walls.
- No digging or collecting
- Removing any object or fragment from the site is illegal.
- Drones
- Not allowed without prior permission from the site management and museum authority.
- Food and drink
- Keep eating and drinking to the cafe and visitor centre areas; no alcohol is sold on site.
- Shelter closures
- Individual shelters can be shut for conservation or excavation work; ask at the visitor centre desk on arrival.
Where to stay
Near the park
Konya
The practical base: hotels of every level, 42 km (26 mi) away, with the Mevlana museum and Seljuk buildings for the rest of the day.The practical base: hotels of every level, 26 mi (42 km) away, with the Mevlana museum and Seljuk buildings for the rest of the day.
Near the park
Çumra
Small town 12 km (7.5 mi) south with the nearest bus and train links; lodging is limited, so most visitors sleep in Konya.Small town 7.5 mi (12 km) south with the nearest bus and train links; lodging is limited, so most visitors sleep in Konya.
Safety
Heat and no shade medium
Uneven walkways and steps low
Getting stranded without a car medium
Winter road conditions low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The visitor centre is wheelchair accessible, with step-free access to the displays and cafe.
- The excavation shelters and the reconstructed house involve steps and rough surfaces; the site's own accessibility has been described as limited, with path upgrades planned or in progress.
- Ask at the desk for the easiest route to the east mound if you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Do not buy or accept loose finds; report anything you see disturbed to the staff.
- Keep to the walkways so the exposed mud-brick is not eroded further.
- Take your rubbish back to Konya or Çumra; bins on site are limited.
- Buy from the site cafe and gift shop so the site keeps some visitor income.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Çatalhöyük?
Entry has been free in recent years, but this is not guaranteed: confirm at the gate or on the official museum listing before you travel. The real cost is getting there — a return taxi from Konya with waiting time runs about 1000–1500 TL (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Çatalhöyük?
There are no long trails. The best walking is the east mound walkway (45–60 min), the reconstructed house and visitor centre (about an hour together), and a short loop over the unexcavated ground between the two shelters. If you want more, ask staff about the flat field paths toward the old river channel.
When is the best time to visit Çatalhöyük?
April, May, September and October: mild, dry and clear, with the plain green or golden. June–August is very hot with almost no shade, and January–February is cold and sometimes snowy. Go early in the morning in summer.
How long do you need at Çatalhöyük?
One to one and a half hours covers the visitor centre, both shelters and the reconstructed house. Two hours is plenty if you read the displays and walk the mound-top loop.
Do you need a guide at Çatalhöyük?
No. The visitor centre explains the site and the walkways are signed. A guide from Konya adds context on the excavation history and the wall paintings, but nothing on site requires one.
Can you visit Çatalhöyük without a car?
Yes, but it takes planning. Take a bus or train to Çumra, 12 km south, then a taxi; or use the seasonal shuttle from Konya, which has run Tuesday–Sunday around 13:00 in summer. Confirm the shuttle and the last return bus locally before relying on them.
Is Çatalhöyük worth visiting?
If you care about how the first towns worked, yes: the roof-entry houses, burials under the floors and wall paintings are unlike any later ruin in Turkey. If you want monumental architecture or a full day out, spend the time in Konya instead and treat this as a half-day add-on.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go