Afyonkarahisar

Understand

thumb | 300px | Afyon Castle Afyon - kara - hisar literally means "opium black fortress". This is a large growing area for opium poppies - the open fields have been burned out to curb the illegal trade but production continues under tight control for medicinal opiates such as morphine.

Afyon produces fine marble, the Docimian Pavonazzetto variety being white with purple veins. The quarries are ugly places and the best place to admire the marble is in the many grand buildings it has gone to adorn, such as the Pantheon and St Peter's in Rome, and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

In 2004 the Turkish parliament decided it didn't like having a city called Opium (maybe too much confusion with YSL perfume?) and changed the name to Afyonkarahisar. "Afyon" is what it remains locally and on this page, but you might want to give it the full name when explaining your travel plans to border guards.

Get around

thumb | 300px | Afyon Ali Çetinkaya station AFRAY is a city suburban railway under construction. There's no word on when it might open.

See

(Great Mosque) near the start of the castle ascent was completed in 1277. Its roof is supported by an array of 8 by 5 wooden pillars that were originally richly carved. It's one of five world heritage listed wooden mosques in Anatolia. on Birlik Cd north of the castle was built in 1813. on Kurtuluş Cd is centrepiece of a kulliye, a religious complex with a medrese (seminary), imaret (hospice) and hamam. It was built in 1472 and restored in 1795. The Archaeological Museum at the foot of Kurtuluş Cd has closed down. It's not known what will become of its extensive collection. was built in 1209, and is still used by light vehicles. Altıgöz means six eyes or arches. The setting is scrappy and not scenic. means "old windmill", a wooden tower. You mostly come for the view, as it's not as tough a climb as the castle. is a geothermal area 25 km north of town on D665. Lots more spa hotels here.

Do

thumb | 300px | Within Ulu Camii Football: Afyonspor play soccer in 2. Lig, Turkey's third tier. Their home ground Afyon Kocatepe Stadyumu (or Zafer Stadyumu, capacity 15,000) is 5 km northwest of town centre. Lunapark amusement park 2 km northeast of town centre is in poor shape in 2022, with many broken rides.

Buy

Supermarkets are mostly in the residential areas northeast towards the railway station. The closest to the old town is Migros, corner of Kadınana Cd and Yeşil Yol Cd, open daily 09:00-22:00.

Eat

Cheap eating places cluster in the lanes radiating southwest from the roundabout on Birlik Cd.

Drink

thumb | 300px | View from the castle Kızılay and other brands of mineral water are produced from sources around Afyon, but the tap water is safe to drink.

Many cafes and restaurants serve beer. A couple of free-standing bars remain closed in 2022.

Connect

Afyon and its approach highways have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Nov 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

Akşehir southeast was the home of the fictional Nasrettin Hoca, hero and sly wit of many folk tales. Konya further southeast was the medieval Seljuk capital and main lodge of the Mevlevi "whirling dervishs". Kütahya north makes decorative tiles, which adorn its mosques. Uşak west has a collection of preserved Ottoman houses.