Erzincan is a provincial capital in eastern Turkey set at 1,185 metres in a broad valley carved by the Fırat (Euphrates) River. The province stretches from the volcanic peaks of the Mercan Mountains in the west to the high plateaux bordering Erzurum in the east. Erzincan is renowned throughout Turkey for two things: its exquisite telkari silver filigree jewellery tradition and its Tulum peyniri — a crumbly, pungent cheese matured in a goatskin pouch. The surrounding landscape rewards visitors with deep river gorges, thermal springs, Urartu-era ruins, and one of eastern Turkey's best ski resorts at Ergan Mountain.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Erzincan.
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1
Kemah Gorge and Castle
Kemah sits where the Euphrates River cuts a deep gorge through the mountains west of Erzincan, and the ruined castle occupies a rock spur directly above the town, overlooking the river and the old bridge crossings. The site was a stronghold of the Mengücek Turkish dynasty before the Seljuk and later Ottoman periods, and several rock-cut tombs associated with that dynasty survive on the slopes below the fortress walls. Most of what remains today is eroded stone fortification rather than intact structures, so the visit is really about the setting.
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2
Mama Hatun Külliyesi (Complex)
This Seljuk-era complex in Tercan is built around an unusual circular walled courtyard, a layout rarely seen elsewhere in Anatolian religious architecture. At its center stands the domed türbe (mausoleum) of Mama Hatun, a woman associated with the Mengücekid ruling family, along with a mosque and remains of a caravanserai/hamam grouped within the same enclosure. The circular plan, rather than the more common rectangular külliye layout, is what makes the complex distinctive among Anatolian Seljuk monuments.
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3
Altıntepe Urartu Fortress
Altıntepe is a mound (höyük) near Üzümlü that excavations revealed to be an Urartian fortress and religious complex dating to roughly the 8th-7th centuries BCE, including the remains of a temple and what is believed to have been an audience hall or palace structure. Finds from the site, including painted plaster fragments and bronze objects, showed the Urartians had a fortified presence this far into what is now Erzincan province, on the edges of their kingdom's northern reach. What survives on the ground today is largely wall foundations and the shape of the mound itself, so this suits visitors interested in the archaeology rather than dramatic standing ruins.
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4
Girlevik Waterfall
Girlevik is a waterfall on the outskirts of Erzincan where the water drops over a rock ledge into a pool, fed by mountain snowmelt and springs, making it fullest in spring and early summer. It's a natural landscape stop rather than a historic site, popular with local families as a picnic and short walk destination rather than a major sightseeing draw. Flow noticeably drops later in summer, so the falls look quite different depending on the season you visit.
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5
Ergan Mountain Ski Resort
Ergan Mountain is Erzincan's ski area, developed on the slopes above the city with lift-served runs aimed mainly at domestic winter tourism rather than international ski destinations. It gives skiers and snowboarders access to a mountain right next to a provincial capital, with the city visible from parts of the slopes, rather than the remote alpine setting of Turkey's bigger resorts. The season depends on snowfall and typically runs through the winter months.
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6
Kemaliye (Eğin) Historic Town
Kemaliye, also known by its older name Eğin, is a town of stone and timber Ottoman-era houses built into the steep slopes of the Euphrates gorge, well enough preserved that it sits on Turkey's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The approach road itself is part of the experience, passing through a series of narrow tunnels carved directly into the cliff face along the gorge, which the toll covers. The town's isolation in a deep valley is exactly what kept its historic housing stock intact rather than replaced by modern construction.
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7
Ekşisu Thermal Springs
Ekşisu, meaning "sour water" in Turkish, is a naturally carbonated, mineral-rich spring near Üzümlü that locals have long visited to drink for its reputed digestive benefits, distinct from a typical hot-soaking thermal spa. Some facilities around the spring offer bathing pools fed by the mineral water, but the core draw is the free-flowing natural spring itself, which has a distinctly tart, effervescent taste from its mineral content. It's a low-key wellness stop rather than a resort-style spa complex.
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8
Erzincan Archaeology and Ethnography Museum
This provincial museum houses finds from Erzincan's archaeological sites, notably Altıntepe, alongside ethnographic displays covering local Ottoman-era domestic and craft life. Given how much of the surrounding countryside's history is only visible as foundations or mounds today, this museum is where the portable finds - ceramics, metalwork, and painted fragments - are actually displayed and explained. Erzincan's history of destructive earthquakes, including the major 1939 quake, also means the museum plays a role in preserving artifacts from a region where older structures have repeatedly been lost.
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9
Moloz Canyon (Karanlık Kanya)
This is the narrow limestone gorge the D130 highway cuts through west of Erzincan, its name meaning "Dark Canyon" because the rock walls close in so tightly that sunlight barely reaches the road below. A tunnel carries the highway through the tightest section, and pull-offs on the approach let you get out and look down into the cleft on foot. It's a roadside geological stop rather than a hiking destination, best appreciated from the viewpoints rather than by trying to descend into the gorge itself.
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10
Erzincan Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque)
Erzincan's central mosque sits in the heart of the Çarşı district and functions as the city's main Friday mosque today. Like nearly every older building in Erzincan, its current structure reflects the city's repeated rebuilding after devastating earthquakes — most notably in 1939 and again in 1992 — so what stands now is largely a modern reconstruction rather than a preserved historic original. It's a working neighborhood mosque, not a museum piece, so visits happen around prayer times.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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- Erzincan Museum phone: +90 446 214 2026 — call ahead to confirm opening hours, especially in winter, The Karanlık Canyon road to Kemaliye is one lane in sections; use headlights through the tunnel, Altıntepe is 4 km from Üzümlü town — dolmuş to Üzümlü, then local taxi or 50-min walk
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee for Kemah Gorge?
No — the gorge and castle are free to enter. A small toll (10–20 TRY / $0.30–0.60) applies on the Karanlık Canyon road near Kemaliye.
Can I visit Ergan Ski Resort in summer?
The ski lifts operate December–March. In summer the mountain is accessible for hiking but there are no lift services.