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.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Erzincan has a significant Alevi population in surrounding villages — Alevis are a heterodox Muslim community with distinct practices; avoid assumptions and show respectful curiosity
Telkari (silver filigree) is the most important craft tradition; visit the bazaar silversmiths and watch artisans at work before buying
Tea (çay) hospitality is central to social interaction; if offered tea in a shop or home, accepting is polite
The weekly bazaar (Thursday and Saturday) is a genuine community event, not a tourist market — behaviour should be respectful and unhurried
Photography of people, especially women, should be done only with permission — ask 'Fotoğraf çekebilir miyim?' (May I take a photo?)
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Accept tea when offered — declining is mildly rude in an eastern Turkish context
- Admire telkari silverwork and ask artisans about their techniques — they are proud of the craft
- Greet people with 'Merhaba' (hello) and 'İyi günler' (good day)
- Remove shoes at the door of mosques and many rural homes
- Bargain politely in the bazaar — it is expected, especially for jewellery
Don't
- Do not photograph military installations, border zones, or police checkpoints
- Do not discuss Kurdish politics, the Armenian history question, or military matters with strangers
- Do not handle Tulum peyniri at market stalls without asking first
- Do not assume all villages in the area are Sunni Muslim — the Alevi community has different practices
- Do not eat or drink in front of locals during Ramadan daylight hours without discretion
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Merhaba
Hello
mer-HA-ba
Teşekkür ederim
Thank you
te-SHEK-kur e-de-rim
Lütfen
Please
LUFT-fen
Ne kadar?
How much?
neh ka-DAR
Tulum peyniri nerede?
Where is the Tulum cheese?
too-LUM pay-NEE-ree neh-reh-DEH
Hesap lütfen
Bill / check please
he-SAP luft-fen
İyi günler
Good day
ee-YEE guun-ler
Güle güle
Goodbye (said by the person staying)
goo-LEH goo-LEH
Afedersiniz
Excuse me / sorry
ah-fe-der-SI-niz
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Erzincan.
Items:
- Faith
- Islam (Sunni)
- Prevalence
- Majority in the city
- Notes
- Erzincan city has several mosques; prayer call (ezan) sounds five times daily. Friday midday prayer sees the city centre quiet briefly.
- Faith
- Alevism
- Prevalence
- Significant minority in surrounding villages
- Notes
- Alevis do not typically use mosques; cemevi (Alevi gathering houses) are their worship spaces. Alevi culture values music, poetry and the teachings of Haci Bektaş Veli.