Yozgat is a provincial capital on Turkey's central Anatolian plateau, sitting at roughly 1,300 metres above sea level. The city is the gateway to Turkey's first designated national park — Çamlık Milli Parkı — a fragrant pine and oak forest established in 1958. The surrounding province harbours outstanding archaeological heritage: Hittite and Bronze Age sites at Alacahöyük, the enigmatic Iron Age city of Kerkenes Dağ, and the important excavations at Çadır Höyük. Yozgat retains a quiet, traditional Anatolian character with cobblestone streets, Ottoman-era stone houses, a historic clock tower, and a welcoming local culture that sees very few foreign visitors.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Çam balı (Pine honey from Çamlık forests)
Price: 200–400 TRY/kg (~$6–12 USD)
Where: Weekly market (cheapest), covered bazaar
Handwoven kilim or carpet
Price: 1000–5000+ TRY (~$30–151+ USD)
Where: Bazaar craft shops — compare several stalls
Hand-hammered copper cezve (coffee pot)
Price: 200–600 TRY (~$6–18 USD)
Where: Coppersmith lane in old city bazaar
Tarhana (dried fermented grain)
Price: 80–150 TRY/kg (~$2.40–4.55 USD)
Where: Weekly market
Village white cheese (köy peyniri)
Price: 100–200 TRY/kg (~$3–6 USD)
Where: Weekly market
Hand-embroidered textiles (tablecloths, cushion covers)
Price: 200–800 TRY (~$6–24 USD)
Where: Halk Eğitim Merkezi crafts shop, covered bazaar
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Yozgat Haftalık Pazar
Best for: fresh produce, village white cheese (köy peyniri), pine honey, dried herbs and tarhana, seasonal fruit, village bread
Where: Pazar Alanı, central Yozgat
Hours: 07:00–13:00
Yozgat Kapalı Çarşı
Best for: pine honey, copper goods, handmade textiles, local food products, small carpets
Where: City centre near clock tower
Hours: 08:00–19:00 daily (Sunday reduced)