Eskisehir (Turkey) is a large city in the north – west of the country, located 235 km west of Ankara and 300 km southeast of Istanbul. Its area is almost 14 thousand km2, and its population exceeds 860 thousand people. At the beginning of the 14th century, the city served as the third capital of the Ottoman Empire, and today it is the administrative center of the province of Eskisehir. Translated from Turkish, its name literally means “Old Town”.
The appearance of Eskisehir combines both ancient and modern, which only complement each other and create a harmonious picture. Its ancient Odunpazary district has become a true embodiment of centuries-old history. Most of the houses in the neighborhood are two-or three-story wooden structures with bay windows, painted in colorful shades. Winding streets and miniature squares, fountains and tiny mosques are all part of Odunpazary’s historic district, which is definitely worth visiting when visiting Eskisehir.
There are also many modern buildings in the city, but you will not find high-rises and skyscrapers here. Especially ennobled is the center of Eskisehir, through which the waters of its only river Porsuk run. Green alleys and flowerbeds stretch along the river banks, and boats and even gondolas run along the river itself. The city center is decorated with numerous fountains, monuments and miniature bridges.
In general, despite its rather large size, Eskisehir gives the impression of a cozy and neat town, which is full of its own unique life. Absolutely any traveler can become a part of this small world for a short time, who will definitely want to go here when he learns about the curious sights of the city.
Attractions
In the city of Eskisehir in Turkey, you will definitely not be bored: after all, on its territory you can find many attractions, including historical buildings and museums, as well as entertainment centers and natural sites.
Kent Park
One of the largest parks in Eskisehir is located in the heart of the city. The area of the complex covers 300 thousand m2, which includes an outdoor swimming pool, cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops, stables, playgrounds and a huge artificial pond. Snow-white swans swim around the pond, and under the water you can see energetic fish, which, by the way, are not forbidden to catch here. On the shore of the pond is a cozy restaurant where locals spend weekends with their families.
The park is decorated with various sculptures and fountains. Here you can take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, walk along the picturesque alleys and enjoy the local scenery. But Kent Park is most appreciated for its artificial beach. For its design, a huge swimming pool was built here, one of the edges of which was strewn with real sea sand. For a city without access to the sea, such a building was a real salvation. It is noteworthy that this place is the first artificial beach in Turkey.
- Адрес: Şeker Mahallesi, Sivrihisar-2 Cd., 26120 Tepebaşı/Eskişehir.
- Opening hours: the beach is open from 10: 00 to 19: 00.
- Admission fee: entrance ticket to the beach costs 15 TL.
Wax Museum (Yilmaz Buyukersen Balmumu Heykeller Muzesi)
If you are vacationing in Eskişehir, make sure to check out the local Wax Museum. The gallery has several collections that are divided into their own themes: military men, sultans, Ataturk and his family, famous football players, Turkish and world leaders, theater stars and Hollywood actors. Most of the figures represent famous people in Turkey.
The products are made quite high-quality and represent exact copies of outstanding personalities. But some figures are not reliable enough and only vaguely resemble the original. First of all, it will be interesting for those who are at least partially familiar with the history and culture of Turkey. It is not forbidden to take photos on the territory of the museum. For an additional fee, you can also take photos in national Turkish costumes. In addition, the museum has a souvenir shop.
- Адрес: Şarkiye Mahallesi, Atatürk Blv. No:43, 26010 Odunpazarı/Eskişehir.
- Opening hours: daily from 10: 00 to 17: 00. Monday is a day off.
- Visit fee: 12 TL.
Sazova Park
When viewing photos of Eskisehir in Turkey, you can often see pictures with a Disney castle and a pirate ship. This is the Sazova Park – a popular place in the city for recreation and entertainment, spread over an area of almost 400 thousand m2. The territory of the complex includes a picturesque pond decorated with black swans and goldfish. The park is clean and well-groomed and literally drowns in green trees, fragrant lavender beds and composite bushes with original haircuts. There is a cafe on the territory of the complex where you can relax after a walk and taste delicious national dishes or just enjoy ice cream.
In the center of the park is a multi-level castle with spiral stairs, made in the style of Disney. It is noteworthy that each tower of the palace is a copy of the top of one of the famous sights of Turkey. For example, here you can see the tops of the Maiden and Galata Towers, Topkapi Palace and Antalya’s Yivli Minaret. Inside the castle, a guided tour of the fairytale world takes place. Also worth visiting in Sazova are the pirate ship, the Japanese Garden, the zoo and the miniature Museum. A small steam train runs around the complex, where you can take a sightseeing trip through the park. In general, this is a great place where it will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults.
- Адрес: Sazova Mahallesi, Sazova Çiftlik Yolu, 26150 Tepebaşı/Eskişehir.
- Opening hours: the castle is open from 10: 00 to 17: 00, the pirate ship is open from 09: 30 to 21: 30, the zoo and Miniature Museum are open from 10: 00 to 18: 00. Monday is a day off.
- Visit fee: castle-10 TL, pirate ship-3 TL, zoo-10 TL, miniature park – 3 TL.
Dunyasi Aquarium
Built in 2014, the aquarium has already become a popular attraction in Eskisehir. It is located on the territory of the Sazova Park and is part of the local zoo. Here, visitors have the opportunity to see 123 species of fish that live in the waters of the Aegean and Red Seas, in the Atlantic Ocean, the Amazon River and South American lakes. In total, there are more than 2,100 individuals in the aquarium, and among them there are huge stingrays and sharks. This is a small complex that will be interesting for families with children to visit.
- Адрес: Sazova Mahallesi, Sazova Çiftlik Yolu, 26150 Tepebaşı/Eskişehir.
- Opening hours: from 10: 00 to 18: 00. Monday – closed.
- Cost: 10 TL. The price includes a visit to the aquarium and zoo.
Kursunlu Eskisehir Mosque (Kursunlu Camisi Ve Kulliyesi)
This Islamic temple was built by order of the vizier Mustafa Pasha in 1525 and is of great historical value. The attraction is located in the old district of Exisehir Odunpazary. Some sources claim that Mimar Sinan himself, a famous Ottoman architect, took part in the design of the mosque. Translated from Turkish, the name of the shrine is interpreted as “lead”. This name was given to the structure due to its main dome, made of lead. In addition to the temple, the Kurshunlu complex includes a madrasa, kitchens and a caravanserai.
- Адрес: Paşa Mahallesi, Mücellit Sk., 26030 Odunpazarı/Eskişehir.
- Opening hours: you can go inside the mosque during the breaks between prayers in the morning and afternoon.
- Admission fee: free of charge.
Museum of Glass (Cagdas Cam Sanatlari Muzesi)
The Glass Museum was founded in 2007 in the historic district of Odunpazary and is dedicated to contemporary glass art. The gallery features works by 58 Turkish and 10 foreign artists. This is not just a museum of glass figures, but a unique workshop where glass and art are transformed into original products. Here you will see surreal works, glass paintings, and intricate installations. The museum will be interesting for both art lovers and connoisseurs of unusual ideas.
- Адрес: Akarbaşı Mahallesi, T. Türkmen Sk. No:45, 26010 Odunpazarı/Eskişehir.
- Opening hours: daily from 10: 00 to 17: 00. Monday is a day off.
- Visit fee: 5 TL.
Accommodation and prices in Eskisehir
Hostels and 3-and 4-star hotels are also available in the city. There are also several 5 *hotels. Since most of Eskişehir’s iconic landmarks are located in the center, it is most logical to find a room in this area. The average cost of renting a double room per night in a 3 * hotel is 150-200 TL. The lowest price among hotels of this type is 131 TL. Many establishments include free breakfasts.
If you are looking for the best budget deals, you can stay in a local hostel: the price for two people per night is 80-90 TL. Well, those who prefer 5 * hotels will pay 200-300 TL per night. Sometimes you can find very favorable offers when the price of a room in a 3* hotel coincides with the price of a room in a five-star institution. For example, we managed to find an elite option for just 189 TL per day.
Eskisehir in Turkey has many cafes and restaurants, canteens and inexpensive eateries, so there will definitely be no problems with food here. A snack for two in a budget institution will cost 30-40 TL. In a medium-sized restaurant, you can dine for 75 TL for two. And, of course, always at your disposal street oriental food, the receipt for which does not exceed 25 TL. Average cost per drink:
- Cappuccino cup – 9 TL
- Pepsi 0.33-3 TL
- Water bottle – 1 TL
- Local beer 0.5-11 TL
- Imported beer 0,33-15 TL
Weather and climate
Looking at the photo of the city of Eskisehir in Turkey, you can mistakenly assume that it is summer all year round. However, warm weather is typical for this region only in the period from April to October. The summer months here are quite hot: the air temperature can warm up to 30 °C and on average fluctuates between 25-29 °C. In September and October, the city is quite warm (about 20 °C), but in November the temperature drops to 13 °C, and prolonged showers begin.
Winter in Eskisehir is quite cool: often the thermometer drops to subzero levels (- 3 °C maximum), and snow falls. The spring months are characterized by frequent rains, but gradually the air warms up and reaches 17 °C by April, and 22 °C by May. Therefore, the best time to visit the city is between May and October.
How to get
Eskisehir has its own airport Eskisehir Anadolu Havaalani, located 7.5 km from the city center and serving both local and some international flights. However, its operation is currently suspended, and it will not be possible to get here by plane from other cities in Turkey.
If you look at Eskisehir on the map of Turkey, you will realize that it is located near Ankara (235 km), so it is easiest to get to the city from the capital. You can do this by bus or train.
By bus
Find an intercity bus to Eskisehir at the Aşti Otogarı bus station in the capital. Buses in this direction leave around the clock at intervals of 30-60 minutes. The cost of travel varies from 27-40 TL depending on the company. The average travel time is 3 hours. Transport arrives at the main city station Eskişehir Otogarı, which is 3.5 km east of the center of Eskişehir.
By train
Ankara Yüksek Hızlı Tren Garı Railway Station provides a daily high-speed train service to Eskisehir, with a total of 5 flights per day. 06:20, 10:55, 15:45, 17:40 and 20:55). The cost of a ticket in an economy class car is 30 TL, in a business class car-43.5 TL. The journey takes 1.5 hours. These are the ways to get to Eskisehir, Turkey.
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