Adana

Understand

thumb | 300px | Sabancı Central Mosque Adana has been inhabited for over 8000 years. The name may drive from a proto-European word danu, "on the river", making it an unlikely cousin of the Danube, Dnieper and Doncaster. People known to settle here include the Luwians, Hittites, Sea People, Assyrians, Cilicians, Persians, Selucids, Armenians and Romans - these built the stone bridge (Taşköprü) over the river. Adana changed hands many times after the break-up of the Roman-Byzantine Empire but came under Ottoman control from 1517. In early modern times it developed a cotton industry and had a polyglot population of Muslims, Armenians, Greeks, Syrians and Arabs. But inter-ethnic tensions played into resentment of industrial labour conditions, and the Armenians suffered a massacre in 1908 then genocide in 1915.

The cotton trade has slumped but the economy of Adana remains based on agriculture, plus mixed industries including automobiles, and banking. It nowadays has four districts: Seyhan is the historic core, with the sites of traveller interest. Çukurova, often called "New Adana", is a residential area north along the lake shore. Yüreğir east of the river is industrial and low-rent residential. Sarıçam lies northeast and has the university. A fifth, nominally part of Sarıçam, is İncirlik, where the NATO air base is springboard for operations deeper into Asia. This effort has brought an influx of westerners into Adana, and the town has business hotels and other western-style am…

Get around

thumb | 300px | Within Sabancı Mosque Walk: the city sprawls but the area of interest in the old town is compact.

City buses — Extensive bus network including city buses and dolmuş.

Adana Metro is a single line running 14 km southeast to northwest across city centre: Vilayet is the stop for the railway station. Most visitors are unlikely to use it. An extension to the university main campus is in planning.

Taxi prices are comparable to the rest of the country.

See

Tepebağ is the core of Old Town. Most sights are here. Central Park is the relaxing riverside area north of Sabancı Central Mosque. is a Roman bridge over the Seyhan River, probably built around 120-135 AD, on the trade routes from Persia and Anatolia to the Mediterranean. Until 2007 it carried motor traffic but is now a footbridge and popular hanging-out spot. Its names have included Saros Bridge, the Bridge of Justinian and al-Walid Bridge; the present Taşköprü (stone bridge) says what it is. thumb | 300px | Taşköprü over River Seyhan (Yeni Cami) was built in 1724 in Mamluk style.

Do

thumb | 300px | Oil Mosque Hamams, traditional Turkish baths, are at over a dozen central locations. Lunapark is a funfair by the Seyhan lake dam, north edge of town. Football: Adana Demirspor were relegated in 2025 and again in 2026 so they now play soccer in TFF 2. Lig, the third tier. Their home ground New Adana Stadium (Yeni Adana Stadyumu, capacity 33,500 all seated) is in Balcalı district 15 km northeast of city centre. Adanaspor share the stadium and play in TFF 3. Lig the fourth tier. Demirspor women's team play in the Women's Super League, their top tier, at Muharrem Gülergin Stadium north by the O-50 motorway bridge. Beach: Karataş is the closest, 55 km south, but Mersin is better. Karataş also has the ruins of the ancient city of Magarus: the amphitheatre is the best of these but they're not worth a special trip.

Buy

Optimum is the biggest central shopping mall, east across the bridge from Sabancı Mosque. Galleria is on the riverbank east of the railway station. M1 mall is at the west edge of the city and has a Carrefour, open daily 10:00-22:00.

Eat

thumb | 300px | Adana kebap Adana Kebab the town specialty is a skewer of minced lamb. Old town places are round its rim rather than central. Try Kebapçı Şeyhmus, Eyvan Kebap, Erciyes Kebap, Abidin Usta, Sirdanci Bedo, Kazancılar (below) or Oz Asmaalti Kebap Salonu. Station area has Eski Dostlar, Paşalimanı, Saki Meyhane, House of Kamer, Tokana, The Sopranos, Makarnos, Elem (below), Yüzevler and Zeynel Ocakbaşı. Lake shore has Dalyan Balik, Bigfish, Yeşilçam Meyhanesi and Sercan (below). Mado's is a dessert chain with outlets on Cemal Paşa, Kurttepe, Toros St, Carrefour Mall, and M1 Mall.

Drink

thumb | 300px | Sarcophagus in the Archaeology Museum Far more pubs here than in most Turkish towns, mostly north towards the railway station.

Sleep

thumb | 300px | Citrus groves near Adana Otel Seyhan opposite Şirin Park gets poor reviews.

Connect

Adana and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As April 2025, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

Karataş is the closest beach resort, 55 km south. The ruins of Magaros are here, with a Roman amphitheatre. Yumurtalık is another resort east. It has an old castle. Tarsus has sites associated with St Paul and the Roman era. Mersin 65 km west is a large port with ferries to Cyprus. Karaisalı and Pozantı are small towns on the passes through the Taurus mountains with several historic sites. Ceyhan is a grubby oil town east, but Yılan Castle rears up from its plains. Anavarza 30 min north is the ruins of a small Roman town. Osmaniye is a modern town with historic sites nearby.