Amasya

Understand

thumb | 300px | Rock tombs of the kings of Pontus According to Greek historian and geographer Strabo (64 BC-24 AD), this town is named for the ancient Amazon female warriors who flaunted themselves here. This is just one of so many misunderstandings, errors and downright baloney myths written down by Strabo. He was born and brought up in Amasya, travelled extensively around the Mediterranean regions, and his only extant complete work, the extensive if unreliable Geographica (Γεωγραφικά) became a standard reference text. It's striking how often later authors simply copied it, right into modern times, when better info was in front of their noses.

The River Yeşilırmak carves a deep gorge through the mountains, and early settlement was perched on the crag north of this then spread up and down the valley. The rulers of Pontus etched their rock tombs into the cliff face, and various armies and invaders came and went, but it was as a refuge that Amasya came into history. In 1402 Timur stormed west and smashed the Ottomans at Ankara, almost for ever. Sultan Bayezid was taken captive and killed, and the rest of his family began murdering each other, but his son Mehmet was spirited away to Amasya. Mehmet grew up to become Sultan and restored Ottoman power. This started a tradition whereby princes were brought to Amasya to learn statecraft and other essential arts before their reign, and the town was embellished through their patronage.

The town has small-scale industry and grows app…

Get around

Most sights are in walking distance, but you may prefer to take a taxi up to the castle and walk down. Traffic is restricted in the Old Town and diverted through a tunnel.

Taking advantage of the North Anatolian Fault there are several geothermal spas in Amasya Province. Like many geothermal spas in the country they tend to be hard to reach by public transport. But if you are on a road trip with your own wheels some are great for a relaxing overnight stop.

See

thumb | 300px | Tombs of the Pontic Kings

Do

Hamams - traditional Turkish baths - are single-sex, usually for men 06:00-10:00, women 10:00-17:00, and men again 17:00-00:00. Check with the hamams ahead of time. Seray Altuntaş Hamamı is 200 m west of Yıldız Hamam at Şifre Sk 3, open daily 08:00-23:00. Football: Yeni Amasyaspor play soccer in TFF 3. Lig, the fourth tier, at June 12 Stadium by the railway station. Hiking. Mountains surround the city on all sides and can easily be walked.

Buy

thumb | 300px | Beyazıt II Complex Lots of little stores, Migros and Bim are the main chains.

Eat

Riverbank both sides has several eateries.

Drink

Cafés and restaurants serve alcohol, but there is no free-standing bar. Yesil Ev (green house) is a tea shop by the railway station, open daily 09:00-19:00. For a group, semaver is the Turkish version of the samovar, and you'll be drinking tea for hours.

Connect

Amasya and its approach highways have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Jan 2025, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

Sivas has several fine mosques and museums. Fast trains run from Ankara. Boğazkale has the ruins of the Hittite city of Hattuşa. Samsun is a large resort on the Black Sea coast.