Burdur

Understand

"A town blessed with natural beauty and a number of orchards and farms" was the impression of Ibn Battuta, who came this way in 1330 AD. It's always been a market town astride trade routes but of little strategic importance. No-one felt the need to keep its castle in good repair, so that has entirely disappeared somewhere below the streets near Grand Mosque. The area is roiled by occasional earthquakes, notably that of 1914 which flattened Burdur, so most of it is modern with few old buildings. In 2006 this rather sleepy town was rejuvenated by the establishment of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University.

Get in

Burdur is 127 km north of Antalya on Highway D650, which continues north to Afyon and Kütahya. Highway D330 crosses it, west to Muğla and Bodrum, and east to Isparta, Konya and Niğde.

Buses from Istanbul run six times a day and take 11 hours via Gebze, Izmit, Kütahya, Afyon and Isparta. They continue to Antalya, another 2 hr.

From Ankara is 6 hr 30 min via Afyon and Isparta. Some continue to Izmir, another 6 hours.

Inter-city bus lines are Pamukkale, Metro Turizm and Flixbus. Dolmuşes from Isparta run every hour or so and take 50 min.

is the bus station, 3 km northeast of downtown.

Göller Ekspresi or Lakes Express runs once daytime and once overnight from Izmir to Isparta, taking 10 hours, and from Isparta a connecting local train runs to Burdur.

is therefore a very quiet place for most of the day.

Get around

The central sights are all within walking distance. You need your own wheels for outlying sights.

Dolmuşes ply the main streets and run to the university campus.

See

(Ulu Cami) is a reconstruction of 1917, after its 600 year-old predecessor was wrecked in the earthquake of 1914. Burdur Clocktower (Saat Kulesi) north side of Grand Mosque was erected in the 1830s, toppled in the earthquake and rebuilt in 1937. Gazi Mosque is at Gazi Cd 40 between Grand Mosque and the Archaeology Museum. It was built in the 19th century and rebuilt in 1916 after the earthquake. at Divan Baba Cd 10 is 17th century. You're unlikely to find it open. Piribaş Mansion at Hatip Hoca Cd 3 near the Natural History Museum is likewise rarely open as advertised. Egyptian House (Mısırlılar Evi) next door is another fine Ottoman building now occupied by Green Crescent, a charity combatting the harms of drugs and alcohol. thumb | 300px | Sarcophagus in the Archaeology Museum Hoca Bali̇ Hamamı is on Oluklaralti Cd, 100 m south of Piribaş Mansion. It's the ruin of an ancient bathhouse, supposedly under restoration but this appears stalled.

Do

thumb | 300px | Grand Mosque Hamam: Yeni Hamam traditional Turkish baths are 200 m east of Grand Mosque, open daily 07:00-23:30. Gazi Atatürk Stadyumu is the city sports complex, 400 m west of the railway station. Teams are amateur, there's no pro soccer club. Lakeside is 5 km west on D330. There isn't a beach or promenade, but swim if you don't mind the grungy water. Lake Burdur is salty and highly alkaline, with a pH of 9.5, so it never freezes, which makes it an important winter stopover for birdlife.

Buy

Lots of little supermarkets, Bim and Migros are the main chains, typically open daily 09:00-22:00. Upper Bazaar (Yukarı Pazar) is the area around Grand Mosque.

Eat

Local specialties: Burdur Şiş are meatballs cooked in a strip. A standard serving is 3-5 strips with pita bread. Kıymalı pide is a long thin pizza with minced meat, generally served with ayran (yogurt) and salad. Peynirli pide is a veggie equivalent substituting cheese. Ceviz Ezmesi is a diamond-shaped walnut pastry. Downtown eating places include Ege Lokantası, Kökez Köy, Bizim Şişçi, Kadir Okan Özen, Pazar Aile Lokantası, Oskar Bistro, Konak, Toros Lokantası, Şehir Lokantası, Altay Pide, Saklı Bahçe, Sahra, Uygur Sofrası and Kahyaoglu Et. No stand-out. Kayımoğlu is an ice cream (dondurma) chain with three city outlets.

Drink

Sir Winston is in the post office building at Özpolat Cd 8, open daily 14:00-02:00. Nispet Birahanesi is on Hatip Hoca Cd.

Sleep

thumb | 300px | Lake Salda Atam Hotel is an inexpensive place 200 m east of the railway station, at Yurt Sk 15. Murat Sezgin Park Prestij Otel is 50 m north of Grand Özeren at Nazifbey Sk 5, similar price and quality.

Connect

Burdur and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Nov 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.