Kars Turkey Travel Guide

A Vagabond Life

Kars Turkey Travel Guide A Vagabond Life

Nestled in the northeastern corner of Turkey, Kars beckons travelers with its unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. This enchanting city, situated on the high plateau of Eastern Anatolia, boasts a rich tapestry woven with influences from various civilizations that have left their mark over the centuries. With roots tracing back to ancient times, Kars has witnessed the ebb and flow of empires, including the Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. The city’s historic charm is epitomized by the well-preserved Kars Castle and the imposing Holy Apostles Church, both reflecting the architectural legacy of bygone eras.

Beyond its historical allure, Kars captivates visitors with its stunning landscapes, featuring vast plateaus, snow-capped mountains, and pristine lakes. The picturesque Ani Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stand as a testament to the city’s former grandeur as a medieval Armenian capital. Travelers can also indulge in the warmth of Turkish hospitality and savor local culinary delights, making Kars a captivating destination for those seeking a journey into Turkey’s lesser-explored treasures. Whether wandering through historic sites or taking in the breathtaking natural vistas, Kars promises a travel experience that resonates with both history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Kars Turkey Table Of Contents

Kars Turkey Map

Kars Turkey

Travel Tips Kars Turkey

Getting To Kars From Georgia

How To Get From Tbilisi (Georgia) To Kars (Turkey)

Travelling from Tbilisi to Kars takes two days of travel with an overnight stop in Hopa. This is the route we chose to take which is detailed below.

Travelling from Batumi Georgia To Kars Turkey could potentially be done in one day however it is important to note that there is only one bus a day from Hopa to Kars which leaves Hopa bus station at 10:30 am. While it is only 37 km from Batumi to Hopa which is not far, the border crossing at Sarpi is notoriously slow and can take several hours to get through depending on how busy it is, this needs to be taken into account if you are aiming to make it to Hopa in time for the 10.30 am bus.

Read a more about getting from Tbilisi to Kars

Getting To Ani From Kars

How To Get To Ani From Kars

There is a local bus which departs from next to Antik Cafe which is on the corner of Faikbey cd & Gazi Ahmet Pasa cd.

The bus leaves at 9am & 1pm and leaves Ani to return to town at 11:30 and 15:30 giving you have about 2 hours to explore the ruins

Bus Price: 14 TL return

When To Go To Kars

Kars is high climate city at 2000 metres above sea level and has one of the harshest climates in Turkey.

Winters night time temperatures reach up to -30C with daytime temperatures not getting above zero.

Summers are short and are mild in the day with cool nights. We visited in July and found the cooler temperatures delightful after the heat of the reat of Turkey and Georgia.

How To Catch The Dogu Express

The Dogu Express, or Eastern Express travels between Ankara and Kars and in my opinion it is one of this worlds great train trips travelling 1310km across Turkey.

The Dogu Express first journey was in 1936 and originated in Istanbul now it starts and finishes in Ankara with a fast train connecting Ankara and Kars.

Since May 2019 Turkish Rail have run 2 different types of Dogu Express.

The Dogu Express

Designed more for the commuter.
Faster – 24 hours
Pullman seats, 4 berth cabins
More stops

The Touristic Dogu Express

Designed for travellers
Slower 30 hours+
Stops at significant points of interest
Has longer stops allowing people to get off and visits sites.
2 berth sleeping compartments.

If you’re a traveller I would recommend the Touristic Dogu Express as it gives a fantastic experience and we were able to get off and see some sights that really are in the middle of nowhere.

Read the ultimate guide to catching the Dogu Express here

Things To See & Do In Kars Turkey

Kars Castle

The Kars Castle dates back to 1153 and sits high on a rocky outcrop near the northern edge of the city.

The fort saw vicious fighting with the Mongols in the 13th century, was demolished Central Asian conqueror Tamerlane in 1386 and then rebuilt over the following centuries. The Kars fought was again the scene of bitter fighting during WWII.

Climb to the top of the forts ramparts for a spectacular view of the city.

Kars Museum

The Kars museum has cultural and archaeological exhibits dating back to the early Bronze Age, Urartu and Roman periods.There is a reasonable amount of English.

Address: Cumhuriyet Caddesi

Hours: 8am-5pm Tue-Sun

Drink Tea in The Kars Tea Houses

Tea Houses

Kars, like all of Turkey has a strong culture of tea houses and tea. Locals gather to drink copious cups of tea that are served in tiny tulip cups and catch up with each other.

We were welcomed into the tea houses where we drank tea and ate baklava with the locals which was a wonderful experience.

Visit Ancient Ani

Ancient Ani

Ani Turkey are ancient ruins that were once the Armenian capital rivalling Constantinople in power and glory and an important stop on the silk route.

Now Ani is a sereis of ruins set on a wind swept plain right on the Armenian border.

Ani is 45KM from Kars.