Egirdir: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Eğirdir sits on a narrow tongue of land in the south of its lake, with mountains rising straight from the water on both sides. The Seljuks and then the Hamidid emirs made it a stop on the caravan roads, and a Greek community lived on the island until 1923. This walk goes from the mosque in the centre out along the peninsula to the island. Two hours on flat ground; finish at sunset on the island.

A short history of Egirdir

Eğirdir lies on a spit of land in the lake that bears its name, one of the largest lakes in Turkey. In the 13th century the Seljuks built a caravanserai here, and in 1301 Dündar Bey, ruler of the Hamidid principality, converted it into a madrasa, which still stands in the town centre. Above the town are the remains of a castle, and in the lake there are two small islands, the larger of which is joined to the mainland by a road. The residents make their living mainly from the apple orchards around the lake.

The ten best sights in Egirdir

1
Hızır Bey Mosque
The plain stone mosque in the centre; look at the carved wooden doors
2
Dündar Bey Medrese
A Seljuk building next to the mosque, now full of small shops
3
Eğirdir Castle
The walls at the start of the peninsula; free and open
4
Ayastefanos Church
The old Greek church on the island, at the far end of the lanes
5
Eğirdir Han
Ruins of a Seljuk caravanserai by the road south
6
Ertokuş Han
A Seljuk caravanserai on the east shore, almost alone in the fields
7
Sagalassos
A Roman city high in the mountains; one of the most beautiful sites in Turkey
8
Pisidian Antioch
Ruins on a hill above Yalvaç, an hour north-east
9
Yalvaç Museum
The finds from Antioch, in the town below the site
10
Yeşilada
The little island at the end of the causeway; pensions and fish restaurants

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Egirdir →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Egirdir:

Free walking tours in Egirdir

The town on the peninsula

Hızır Bey Mosque · The building began as a Seljuk structure and was turned into a mosque in the 14th century by Hızır Bey of the Hamidid dynasty, the Turkish emirs who ruled this lake country before the Ottomans.
Dündar Bey Medrese · It was built in 1237 as a caravanserai by the Seljuk sultan Keyhüsrev II, and in 1301 the Hamidid ruler Dündar Bey turned it into a religious school. Today the cells around the courtyard are shops.
Eğirdir Castle · Local tradition credits the first fortress here to Croesus, the rich king of Lydia; what stands now was rebuilt by the Seljuks and the Hamidids.
Eğirdir waterfront · The town was long called Eğridir, which can be read in Turkish as 'it is crooked'. In the 1980s the name was changed to Eğirdir — 'it spins' — which sounded better.
Yeşilada · Before it became Yeşilada, 'green island', it was known as Nis, and it was joined to the mainland by a causeway so that cars can now drive onto it.
Ayastefanos Church · The church belonged to the Greek Orthodox families of the island, who left for Greece in the population exchange of 1923; their houses are now the pensions on the lanes around it.

Caravans and the road of Paul

The Seljuk sultans built caravanserais a day's ride apart on the roads around the lake, and long before them Paul walked north from the coast to preach in Pisidian Antioch. This loop rounds the lake, crossing from the caravan inns to the Roman city above Yalvaç. A full day of about 220 km; the lake road is beautiful but slow.

Eğirdir Han · This was another caravanserai of Keyhüsrev II, from the same years as the building in town that became the Dündar Bey Medrese.
Barla · The Islamic scholar Said Nursi lived here in exile from 1926 to 1934 and wrote much of his Risale-i Nur in the village; his house is visited by his followers.
Lake Eğirdir · Eğirdir is the second-largest freshwater lake in Turkey, after Lake Beyşehir, and its water is piped to towns around it and used to irrigate the apple orchards of the region.
Pisidian Antioch · The Book of Acts tells that Paul and Barnabas spoke in the synagogue of Antioch on the Sabbath, a sign of a Jewish community here; on the site are the remains of a large church that tradition links to Paul.
Yalvaç Museum · Antioch was a Roman colony founded by Augustus for his veterans, and fragments of a copy of his own account of his reign, the Res Gestae, were found here.
Ertokuş Han · The inn was built in 1223 by the Seljuk emir Mübarizeddin Ertokuş, one of the earliest dated caravanserais of the Seljuk road network in Anatolia.

Roses and the mountain city

West of Eğirdir the land climbs into the mountains of old Pisidia, where Isparta grows the roses that make much of the world's rose oil. This loop crosses the ski mountain, drops to Isparta and its crater lake, and ends at Sagalassos, a Roman city 1,500 m up. A full day of about 180 km; in early June the rose harvest is on and the fields smell from the road.

Davraz Ski Centre · Mount Davraz rises to about 2,635 m between Eğirdir and Isparta, and on clear days the ski slopes look down on the lake.
Gölcük Nature Park · The lake fills the crater of an extinct volcano, and the old volcanic soil of the Isparta plain is part of why the roses and apples grow so well here.
Isparta · Isparta is the home town of Süleyman Demirel, several times prime minister and later president of Turkey, after whom the airport is named.
Misparta Scent Museum · Damask roses were brought to Isparta from Bulgaria in 1888, and the province grew into one of the world's main sources of rose oil — several tonnes of petals go into a single kilo.
Kuyucak · The village turned to lavender, and its purple fields bloom from late June to late July, when it fills with visitors.
Sagalassos · Alexander the Great took the city by storm in 333 BC. Belgian archaeologists have been digging here since 1990 and have rebuilt the Antonine fountain, whose water runs again.

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Getting to Egirdir and getting around

Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport · About 45 minutes west; flights mostly to Istanbul
Eğirdir Bus Station · In the centre, by the mosque; minibuses to Isparta run often
Isparta Bus Station · The regional hub, half an hour west, for long-distance buses

Cheap eats in Egirdir

Eğirdir eats from its lake and its orchards: fried zander and carp, apples from the slopes and Isparta's famous slow-cooked lamb. The quick places are all around the mosque and the bus station, a few steps apart. Prices are those of a small inland town, well below the coast.

Uludağ Döner & Çorbacı · Soup and döner by the mosque, about 120-300 lira
Kebapçı Yusuf · Kebab plates, about 300-450 lira
Nur Ev Yemekleri · Home-style dishes from the counter, about 150-300 lira
Hacı Alaaddin Pide & Kebap · Pide from the oven, about 200-350 lira
Lezzet Değirmeni Çiğ Köfte · Çiğ köfte wrap, about 100-200 lira
Kebap 49 · Grills in the centre, about 250-400 lira

Museums in Egirdir

Dündar Bey Medrese · The Seljuk courtyard, now shops
Yalvaç Museum · Finds from Pisidian Antioch
Sagalassos · A Roman city at 1,500 m; half a day
Misparta Scent Museum · The story of Isparta's roses

Nature and day trips near Egirdir

Kovada Lake National Park · Forest lake and walks, 30 minutes south
Yazılı Canyon · A shaded gorge with cold pools
Davraz · Mountain air and views of the lake
Gölcük Nature Park · Crater lake in the woods
Zindan Cave · A long cave by the river

Things to do in Egirdir with kids

Altınkum Beach · Sand and shallow lake water
Zindan Cave · A walk into the mountain with lights
Yeşilada · Ducks, boats and a walk round the island
Davraz Ski Centre · Sledging in winter

Where to eat in Egirdir

Kroisos · Fish restaurant on Yeşilada
Big Fish · Lake fish on the island
Halikarnas Restoran · At the far end of the island
Tahirin Yeri · Meat and fish grills in town
Doğa Restoran · On the way to the island, by the water

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Frequently asked questions about Egirdir

What is there to see in Egirdir?

The top sights in Egirdir are Hızır Bey Mosque, Dündar Bey Medrese and Eğirdir Castle. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Egirdir?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Egirdir without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Egirdir?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Egirdir, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The town on the peninsula.

How do you get to Egirdir and get around?

The main ways are Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport, Eğirdir Bus Station and Isparta Bus Station. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Egirdir, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Egirdir that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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