Set in Turkey's Black Sea region, this historic city centers around a hilltop citadel with panoramic mountain views. Local markets sell traditional kadayıf desserts and handmade crafts.
Kastamonu, a city in northern Turkey, sits at an elevation of 904 meters in the Black Sea mountains. You can climb the stone steps to a 12th-century Byzantine castle, step inside wooden mansions with intricate ceiling carvings from the 1800s, and watch local cooks prepare kuyu kebabı - whole lamb slow-cooked in sealed underground wells. The city center preserves 400 Ottoman-era buildings, while the surrounding mountains rise to snow-capped peaks of 2,587 meters.
Getting to Kastamonu
You can reach Kastamonu through its airport (KFS) with direct flights from both Istanbul airports. The city's main bus station connects to major Turkish cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Within the city, most attractions lie within walking distance, as the center spans only 6 kilometers.
Walking Through Ottoman Streets
The streets of Kastamonu contain 400 wooden mansions from the Ottoman period. Each house displays carved wooden balconies, projecting upper floors, and geometric patterns along the eaves. Many buildings have been converted into museums, hotels, or restaurants, allowing you to see their cedar-paneled rooms and painted ceilings.
Local Food Specialties
Kastamonu's cooks prepare several regional dishes. The city's kuyu kebabı involves cooking whole lamb for 6-7 hours in sealed underground wells. Local families make rose petal jam using culinary-grade petals from their gardens, mixed with sugar and citric acid. The region's farmers grow purple-skinned garlic, which local producers use to season about 200 tons of pastırma (cured beef) annually.
Exploring Kastamonu Castle
The Byzantine castle commands the highest point in the city. A steep path leads to the main gate, where thick stone walls open to courtyards and towers. From the ramparts, you can look down at the city's red-tiled roofs and minarets. The castle museum displays medieval weapons and armor found during excavations.
Winter Activities at Ilgaz
Ilgaz National Park, 63 kilometers south of Kastamonu, has two ski runs and a chairlift operating from December to March. The park's marked hiking paths wind through pine forests, and you can paddle down Class II rapids on Ilgaz Stream from April to October. The mountain peaks reach 2,587 meters.
Markets and Shopping
In the 16th-century covered bazaar, craftspeople still work copper into pots and pans. The narrow streets around Nasrullah Square contain shops selling strings of dried garlic, bottles of rose water, and hand-woven wool textiles. Local women sell fresh produce and homemade preserves in the morning market.
Museums and Cultural Sites
The Archaeological Museum displays stone carvings, coins, and pottery from excavated sites across the region. The building gained significance as the location where Atatürk announced the Dress Code Revolution in 1925. In the Ethnography Museum, you'll find rooms recreated with original furniture, traditional looms, and kitchen equipment used in 19th-century Kastamonu homes.
