Self-guided itinerary · free

Kars and Ani in 2 days: the castle quarter, Baltic-style streets and the Ani ruins

The plan has two clusters. Day one stays in the city centre on foot: in the castle quarter, the foot of Kars Castle, the Kümbet Mosque, the Stone Bridge, the Ottoman baths, the Evliya Mosque and the tomb of Ebu'l Hasan Harakani are all close together. In the afternoon you move on to the Baltic-style buildings of the Yusufpaşa, Ortakapı and Cumhuriyet districts, laid out on a grid in the Russian period, and the day ends at the Kars Museum. The morning of day two is for the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ani, about 42–44 km from central Kars; the shuttle run by the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, leaving from outside the Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Paşa Mansion, is the backbone of the route. In the afternoon you visit the Caucasus Front War History Museum at Kanlı Tabya. The Kars Museum and the War History Museum are closed on Mondays, while Ani is open every day; if the plan falls on a Monday, move the museums to the other day. Train details for those arriving or leaving on the Touristic Eastern Express are below.

Prepared by: Kolay Seyahat content teamLast updated 22/10/2026Every fact links to an official source

Snow-covered ruins at the Ani archaeological site

This is not a package tour. This itinerary is free information. Flights, hotels and experiences are each sold separately, under their own seller’s terms, with separate payment and a separate contract. Prices are never linked to one another.

Day by day

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Day 1 · The castle quarter, the Stone Bridge, Baltic-style streets and the Kars Museum

After breakfast, start at the foot of Kars Castle and walk to the Kümbet Mosque, the Stone Bridge and the Evliya Mosque; in the afternoon move on to the Baltic-style streets and the Kars Museum.

0 of 5 stops done

  1. Day 1 · 1 · 09:30–10:30

    Kars Castle and its slopes

    Kars Castle on its basalt outcrop

    After a breakfast of kuymak, honey and Kars kaşar, begin with the castle on its basalt outcrop, overlooking the whole city, the Stone Bridge and the Kars River valley. Built in the 12th century, it was destroyed by Timur in 1386, rebuilt by Lala Mustafa Paşa on the orders of Murad III in 1579, and repaired in 1616 and 1636. The Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism urges visitors not to leave Kars without climbing up to watch the city from the castle.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    Tips

    The castle's opening status and hours are not published officially; check with the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism before you go.

  2. Day 1 · 2 · 10:30–11:45

    The Kümbet Mosque, the Stone Bridge and the baths

    Closed
    The Kümbet Mosque on a snowy day

    At the southern foot of the castle, the Kümbet Mosque was built as a church in 932–937 under the Bagratid king Abbas; figures representing the twelve apostles ring the drum of its dome. Used as a museum for a time from the 1960s, it is a mosque again today and lets you read Kars's layered history in a single building. A little below, the three-arched Stone Bridge, built entirely of cut basalt by Lala Mustafa Paşa in 1579, separates the Kaleiçi and Sukapı districts. See the early 17th-century Ottoman baths on the bank of the Kars River from outside; they are being restored by the municipality.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    • Closed

      The Ottoman baths are being restored by the municipality and can only be seen from outside.

      Source: Kars İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Good to know

      The Kümbet Mosque (Church of the Apostles) was built as a church in 932–937 and is used as a mosque today.

      Source: Türkiye Kültür Portalı · last checked 2026-10-22

    Tips

    Visit the mosque outside prayer times and in suitable clothing.

  3. Day 1 · 3 · 11:45–12:30

    The Evliya Mosque and the Tomb of Ebu'l Hasan Harakani

    In Kaleiçi, on Ozanlar Street, the mosque and tomb were built after the conquest of 1064; the grave was found in 1579 and opened to the public after restoration in 1998. Its quiet courtyard gives the morning walk a short pause. Then try tandoor goose and noodle pilaf for lunch.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    • Good to know

      The tomb was built after the 1064 conquest; the grave was found in 1579 and opened to the public after the 1998 restoration.

      Source: Türkiye Kültür Portalı · last checked 2026-10-22

    Tips

    Respect prayer times.

  4. Day 1 · 4 · 14:00–15:30

    A walk through the Baltic-style architecture

    A historic Baltic-style building in Kars

    Laid out on a grid in the Russian period (1878–1918), the new town forms the heart of the Yusufpaşa, Ortakapı and Cumhuriyet districts, with 190 registered buildings in this style. See the Finance Office building, known as the most important work of the period, the Second Governor's Mansion, where the 1921 Treaty of Kars was signed and which is now the governor's office, and the Fethiye Mosque, built as a church in the late 19th century and turned into a mosque in 1985. The mansion that served as Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Paşa's headquarters in the 1877–78 war is also in Ortakapı; tomorrow morning's Ani shuttle leaves from outside it. As the buildings are public offices or homes, the walk covers the façades only.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    • Good to know

      The new town, laid out on a grid in the Russian period (1878–1918), forms the centre of the Yusufpaşa, Ortakapı and Cumhuriyet districts; 190 buildings in this style are registered.

      Source: Kars İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü · last checked 2026-10-22

    Tips

    The cathedral at Ani is also called the Fethiye Mosque, so don't confuse the two.

  5. Day 1 · 5 · 15:30–16:45

    Kars Museum

    Closed

    In the İstasyon district, the museum brings together finds from Ani and Caucasus-influenced daily life, setting the scene for tomorrow's visit to Ani. The archaeology hall covers the Palaeolithic to the Ottomans, with a dinosaur bone, Urartian works and coins; the ethnography hall shows textiles, silver Caucasian belts and copper kitchenware; stone pieces stand in the garden. Afterwards, shop for kaşar, gruyère, çeçil, butter and honey.

    Tips

    The provincial directorate's page lists different hours with a lunch break; check before you go. A taxi from the centre is easiest.

Day 2 · The Ani ruins and the Caucasus Front

Take the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism shuttle to the Ani ruins in the morning, and visit the Caucasus Front War History Museum at Kanlı Tabya in the afternoon.

0 of 2 stops done

  1. Day 2 · 1 · 09:00–12:45

    The Ani archaeological site

    The Church of Tigran Honents in snowy Ani

    The walls, cathedral and one of Anatolia's first mosques of a medieval capital on the Silk Road stand together on a single plateau above the Arpaçay valley; this is the main reason for the Kars plan. Enter the roughly 4.5 km of walls through the Lion Gate, the main entrance. The main stops are the Great Cathedral (Fethiye Mosque), founded in 990 and turned into a mosque after the conquest of 1064, the Ebu'l Menuçehr Mosque of 1072 with its minaret still standing, the Church of Tigran Honents of 1215 with its frescoes and the sundial on its east front, and the Church of Abuğamrents from 980. You walk in the open, so dress warmly in winter.

    Tips

    The Horomos site, 6 km from Ani, is in a military restricted zone and closed to visitors. You can also go by private car, taxi or with a tour company.

  2. Day 2 · 2 · 14:45–16:15

    Caucasus Front War History Museum (Kanlı Tabya)

    Closed

    Back in Kars after lunch, take a taxi to Kanlı Tabya. One of 46 redoubts built in 1803, it tells Kars's 19th-century and First World War frontier history inside the fortification itself, with reconstructions of a wartime infirmary, operating room, storeroom and dormitory. The railway carriage of Kâzım Karabekir Paşa has also been moved to the museum's garden.

    Tips

    If you are leaving on the Touristic Eastern Express, it departs Kars at 21:05, so plan a relaxed evening.

Getting around

  • Getting there

    Kars Harakani Airport is 6 km from the city centre; there is the Vergül passenger shuttle (call 0532 580 29 88 for times and route), licensed taxis (0532 695 72 13) and car hire at the airport.

    Source: DHMİ · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Getting there

    Touristic Eastern Express, winter 2026–27: Ankara → Kars from 21 December 2026 to 10 March 2027 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; Kars → Ankara from 23 December 2026 to 12 March 2027 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Sightseeing stops are Erzincan and Erzurum towards Kars, and İliç, Divriği and Sivas towards Ankara. Individual ticket sales open on 26 October 2026 through TCDD Taşımacılık channels.

    Source: T.C. Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Opening hours

    Touristic Eastern Express timetable: departs Ankara 13:55, arrives Kars 22:22; departs Kars 21:05, arrives Ankara 07:24. The timetable does not state the season year and arrival times are not guaranteed; confirm with TCDD when you book.

    Source: TCDD Taşımacılık · last checked 2026-10-22

What and where to eat

What to eat and where to look

  • Tandoor-cooked goose with noodle pilaf steamed in goose fat

    Central Kars; GoTürkiye presents goose as a winter dish

    Source: GoTürkiye · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kars kaşar, gruyère, çeçil, butter and Kars honey

    Cheese shops in central Kars; Boğatepe village is the centre of gruyère production

    Source: Kars İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kuymak, hangel, kete, piti, noodle soup and umaç halva

    Restaurants in central Kars

    Source: GoTürkiye · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Sarı balık (yellow fish)

    Lake Çıldır; according to GoTürkiye it is found only in this lake

    Source: GoTürkiye · last checked 2026-10-22

Local specialities

  • Kars goose (tandoor goose)

    The goose is hung to dry for 4–5 hours, then suspended in a tandoor over buttered bulgur so its fat drips into the pilaf; it is eaten hot. Registered as a designation of origin on behalf of the Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

    Source: TÜRKPATENT Coğrafi İşaret · Geographical indication · designation of origin (reg. no 1479) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kars noodle pilaf

    Noodle pilaf steamed in goose fat; registered as a geographical indication of source.

    Source: TÜRKPATENT Coğrafi İşaret · Geographical indication (reg. no 1871) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kars kaşar cheese

    Made from the milk of cows and goats grazing on highland pastures; registered as a designation of origin.

    Source: TÜRKPATENT Coğrafi İşaret · Geographical indication · designation of origin (reg. no 190) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kars gruyère

    Boğatepe has been the main centre of gruyère production for about 130 years; registered as a geographical indication of source.

    Source: TÜRKPATENT Coğrafi İşaret · Geographical indication (reg. no 1640) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kars honey

    According to GoTürkiye, made from more than 1,600 flowering plants, over 100 of them endemic; registered as a designation of origin.

    Source: TÜRKPATENT Coğrafi İşaret · Geographical indication · designation of origin (reg. no 374) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kars kete

    A Kars pastry; registered as a geographical indication of source.

    Source: TÜRKPATENT Coğrafi İşaret · Geographical indication (reg. no 1366) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Kağızman long apple

    A local winter apple harvested in early October; registered as a designation of origin.

    Source: TÜRKPATENT Coğrafi İşaret · Geographical indication · designation of origin (reg. no 307) · last checked 2026-10-22

Opening hours and prices vary by venue; check the venue’s own site before you go. Recommendations are not paid placements.

Where to stay

Candidates were picked by distance to the area, star rating, guest rating (weighted by number of reviews) and completeness of hotel details. Ratings, review counts and details come live from our catalogue. Tiers follow the star rating.

Sample dates: 26.11–27.11 (1 night), 2 adults. Prices change with dates; choose your own dates on the hotel page.

Ortakapı, Yusufpaşa and Cumhuriyet (city centre)

The Ani shuttle leaves from the Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Paşa Mansion in Ortakapı, and the Baltic architecture walk and the Fethiye Mosque are in these districts.

Good for: First-timers, couples and groups of friends who want to explore on foot

Budget

Mid-range

Kaleiçi and around the Stone Bridge

The castle, the Kümbet Mosque, the Stone Bridge, the baths and the Evliya Mosque are in the same cluster, the closest base for the morning of day one.

Good for: History lovers who want a quiet old quarter

Budget

Mid-range

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Photos: Pexels (Kuzgunbatu, Murat Ak, Hobi Photography, Katrenur)

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