Kars proudly sits at 1,768 m (5,801 ft) sea level and fascinates visitors with its lively blend of history and geography. This plateau city is only an hour's drive from Georgia and Armenia, this plateau city is often featured in Turkey tours as a unique meeting point of cultures and civilizations.
Beautiful landscapes surround Kars, like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ani Ruins - proof of the city's rich history, when it used to be a medieval Armenian capital. Tourists can savor the city's own unique food, especially its famous Gravyer cheese. The taste of the cheese is special due to the individual character of cow milk, which lies on the strength of the local grasses and vegetation the cows continue to feed upon.
Kars, on a windswept plateau where Anatolia meets the Caucasus, has witnessed centuries of imperial conflicts and cross-cultural exchanges. Once the capital of the Armenian Bagratid Kingdom (929–961), it features the majestic Church of the Holy Apostles. Over the years, Kars passed from Seljuks to Mongols, Ottomans, Persians, and Russians, each leaving their mark on its streets and fortresses.
In the 19th century, Kars in Turkey was a key fortress in Ottoman–Russian clashes and acquired its status as a city of resilience. Under Russian rule, new architectural styles developed, blending with medieval Ottoman and Armenian tradition. Travelers can now walk around this living history—passing through ancient churches, imposing fortresses, and war-torn neighborhoods with centuries-old cross-pollination of cultures.
Kars offers a few spectacular sights that reflect its rich cultural heritage in the form of architectural accomplishment.The city's well-preserved structures reflect centuries-long history, from medieval castles to ancient ruins.
A rocky hill in the city center holds Kars Castle, an imposing fortress built in 1152 by rulers of the Saltukid dynasty. The original 22 towers of the castle have dwindled to seven that still stand today. This marvelous building houses a tiny mosque, barracks, mausoleums, and a store of ammunition. The castle grounds are free to explore and reward visitors with stunning views of Kars's mosques and the vast steppes beyond. A cozy cafe within the castle walls is the perfect place to sip tea and enjoy the view. As one of the highlights of Kars and among the attractions of Turkey, the castle is a must for travelers searching for authentic history.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Ani lies 42km east of Kars on a remote triangular plateau overlooking a ravine. The ghost city was inhabited by 100,000 people and served as a major staging post on the Silk Road. The best and most notable buildings in the site are Cathedral of Ani, a few churches, and Menucihr Mosque - the oldest Anatolian-built mosque from 1072-1092. Ani's glory ceased after the Mongol invasion in 1236, and a destructive earthquake in 1319 gave the death blow to the city.
The 63-year-old Kars Museum relocated to its current 1400m² building in 1980. Thousands of artifacts discovered in Ani and nearby areas are stored in the museum. The galleries follow a chronological path from Paleolithic fossils through to pieces from Ottoman times. The ethnography hall of the museum contains wool carpets, silver belts, handwritten Qurans, and other treasures of the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors can enter free of charge, although the museum is closed on Mondays.
The religious buildings in the city are a sign of its advanced history. The Kümbet Mosque, the first Church of the Holy Apostles, was constructed between 930-937 AD. The Fethiye Mosque was once the Aleksandr Nevski Church when the Russians constructed it in 1877. Its Baltic-Russian architecture includes dark basalt work and round-arched windows. These structures are a reflection of the cultural history of the city that changed with centuries of different rule.
Kars stands out as Turkey's cheese capital, with its unique cheesemaking traditions spanning centuries, alongside its historical importance.
Kars Kashar cheese ranks as Turkey's second most popular cheese, with production reaching 237,632,940 kg in 2023. This distinguished cheese earned a Protected Designation of Origin label in 2014. The cheese comes from specific cattle breeds that feed on mountain pastures. Swiss cheesemaker David Moser brought Kars Gravyer to the region in 1878 and started production in Boğatepe village. The cheese shares its name with Gruyère but tastes and looks more like Emmental.
The Boğatepe Cheese Museum, a 13-year-old institution, operates from a restored dairy building. Turkey's first cheese museum preserves traditional production methods and features up to 32 different cheese varieties. The United Nations Development Program actively supports this cultural preservation initiative.
Kars' cheese production follows strict seasonal patterns. The peak season runs from April through July when cows graze on nutrient-rich highland pastures. Traditional producers use copper cauldrons, wooden tools, and natural fermenting environments. The region's diverse flora—about 1,600 flowering plants—creates milk with unique flavors.
Boğatepe offers visitors an authentic cheesemaker's breakfast with fresh cheese scraps fried in local butter. The village uses everything efficiently—whey becomes livestock feed, while cheese oil serves as hand cream for local women.
Daily life in Kars shows the city's rich mixture of cultures through its unique social spaces and community traditions.
The çay evi (tea house) serves as the life-blood of social interaction in Kars. These spaces, mostly filled with men, act as community halls where locals meet to play backgammon, watch TV, and share conversations. Tea houses dot almost every city block and serve as hubs for gossip and business meetings. Patrons enjoy their tea with lemon slices and follow a distinctive eastern Turkish tradition - they place sugar cubes under their tongues to melt with each sip.
The city of Kars celebrates several vibrant festivals year-round. Traditional music, dance performances, and winter sports activities highlight the annual Kars Winter Festival. The Ani Ruins Festival brings the historical significance of Ani to life through cultural exhibitions. Local dairy products take center stage at the International Kars Culture and Cheese Festival, a popular autumn celebration.
The Eastern Express train has given tourism in Kars a major boost. The train, which ends its journey in the city, sells out within seconds during winter months. Local producers have found new markets thanks to this growing popularity. The city's economy now thrives on culinary tourism, particularly cheese-focused experiences.
Women-led cooperatives have altered the economic map of Kars. A women's co-operative in Boğatepe village has helped prevent migration to larger cities. Ilhan Koçulu, Nigar, and Zümran Ömür founded this initiative with United Nations Development Program funding. The cooperative helps local women learn tourism management skills and distributes village homestay bookings fairly. Women-led eco-tourism projects and guesthouses promote green development while keeping local culture alive.
Kars shows the strength of a city that has endured centuries of changing rulers and cultural influences. This high-altitude plateau city has evolved from a medieval Armenian capital to Russian territory and now stands as a Turkish cheese paradise. Today's visitors experience more than just a destination - they find a living museum where architectural styles, food traditions, and cultural practices blend perfectly together.
Kars is in the Eastern Anatolia region, one of the highest areas of Turkey. Its elevation brings long, snowy winters and cool summers, making it a very different experience compared to western Turkey. Its location at the crossroads of Anatolia and the Caucasus also shaped its cultural diversity.
Absolutely. Kars offers a mix of history, culture, and food. The medieval ruins of Ani, known as the “City of 1,001 Churches,” are a highlight, while the city itself is home to Kars Castle and Russian-era architecture, all ranking among the top things to do in Kars.
If you just want to see Ani and explore the main sights in the city, 1–2 days are enough. But if you’d like to take your time, try the local cuisine, explore the countryside, or go skiing in nearby Sarıkamış, staying 3–4 days makes the trip more rewarding.
The best time depends on what you want to experience. Summer is ideal for exploring Ani and the surrounding countryside, while winter turns Kars into a snowy wonderland and offers skiing opportunities in Sarıkamış.
Kars is famous for roasted goose, its rich gravyer cheese, and high-quality local honey—three specialties that define the city’s cuisine.