Adana

Last update September 24, 2026

Adana doesn’t attract the same number of visitors as Istanbul or Cappadocia. It is a working city situated on the Seyhan River and has been more influenced by agriculture and trade than by tourism, which is why it can seem more like ordinary Turkey than a place that is mainly organised for tourists. If you are looking for some time away from touring ancient ruins and visiting mosques, with a lot of good food included, then Adana is a useful place to visit.

The main reason for making the detour is food. Adana gave its name to Adana kebab, which is a spicy kebab made from minced meat and is cooked on a flat skewer, and the better ones are generally to be found in the small lokantas in the centre rather than in places that aim specifically at tourists. It can be ordered with grilled tomatoes and peppers, flatbread and a glass of şalgam, a drink which is sour and salty and is made from turnip and carrot. Food is usually cheaper here than in the large tourist areas and the portions are typically very generous.

It is not very difficult to explore the city centre on foot. The Sabancı Central Mosque is situated near the river and is one of the biggest mosques in Turkey, having six minarets and a good deal of open ground surrounding it, which allows the whole building to be seen. This is in contrast to some other mosques where the area around them is much more confined. Close by is Taşköprü, a stone bridge from the Roman period which is still used by pedestrians and cyclists who cross the Seyhan. Once the daytime heat begins to decrease in the evening, the riverside park adjacent to it fills up with locals. The Adana Archaeology Museum also houses authentic Roman and Hittite artefacts, has no large crowds, and can be visited in under an hour. It is small, basically.

The summers in Adana are hot and humid, which is why spring and autumn are more pleasant if you want to stroll around the city. A number of tourists use Adana as a halfway point when travelling towards the eastern Mediterranean coast or Hatay. It only takes a day or two to see the main attractions, to eat a proper Adana kebab, and to get an idea of a Turkish city carrying on with its everyday activities rather than one that is put on for visitors. As a result, a brief visit can still provide you with a quite genuine experience of the city.