Kütahya is a city spread across the foot of its castle on the high plateau of inner Aegean Turkey. In the 14th and 15th centuries it was the capital of the Germiyanid Beylik; the Great Mosque, the Yakup Bey soup kitchen and the mansions in the narrow streets date from that time. Together with İznik, Kütahya is one of the two great centres of Ottoman tile and ceramic art, and its workshops are still working today; the giant tiled vase in Zafer Square is the symbol of the city. In the centre, Kütahya Castle, the Tile Museum and the Kossuth House are within walking distance; to the west the Yoncalı hot springs, to the southwest the ancient city of Aizanoi at Çavdarhisar and the Commander-in-Chief National Historic Park at Dumlupınar complete the historic and restful side of the region.
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See flights to Kütahya →When to visit Kütahya
May, June and September are the easiest months: the weather is mild and open air sites such as Aizanoi are comfortable to walk around. July and August days are hot and dry, while evenings cool down because of the altitude. October and November are quiet and colourful. Winters are cold, with frequent snow and frost; this is the season people choose for the Yoncalı and Ilıca hot springs. At the end of August the 30 August Victory Day ceremonies are held at Dumlupınar, and the area gets busy around those days.
Things to do in Kütahya
Ancient city of Aizanoi
At Çavdarhisar, about 57 kilometres southwest of Kütahya, a Roman city built on both banks of the Penkalas river. It holds the best preserved Temple of Zeus in Anatolia, dedicated in the reign of the emperor Domitian according to the inscription on its eastern architrave. The complex in which the theatre and the stadium are joined in a single structure is considered unique in the ancient world, and the walls of the round macellum carry a copy of Diocletian's Price Edict of AD 301. The city was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012. Some of the ancient bridges are still in use, and a visit easily fills half a day.
Kütahya Castle
On the hill above the city, the castle built by the Byzantines in the 8th century and later used by the Seljuks, the Germiyanids and the Ottomans is counted among the largest castles in Turkey, with 72 towers. Evliya Çelebi describes it in his Book of Travels. The Upper Castle holds the Germiyanid Süleyman Şah Mosque of 1377. The Döner Gazino on the hilltop turns a full circle in 45 minutes and is the best known spot for seeing the whole city and plain over a glass of tea. The hours around sunset are good for photographs.
Tile Museum
The soup kitchen and tomb section of the complex built in 1411 by the Germiyanid ruler Yakup Bey II was restored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and opened in 1999 as Turkey's first tile museum. It is also known as Gök Şadırvan for the single piece marble fountain under its domed courtyard. Tile panels, inscriptions, vases and plates made in Kütahya and İznik from the 14th century to the present are shown in chronological order, and Yakup Bey's tomb and the large stone endowment inscription at the entrance are here too. Visiting one of the city's tile workshops afterwards is a good follow on.
Kossuth House
In this 18th century Kütahya mansion, also known as the Hungarian House, the Hungarian freedom leader Lajos Kossuth was hosted with his family and the refugees accompanying him in 1850 and 1851 after the 1848 revolution, and there he drafted a constitution for Hungary. The house opened as a museum in 1982; its rooms also show the interior layout of a traditional Kütahya house. Its garden and timber bay windows make good photographs.
Germiyan Street
In the old town, running uphill from around the Great Mosque, begun in 1381 by Yıldırım Bayezid and completed in 1410 under Musa Çelebi, and the Tile Museum, the street is the city's best preserved historic street, lined with timber Kütahya houses with bay windows. Some of the restored mansions are now used as cafes, boutique hotels and tile workshops. A walk along it combines easily with the climb to the castle. At the end of the walk, trying cimcik or sıkma at a local restaurant is a good idea.
Dumlupınar Martyrs' Memorial and Victory Monument
About 80 kilometres south of Kütahya, in the Dumlupınar section of the Commander-in-Chief National Historic Park, it stands on the hills where the Battle of Dumlupınar was fought in 1922. The Standard Bearer Mehmetçik Monument and the martyrs' cemetery are close to the Ankara İzmir highway, while the Victory Monument on Zafertepe was built at the point from which Mustafa Kemal Pasha directed the army; its foundation was laid in 1924 and it opened in 1927. Ceremonies are held here every year on 30 August. It can be combined in one day with Kocatepe on the Afyon side.
Flights from Turkey to Kütahya
Direct flights to Kütahya from Turkey leave Istanbul Airport on Turkish Airlines; the route runs a few times a week all year and the flight takes about 1 hour 5 minutes, while connections from other cities go via Istanbul. Flights land at Zafer Airport in the Altıntaş district, which serves Kütahya, Afyonkarahisar and Uşak together and lies 40 to 45 kilometres from Kütahya city centre, around 40 minutes by car. There is no Havaş or municipal bus; a Kütahya shuttle timed to every flight (booking required), taxis and hire cars are the main options. Aizanoi is closer to the airport than the city centre is.
Kütahya FAQ
How many days do you need in Kütahya?
A day is enough for the castle, the Tile Museum, the Great Mosque, Germiyan Street and the Kossuth House; allow half a day for Aizanoi and another day for Dumlupınar. Adding a hot spring night at Yoncalı or Ilıca, three nights is a good length to see the region comfortably.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Zafer Airport is 40 to 45 kilometres from Kütahya city centre, around 40 minutes by car. As there is no Havaş or municipal bus, a shuttle timed to each flight (booking required), a taxi or a hire car is used. The airport is about 59 kilometres from Afyonkarahisar and about 103 kilometres from Uşak.
How do you get around Kütahya and the area?
The historic sights in the centre are within walking distance; taxis are used by those who would rather not climb to the castle. The Yoncalı hot springs are close to the city and a short taxi ride away. Hiring a car is the most flexible way to combine Aizanoi, Dumlupınar and Kocatepe in one trip. In winter, take care on the higher roads because of snow and ice.
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