Yazilikaya
Yazilikaya
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
130 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
34
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4
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Terrible
1
TubaKoseogluOkcu
Istanbul, Türkiye6,754 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
This outdoor temple, with its impeccable reliefs, is a stunning place. Though it's much smaller, I found this temple much more impressive than Hattuşaş which is the main settlement of Hittites in the area. But I recommend to visit the place with someone who knows both the Hittite culture and this specific venue as the reliefs definitely need further explanation.
The museum card is valid here. There are souvenir shops just at the entrance but they are quite pricey.
The museum card is valid here. There are souvenir shops just at the entrance but they are quite pricey.
Written July 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JYCaryNC
Raleigh, NC153 contributions
Sept 2015 • Friends
If you are visiting Hattusa, then it is easy to see this place, and a must. The stone carvings are very amazing and vivid. Unfortunately some of them are deteriorating.
Written October 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ana L
Navan, Ireland2,682 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
For me, this was even more impressive than Hattuşa. Some rock carvings are so well preserved! The same ticket from Hattuşa is valud here, so keep it. 2 km from Hattuşa.
Written April 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Balls99
Grand Bend, Canada401 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
This place is decorated with reliefs of deities of the Hittite Pantheon. one relief depicts 12 gods of the Hittite underworld. Yazilkaya(inscribed rock in Turkish) was a Hittite Holy site within walking distance of the gates of the city of Hattusa. One of the uses of this roofless sanctuary may have involved New Years Celebration ceremonies. It is well worth an hour of your time with a good guide.
Written October 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lanni
Gaziantep, Türkiye5,721 contributions
Aug 2020
Whoever first discovered this valley had to had his jaw dropping! If it were me, I would have been super excited to see rich Hittite rock reliefs. It is such an ancient and beautiful art.
My travel expert Sabahattin Alkan who was with me during the touring around Central Turkey in August 2020, shared with me his deep knowledge about first Hattuşa and then Yazilikaya. It is a sanctuary which was used for various ceremonies' celebration since 16th century BC. The rock reliefs portraited the Hitties' gods. The most impressive one is the relief of 64 deities in procession wearing the traditional kilts, pointed shoes and horned hats. Like telling the story: this procession moved towards the storm-god "Teshub" and the sun-goddess "Hebat". The other rock-reliefs portraited the god Sharruma and King Tudhaliya IV. Yazilikaya is located in short distance by car from Hattuşa.
Visitors can spend approx 1 hour to enjoy the amazing rock relief. Visiting in late August 2020 in morning time - still in the midst of global pandemic, we were the only visitors in Yazilikaya - what a priviledge!
My travel expert Sabahattin Alkan who was with me during the touring around Central Turkey in August 2020, shared with me his deep knowledge about first Hattuşa and then Yazilikaya. It is a sanctuary which was used for various ceremonies' celebration since 16th century BC. The rock reliefs portraited the Hitties' gods. The most impressive one is the relief of 64 deities in procession wearing the traditional kilts, pointed shoes and horned hats. Like telling the story: this procession moved towards the storm-god "Teshub" and the sun-goddess "Hebat". The other rock-reliefs portraited the god Sharruma and King Tudhaliya IV. Yazilikaya is located in short distance by car from Hattuşa.
Visitors can spend approx 1 hour to enjoy the amazing rock relief. Visiting in late August 2020 in morning time - still in the midst of global pandemic, we were the only visitors in Yazilikaya - what a priviledge!
Written March 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TwixtTwain
Houston, TX225 contributions
Sept 2019
Remarkable site and your experience will be enriched if you read ahead of time about the significance of the carvings and the scope of the ancient civilization.
Written September 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandru_Ioan
Ploiesti, Romania235 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Yazılıkkaya is some kilometers away from Hattusha (if you paid for the latter you also get access to the former) and it was the sacred place for Hittites. Carved in stone there are some ancient writings as well as different images of kings. Although the place is not big, the carving are very interesting and well worth a visit.
There are some shops at the entrance selling handmade things, for which you have to really bargain as the prices are very high.
There are some shops at the entrance selling handmade things, for which you have to really bargain as the prices are very high.
Written June 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SuleymanErkose
Izmir, Türkiye147 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
The most important site of the Hittites with amazing carvings of the Hittite gods and goddesses.
Civilisation with thousand gods/goddesses vs. Men with one god (Money)
*Do not get ripped off here. I’m not sure how true that they have a cooperative of 15 families but their prices for their handcraft are outrageous. At least it was for my foreign friends.
On the other hand the same handcraft prices at Hattusha (which is 2 km away) are 3-4 times cheaper than here.
(E.g: One piece was 300 TRY at Yazilikaya -even though they made discount to 150 TRY, same/similar thing was 60 TRY at Hattusha.)
I felt so embarrassed as a local because of these guys attitude here at Yazilikaya.
*Apart from this, it is hard to find a good restaurant here. Either take a sandwich or fruits with you, or accept the average food.
Civilisation with thousand gods/goddesses vs. Men with one god (Money)
*Do not get ripped off here. I’m not sure how true that they have a cooperative of 15 families but their prices for their handcraft are outrageous. At least it was for my foreign friends.
On the other hand the same handcraft prices at Hattusha (which is 2 km away) are 3-4 times cheaper than here.
(E.g: One piece was 300 TRY at Yazilikaya -even though they made discount to 150 TRY, same/similar thing was 60 TRY at Hattusha.)
I felt so embarrassed as a local because of these guys attitude here at Yazilikaya.
*Apart from this, it is hard to find a good restaurant here. Either take a sandwich or fruits with you, or accept the average food.
Written May 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hava1969
62 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
If you are going to Hattusha, you must visit there too. It is easily to get there by a car or with a local driver from Bogazkale.
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tamer H
Bolu, Türkiye251 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
Yazılıkaya is an important part of the heritage site. It consists of foundations of the ancient temple and two chambers (actually natural halls among rock walls). The chamber walls are adorned by low reliefs with religious subjects, rather worn but still beautiful figures. These reliefs help us understand the relations of the rulers with the ancient Hittite panteistic cult in detail.
Compared to Hatti capital; this is a small site; but absolutely indispensable.
Compared to Hatti capital; this is a small site; but absolutely indispensable.
Written June 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the best time to view Yazilkaya, morning, afternoon or evening?
Written August 23, 2016
Having no choice, we went after lunch in the late spring. Can't say if there would be an ideal time as it would depend on the time of the year. It is not like Stonehenge or Machu Picchu in terms of dawn or dusk although evening would make seeing the carvings impossible. You want the best possible lighting conditions, especially for photos, and I would opt for solitude to absorb the special feel of the place. BTW, it is not large sanctuary.
Written August 24, 2016
What is the best time to view Yazilkaya, morning, afternoon or evening?
Written August 23, 2016
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