Kars

Kars is a city in Eastern Anatolia. It is most frequently visited as a jumping off point for travelers going to Ani, but it is a viable destination in its own right for its 19th-century Russian imperial buildings, and, of course, its role as the setting for Orhan Pamuk's famous novel Snow.

A small village on the Rideau Canal|Rideau River in Ottawa, Canada is named "Kars" in honour of General Sir William Fenwick Williams's defence of the town of Kars, Anatolia during the Crimean War.

Kars Halal Travel Guide

How is the Climate in Kars

Kars is one of the highest cities in Türkiye, at an altitude of about 2000 metres over the sea level. Complemented with the distance to the sea, this makes the climate of this area the harshest in Türkiye, with winter temperatures regularly below -30°C at nights (and no warmer than -15°C during the day). There is not a real summer season in Kars, only a short spring in July and August (this is also the wettest season) and a long, bitterly cold, and heavily snowy winter during the rest of the year. Nighttime temperatures can fall below 0°C at any time of the year (even in August).

Read

Kars is the setting of Orhan Pamuk's novel Snow.

Travel to Kars

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Kars

Anadolujet offers regular Flights from Ankara to Kars airport. Prices start from 59TL including all fees.

Travel on a Bus in Kars

Most companies serve Kars - though you might need to change bus at either Erzurum or Igdir, depending on where you come from. Be sure to check whether there are services available.

There is a daily bus leaving Hopa to Kars at 10:30am. It costs 50 Lira and takes between 7-8 hours with a stop for lunch.

By Rail

Direct trains (the Doğu Express) run daily from Ankara to Kars, departing at 18:00 and arriving 24 hours later. The return train leaves Kars around 08:00. There are couchettes, a sleeping vehicle and a buffet. The main stops along the route are Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan and Erzurum: for details see Turkish railways website at tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr.

Turkey’s long-awaited rail link via Kars to Georgia and Azerbaijan opened on 30 November 2022, initially for freight only. The start date and timetable for passenger trains has not yet been announced. A new high-speed line is also under construction from Ankara eastwards towards Kars. This will greatly reduce journey times when the first section to Sivas opens, perhaps in 2018.

Get Around

There are a few taxis serving the downtown. It's a pretty small place so it's quite feasible to cover it by foot.

View from Kars Castle - view from castle

What to See

• Kars Castle one of the few sights to see within Kars. It's a short climb from the downtown, and is worth climbing for the view of the city. The castle was built in 1153, destroyed by Mongol invaders, and rebuilt in 1579.

• Church of Apostles - Kümbet, or Kethuda Mosque | also well worth a look. The building was built as an Armenian church in the 10th century, and upon capturing the city, Ottomans converted it to a mosque in 1579. Later, when Russians came over, it became a church again, this time serving Russian Orthodox believers. After the Turks took back the city, it served for non-religious purposes for a time (such as a warehouse), and in 1998 consecrated as a mosque again.

• Russian/Baltic architecture along the grid of old town's streets, realized during the Russian occupation of the city in 1878–1918, singles out the city in Türkiye. Fethiye Mosque (Fethiye Camii) in the downtown, built by Russians in the occupation period as a church, is the only mosque in Türkiye having that distinctive architectural style.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Kars

Gravier Cheese is delicious! You can enjoy having some from the shops near to castle. You can try the Soldier Souvenirs Passage on the main street with a lion statue sells stuff for rare collector's items.

Halal Food & Restaurants

A local speciality is goose (kaz), usually made into a stew.

• Ani Restaurant is a good local restaurant, located under Kar's Otel.
• Antep Pide & Lahmacun Salonu is popular with the local residents, makes affordable and tasty pide.

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Kars

eHalal Group Kars is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Kars. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Kars.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Kars ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Kars. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Kars, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Kars are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There are many hotels along the main street costing 30-420 TL per day. (Mar 2022)

• Hotel Kent - Boutique hotel offering clean rooms with en suite bathrooms and comfortable beds. Lounge room with satellite TV and a refrigerator for guests. It's frequented by backpackers on their way to Ani, which makes it a good place for solo travellers to organize an excursion from. Taxi drivers know it.

• Hotel (Otel) Temel | nutes' walk to Kars Castle. Breakfast included and free WiFi in rooms. Some staff speak English. Laundry service expensive. If you are a female be cautious of the creepy guy who only speaks Turkish at the front desk, as he has been known to grope.

• Hotel (Otel) Temel 2 | Hotel Temel 2 is a nice hotel to stay in, with ensuite facilities, TV, and nice clean beds. It also comes with a breakfast, consisting of bread, Cheese and honey. It's also suitable for the budget traveler.

• Kar's Otel - Boutique hotel housed in an old Russian building.

• Bizim Otel - Faikbey Caddesi 198 ☎ +90 474 212-28-00 Decent budget hotel on the main strip. Rooms are clean (some have balconies overlooking the road) with small bathrooms.

Telecommunications in Kars

Most hotels and many cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi.

Travel Next

Ani

A visit to Eastern Anatolia is not complete without a visit to the ruins of the ancient Armenian city of Ani, 45 kilometers east of Kars.

Daily bus departures from Kars in front of the Antik Cafe (corner of Faikbey Cd. and Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Paşa Cd.) at 09:00 and 13:00. The bus returns from Ani at 11:30 and 15:30.

You can charter a taxi (560 TL, 2022) or get a guide (entrance fee 8 TL). In summer, it is extremely simple to find travel mates to fill a taxi. In winter, you will most probably travel alone.

There is also an English-speaking entrepreneur in Kars who will organize shared buses (400 TL per person, September 2013) to Kars. I sadly can't remember the name, but most hotels hotels should be able to give you his number if you just say something like "Ani, Dolmuş, Ingilizce". (There are no dolmuş to Ani as of March 2016.)

If you're on a tight budget you can also try hitch-hiking to Ani. Walk about 2 kilometers out of town to the cross section where the street heads towards Ani (There are enough street signs to find it). There is not a lot of traffic on this road but eventually a local will stop for you.

Ardahan

Several shuttle vanes to Ardahan every day, every hour from 8am (at least 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am). Departs from the shuttle van station (downtown). 420 TL, about 1 hours 30 min.

Artvin and Hopa

Bus every morning 09:30 to Artvin (420 TL) and Hopa (520 TL) from the shuttle van station (downtown). The bus is run by Artvin Ekspres and departs almost everyday; check one day before just in case. This option is the best to reach Georgia through Batumi.

If the bus from Kars to Hopa does not run, first go to Ardahan by shuttle van and, from there, take the 12 hours 30 min to Hopa (320 TL).

The same bus continues onwards to Trabzon (420 TL from Ardahan). Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd.
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