Kastamonu

Kastamonu is an inland city near the Black Sea coast, in Türkiye.

Kastamonu Halal Travel Guide

Kastamonu Cumhuriyet Meydanı Anıt - The Republic Plaza in front of the Governor's Office

From 13th to 15th century, Kastamonu was the former capital of Candaroğlu (commonly called Jandarids and Isfendiyarids), a Turkic principality ruled what is now Western Karadeniz (or, as known in ancient times, Paphlagonia), which, in 1461, fell to Ottomans, which started as another small Turkic principality and took control of others one by one. Kastamonu continued to be one of the important centres of Asian Türkiye, in addition to being the capital of a large province extending all the way from Istanbul/Asian Side|Istanbul's Asian suburbs to Sinop during Ottoman period.

With a population of 91,000 as of 2010, Kastamonu is one of the smaller mid-sized cities of Türkiye.

The city lies elongatedly along the banks of a river. The southern part forms the historic core (although traditional cityscape is pierced by modern concrete constructions at parts), while the northern half of the city is built completely within the last decades. All around this linear city is sparsely-wooded higher mountains.

Travel to Kastamonu

Travel on a Bus in Kastamonu

There are several daily buses from Istanbul and Ankara.

• A ride from Istanbul normally takes 8 to 8½ hours from the main otogar in European Side, and an hour less than that from the smaller otogar in Istanbul/Asian Side|Asian Side, including a break around the mid-way. However and there are some reports that some local (i.e., Kastamonu-based) bus companies take the same route in 12 hours, as they tend to stop at every and each town along the way. Metro Turizm and Ulusoy both are reliable nation-wide bus companies with quite frequent connections between Istanbul and Kastamonu. The price for a one-way ticket on this route ranges from 40 to 420 TL.
• From/To Ankara, a bus ride—which crosses the beautiful Ilgaz National Park|Ilgaz Mountains—takes around 4½ hours, including a stop about an hour south of Kastamonu, costing 220 TL pp one-way. Metro Turizm offers connections on this route, too.

Direct buses to nearby locations on the Black Sea coast (e.g., Sinop) and to far away major cities of the nation (e.g., Izmir) are also available, but for locations south of Ankara, you are better off taking the buses to Ankara and changing to another one for your final destination there to save time.

Kastamonu'sotogar lies at the northern outskirts of the city. Buses from Istanbul cross the city from one end to another before arriving at the otogar, so it's feasible to get off at the downtown without the need to get to the otogar first. If you somehow happen to find yourself at the otogar, just get to the bus stop on the road bordering the otogar, from which you can get into an urban bus to the downtown for 1.220 TL. They have about 5-min intervals and take about 15 minutes to get to the downtown.

Metro Turizm also has offices on the main street of downtown from where you can buy outbound tickets and take the free shuttle buses to either the otogar or another intercity bus stop south of the city (depending on your direction) when leaving the city.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Kastamonu

The closest airports are in Sinop and Ankara -Esenboga.

By car

Kastamonu lies in a somewhat remote location, off the major highways traversing the nation.

• From Istanbul and the easiest route would be to take the motorway/toll-road O-4/E80 eastwards until Gerede exit and then hitting northwards D755 30 kilometers east of Gerede. D755 will take you to Karabük, from where you should take eastwards D030 to Kastamonu, via Araç. The road is quite winding at parts of this route (especially as you get closer to Kastamonu), although the highway is mostly a segregated, 2 lanes per direction one.
• From Ankara and the easiest route is taking eastwards D140 to Kalecik via Akyurt first. From Kalecik, hit northwards D765, which will take you to Kastamonu via Çankırı and Ilgaz. The road goes through a 1800-odd meters high pass through the Ilgaz National Park|Ilgaz Mountains before arriving at Kastamonu, and is unique in Turkish highway system that it wasn't surfaced by the usual asphalt concrete but rather by cobblestones to assist the vehicles in icy conditions.

Get Around

The main street of the city lies along the banks of the river that bisects the city—northbound traffic following the lanes along the eastern bank, and the southbound traffic following the lanes along the western bank—which is spanned by numerous pedestrian and vehicular bridges. There is a wide array of blue public buses following the whole length of this street, costing 1.220 TL one-way pp. The neighbourhoods and narrow alleys on either side of the river has no public transportation at all; however as the distances are not very long, walking around is a feasible option.

What to See

The old town is dotted by historic half-timbered houses (although a bit weary and in need of a renovation), elegant 19th century stone buildings, numerous masjids dating back to Candaroğlu and Ottoman eras, and pleasant ancient bazaar buildings (not entirely unlike the nearby and much better known Safranbolu, although Kastamonu's old town is partially replaced by modern, ugly buildings). On the top of a rocky hill (about 200 m higher than the city itself) to the southwest of the city is the quite impeccably maintained fortress (free admission as of April 2011), overlooking the old town and a large part of the rest of the city. The foundations of the fortress date back to Byzantines, however it was the Candaroğlu who gave it its current shape. The climb up there through the narrow uphill alleys of the old town is a bit strenuous (and takes around 20 minutes) but the view is worth the effort.

On the opposite side across the river—which is spanned by, in addition to numerous modern bridges, by an ancient stone bridge, although the both ends of its 3-arch span were extensively rebuilt to allow for the passage of two modern streets—around the southern end of the city is the historic governor's office backed by a pleasant clocktower dating back to Ottoman period on the top of a hill.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Kastamonu

Horse riding in Daday, a nearby town.

Shopping

• Local sweet halva (çekme helvası) can be found at stores all over the city, starting from 7 TL for 100-g packages or 10 TL for 300-g packages.
• There is a large shopping mall at about the midway between two ends of the city, on the main street, between the old town and the newer northern suburbs. In addition to a number of other stores, it hosts a large Micros] supermarket.

Halal Food & Restaurants

Local etli ekmek is kind of a large Pizzas, topped by Cheese and spicy bacons (pastırma), quite dissimilar to the dish known by the same name in the Central Anatolian city of Konya. You'll find numerous eateries all around the city serving etli ekmek, and along with a soup and some salad, it costs around 7-8 TL.

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Kastamonu

eHalal Group Kastamonu is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Kastamonu. 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 Kastamonu.

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 Kastamonu 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 Kastamonu. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

There are hotels along the main street of the city. However, if you happen to show up during one of the numerous-year-round ceremonies in the nearby military garrisons—which are one of the most important local livelihoods as much of local trade evolves around them—when families from all over the nation visit the city to see their conscripted sons, be ready to face outrageously high rip-off rates or even unable to obtain a room.

Telecommunications in Kastamonu

The local telephone code is (+90) 366.

Travel Next

• İnebolu to north is a pleasant seaside town on the Black Sea.
• Safranbolu to west is a UNESCO World Heritage List|World Heritage site and has a very well preserved old town with whitewashed half-timbered houses.
• Ilgaz National Park, just half an hour's drive to south of Kastamonu, off the highway to Ankara, is centred around the Ilgaz Mountain, which, with its dark green spruce forests and snow-white vistas even in April, offers an almost Nordic landscape in the middle of Türkiye, starkly contrasting with the windswept hills and treeless steppes of Central Anatolia further to south. Ilgaz also offers wintersport activities and lodging (ranging from resort hotels to wooden bungalows).

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