Not many travelers make it all the way to Eastern Turkey when they visit the country, but for those who dare to step off the beaten path, you will be rewarded with sights of places like the ancient city of Ani that make it all worthwhile.
Ani, the ancient medieval Armenian City located on a vast empty plain of Eastern Turkey right by the border between Turkey and Armenia, is a beautiful ruin turned open-air museum that you can stroll around in and get to see why it's called the "City of 1001 Churches and 40 Gates".
Due to how remote Ani is, it can be quite tricky for backpackers and travelers to visit. However, with the first-hand information within this travel guide, you will have all the information you need to make this trip happen.
Without further ado, here is a complete travel guide to Ani, with all the information you need, like how to get there, where to stay, and what to see in the ancient city of Ani. First, let's take a look at the points of interest in Ani and Kars that you need to know before you make your journey below:
Ani and Kars Points of Interest Map
Quick Summary
| ๐ค๏ธ Best time: | June-August |
| ๐ Get around: | Tour and walk |
| ๐๏ธ Ticket: | 8 EUR |
| ๐ Time to spend: | 3-4 hours |
7 Best Places to See in Ani, Turkey
1. The City Walls
Ani is an ancient Armenian city built between the 10th and 11th centuries, and it is a true city in every sense of the word, with more than 50 churches, 30 caves, and 20 chapels discovered so far. Some say there are more than a thousand structures that have yet to be excavated from this vast plain in Eastern Turkey.
And the first thing you will encounter when you arrive in Ani is its formidable City Walls that surrounded the city. The northern side of the city wall is the most well-preserved one, and you can really see just how well defended the city was.
Once you start walking around the edges of the city, you will start to notice the scale of the city walls in their entirety as they snake along the cliffsides and eventually encircle the entire city.
- Hotel Kent Ani (Budget)
- GRAND ANฤฐ HOTEL (Mid-Range) ๐ Top Pick
- Hotel Katerina Sarayฤฑ (High-End)
- All-inclusive Private Guided Tour of Kars City (8 hours)
- Konya Airport KYA Transfers to Konya City Hotels (20 to 35 minutes)
- Limo service with English speaking driver (1 hour)
Continue along the main road of Ani, and you will see one of the most impressive structures of the entire ancient site of Ani: the Cathedral.
2. The Cathedral
The Cathedral is probably my favorite structure of all. It is the largest structure in Ani, and it is surprisingly well-preserved, with the main hall still pretty much intact and accessible.
Due to the collapsed center dome, during the day, the light will shine in through the open roof, illuminating the interior that must have been extremely dark if the roof was intact. One could only imagine what the church might have looked like back during its glory days.
3. The Church of Saint Gregory
Not too far from the Cathedral, looking west, you will find the Church of Saint Gregory, another impressive structure that is still left standing for us to see. This small church still has most of its exterior intact, with a little part of its base and roof being chipped away over time.
Due to its location right at the edge of a steep slope, the church makes for a great place to take a photo, as if the church is the only structure left on this vast plain. It really gives you a sense of scale when you look at the church against its backdrop.
4. Ani Citadel and The Church of Kizkale
Once you are done with the Church of Saint Gregory, continue south along the main road to the Citadel, or what is left of it, at least. Unfortunately, only the foundation of the Citadel is left, and not much else. But that is not why I want you to walk all the way here.
The real reason is The Church of Kizkale, which is a small church built on top of a steep promontory that is almost encircled by the Arkurian River. It is amazing how they were able to build such a big structure on such a narrow and steep cliff.
You can even walk to the church if you wish, but the trail is very steep, narrow, and not very safe. However, even if you don't climb it, you can still appreciate just how beautiful the church and its surroundings are from the Citadel Hill.
5. The Church of the Hripsimian Virgins
Once you are done at the Church of Kizkale, make your way back up north and turn east before the Cathedral, and you will stumble upon another impressive structure, the Church of the Hripsimian Virgins.
The Church of the Hripsimian Virgins is actually a monastery that stands photogenically right on the edge of a promontory overlooking the Arkurian River. This one you can actually visit as it is much easier to reach from the main Ani road.
The structure is mostly intact with the roof intact and the main dome still accessible, and you can still see some interlace patterns along the exterior of the monastery. It is one hell of a scenic monastery and offers you an incredible view of the Arkurian River, making it one of the best places to visit in Ani.
6. The Church of Tigran Honents
After visiting the Church of the Hripsimian Virgins, you can continue along the walking trail hugging the eastern edge of the ancient city and head north until you arrive at the Church of Tigran Honents.
The Church of Tigran Honents is another impressive structure, but it is younger than many of Ani's best-known churches. An Armenian inscription dates it to 1215, when it was commissioned by the wealthy merchant Tigran Honents during the Zakarid period. Its frescoes are especially notable for showing both Armenian and Georgian artistic influences.
The church is probably the second biggest structure you will see in Ani, and with its unique diagonal cut on its roof and intact interior with beautiful frescoes for you to see, make sure that you make it all the way here when you are in Ani.
7. Kars Castle (Extra)
Last but not least, when you get back to Kars, make sure that you visit Kars Castle before you leave the city. According to the inscription, the castle was built in 1152 under the Saltukid ruler Melik Izzeddin by his vizier Firuz Akay. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times, including a major Ottoman reconstruction in 1579.
It had changed hands multiple times during its existence, from Mongolian invasions to the Ottomans, and the fortress was mostly used for military operations. So, there's not a whole lot to see inside, except for a small mosque that was rebuilt in 1990.
That said, there is a watchtower you can climb up to get to a viewpoint that will allow you to have a stunning vista over Kars city and its scenic surroundings.
Kars Castle opens from 10 AM to 5 PM every day, and the entrance is free for everyone, which is awesome. I highly recommend climbing up to the castle for an incredible sunrise or sunset experience.
Where to Stay in Kars, Turkey?
When to Visit Ani, Turkey?
While June - August is considered to be the peak season, I do not think it is the best time to visit Ani and Kars in Turkey. While it is a popular time to visit, you will also be dealing with more local tourist crowds, as well as the jacked-up prices of hotels, which is not ideal. Plus, it is probably one of the hottest months to visit, making it less enjoyable to explore Ani as there aren't many shades around.
What I would recommend instead is to visit during the shoulder seasons, either in May or in September, where the tourist crowds are starting to wind down and the prices of hotels are starting to fall back to their normal level.
Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar and moves earlier each year, so it is not tied to May or June. In Turkey, Ramadan in 2026 ran from February 19 to March 19. If your trip overlaps Ramadan in another year, check the dates in advance. Some local businesses may adjust their hours, but I would not avoid Kars solely because of Ramadan.
How Much Money Do I Need For Ani, Turkey?
If you wish to visit Sumela Monastery independently, as I did, here is an approximation of how much you will be spending for this trip:
Accommodation: For 2 nights, it should cost around 50 USD (426.2 TRY) for accommodations.
Food: Food in Kars should cost around 6 USD per meal, so you can expect to pay around 18 USD for 1 day here.
Transportation: A bus from Kars to Ani will cost you around 750 TRY (15 USD) for a round trip, and that is all you have to pay for transportation.
Activities: Ani currently costs 8 EUR for foreign visitors. Kars Castle is free to visit.
Total budget for one day in Ani and Kars, Turkey: Around 92 USD, including 2 nights of accommodation.
Ani's Opening Hours
Ani is currently open every day from 8 AM to 7 PM, with the ticket office closing at 6:30 PM. Opening hours can change seasonally, so check the official listing before your trip if you are visiting outside the main season.
Ani's Admission Fee
The entrance fee to Ani is currently 8 EUR for foreign visitors. You can buy your ticket at the entrance. I would still carry some cash when visiting Ani because payment options and nearby services are limited. Turkey's standard MรผzeKart is listed by the Ministry as valid for Turkish citizens, so foreign visitors should not assume it covers admission.
How to Travel to Ani, Turkey?
From Abroad to Istanbul or Ankara
First and foremost, in order to get to Ani, you are going to have to travel to Turkey by flying into either Istanbul, a popular tourist city, or Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, and from there, go to Kars, the nearest city to Ani.
Thankfully, Istanbul and Ankara are some of the largest hubs in the region, and you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to one of the two main airports in the city: Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) in Istanbul, or Ankara Esenboga Airport in Ankara.
From the US, there are several direct flights you can take to Turkey from major cities in the US like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, etc., all operated by Turkish Airlines, so you shouldn't have trouble finding a flight from the US to Turkey.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs such as London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Turkish Airlines or local carriers like British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa, which also offer direct flights to Istanbul or Ankara.
From Asia, you can fly directly with Turkish Airlines from several hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangkok. You can also go with other Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad if you are willing to transit to get a cheaper deal.
To find a cheap flight to Turkey, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so that you can compare and pick the best one.
Getting From Istanbul to Kars, Turkey
After you get yourself to Istanbul, the next thing you have to do is get to Kars, the closest large city to Ani. Kars itself is around 40 km from the Armenia border, while Ani lies directly beside the border. There are several ways you can travel from Istanbul to Kars:
By Plane: The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Kars is to fly into Kars Harakani Airport. Direct flights operate from Istanbul, but airlines and departure times vary by date, so check the current schedule when booking.
The flight takes roughly 2 hours. When I traveled this route, fares were around 47 - 100 USD, but domestic airfares now vary considerably by date and demand. You can look for cheap flights to Kars here.
Once you arrive at the airport, airport transport and taxis connect the terminal with central Kars, which is only a short drive away. When I traveled here, the airport bus left after commercial arrivals and took around 20 minutes, but schedules and fares may have changed since then.
By Bus: You can also take a long-distance coach from Istanbul to Kars. When I traveled this route, the journey took around 19 hours and there were several departures each day. Current operators and departure times vary, so compare schedules for your travel date.
When I was there, the bus cost around 27 - 31 USD. Prices have changed since then, so check the current fare before booking. Coaches arrive at Kars Bus Station. You can compare current options here: Book a Bus from Istanbul to Kars, Turkey.
Getting From Ankara to Kars, Turkey
By Plane: Direct flights operate between Ankara Esenboga Airport and Kars, with a flight time of roughly 1.5 hours. When I traveled, I found a flight for around 57 USD, but schedules and fares vary, so check your dates here: flights from Ankara to Kars.
By Bus: Long-distance coaches connect Ankara ASTI Bus Station with Kars. When I traveled, the trip took around 15 hours and cost about 20 USD. Prices and departure times may have changed, so check the latest schedule before your trip: Book a Bus from Ankara to Kars, Turkey.
By Train: Ankara and Kars are also linked by the famous Eastern Express route. TCDD also runs the seasonal Touristic Eastern Express; for the 2026/27 season, Ankara departures are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from December 21, 2026 to March 10, 2027, with a journey of around 33 hours including long sightseeing stops. The regular train is the more practical option if you simply want transportation, while the tourist train is designed as an experience in itself.
Getting From Kars to Ani, Turkey
By Bus: The Kars Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism currently lists one daily bus between Kars and Ani. It leaves at 9 AM from in front of Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasha Cultural House and returns from Ani at 12:45 PM. Ani is around 42 km from Kars.
When I traveled here, the service operated differently, with additional summer departures and a roundtrip fare of around 100 TRY. That was the schedule and price during my trip, so do not rely on those old figures today. The current official page does not publish a fare, so confirm the price locally before boarding.
You can go with the morning bus and come back on the afternoon bus if you wish, but be sure to tell your bus driver first. The journey from Kars to Ani should take about 45 minutes, and for a roundtrip ticket, it will cost you around 100 TRY (3 EUR) per person.
By Private Taxi: A taxi or private transfer is the easiest option if you want more time at Ani than the public bus allows. When I traveled here, I could charter a taxi for around 2000 TRY per car and arrange roughly 3 hours at the site. That price is now historical, so ask your accommodation or driver for the current roundtrip fare and agree on the waiting time before leaving Kars.
By Local Tour: When I traveled here, local hotels commonly arranged Ani tours through a guide named Celil. At the time, his tour picked travelers up around 10:30 AM, cost about 15 USD, and allowed roughly 3 hours at Ani.
But if you want to take a tour with Celil, you can still do so by organizing it with your hotel, and a tour will come and pick you up at 10:30 AM. The tour should cost about 60 TRY per person, and you will have around 3 hours at Ani before you are returned to Kars.
Celil can also help you out in organizing and planning a border-crossing journey from Turkey to Georgia via Kars, which can be a bit tricky. He will direct you to the right bus station and let you know which bus to take to get to Georgia, but only if you go on a tour with him. You can contact him via his WhatsApp here: +905322263966.
Getting Connected in Turkey
I used Turkcell when I traveled in Turkey, and it remains one of the main local options for visitors. As of September 2026, Turkcell's Tourist Welcome Pack includes 20 GB of data and 200 local minutes for 1,800 TRY, valid for 28 days. Tourist eSIM activation is also available for compatible phones.
Mobile packages change frequently, so compare the current tourist offers from Turkcell, Vodafone, Turk Telekom, or a travel eSIM before buying.
Alternatively, if your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.
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3 Comments
Iโm planning to Ani Kars. your article is very helpful for me. Do you have the contact of Celil please?
Hey Jana,
Awesome! Ani is definitely worth going all the way east especially if you are planning to go afterward to Georgia. :)
I'm not sure if he is still active with this email but here it is: celilani [@] hotmail [dot] com.
If not, you can contact the guesthouse or hotel you are staying there and they can manage it for you. I just went to the hotel and ask them the day before. :) Everyone in Kars knows Celil. ;)
I hope this helps!
Hi! Thanks for the info
Just an update on the bus from Kars to Ani: The chingharizade cafe doesn't exist anymore, it's now called mix point, and the bus to Ani only goes once a day at 10:00am