Cheap flights to Erzurum
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Quick summary
Country
Turkey
Continent
Asia
Airport
ERZ
Currency
Turkish lira
Time zone
UTC+3
Deals already spotted to Erzurum
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Eastern Anatolia
Ski in the morning, madrasas and cağ kebab in the evening
Skiing in Erzurum comes with a bonus few resorts can match: after a day on the slopes of Palandöken, you are back in a city of Seljuk madrasas, tombs and caravanserais. Eastern Anatolia's largest city sits on a high plateau at about 1,900 m (between 1,850 and 1,950 m depending on the source) and is considered Turkey's winter-sports capital, with snow from November to May. It hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade and the 2023 Winter Deaflympics.
A high-altitude climate
Winters are long, dry and very cold, with snow that lingers, while summers are warm and dry without extremes. Pack warm clothing outside the summer months.
Palandöken
The ski area at the edge of the city
| Palandöken | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Location | About 5 to 7 km south-west of the city centre |
| Altitude | Base at 2,200 m, summit at about 3,200 m |
| Skiable area | 460 hectares, 22 pistes |
| Lifts | One gondola and five chairlift lines |
| Longest run | 12 km with 1,100 m of vertical drop |
| Season | Generally November to April, into early May at altitude |
Hotels such as the Polat Renaissance, Dedeman and Palan stand right on the mountain, and the pistes are floodlit for evening skiing. Lunch at the Kure restaurant, at 2,700 m, is part of the experience. Lift prices change every season, so check them on official channels before you travel.
Konaklı and other activities
The Konaklı resort, about 18 km away, hosted the alpine events of the 2011 Universiade. Off the pistes you can try snowshoeing, sledding or ice climbing, notably at the Ice Park with its ice wall about 150 m wide.
Seljuk heritage
Madrasas, tombs, a citadel and museums
| Monument | Worth knowing |
|---|---|
| Çifte Minareli Medrese | The Twin Minaret Madrasa, dated 1271 by its portal inscription, founded by Khudavand Khatun, daughter of the Seljuk sultan Kayqubad I. It was the model for the Gök Medrese in Sivas and sits on UNESCO's tentative list. Free to enter; hours and closing days vary, so check. |
| Yakutiye Madrasa | Anatolia's largest madrasa built around an enclosed courtyard with arcades, now an ethnography museum. Closed on Mondays. |
| Citadel and Tepsi Minare | The minaret, often called the clock tower, and the 12th-century citadel mosque attributed to the Saltukids; the citadel also holds a small museum. |
| Üç Kümbetler | The Three Tombs, a group of conical-roofed mausoleums, the largest being that of Emir Saltuk. |
| Ulu Cami | Erzurum's Great Mosque, built in 1179, large but plain. |
| Erzurum Museum | Natural history and archaeology, from prehistory to Byzantine times, in a modern building near the madrasa. |
| Atatürk House | A 19th-century merchant's house where Atatürk stayed for 52 days in 1919. |
| Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai | From the 16th century, where Oltu stone jewellery is sold. |
History
From Karin to the Erzurum Congress
Erzurum began as Karin, an Armenian settlement, before Theodosius II fortified it in the 5th century as Theodosiopolis. The Seljuks took it after the Battle of Manzikert, the Ottomans ruled from 1520, and Russia captured it in February 1916. In 1919, the Erzurum Congress launched the Turkish War of Independence and named Mustafa Kemal as its leader. Today it is home to Atatürk University, founded in 1950.
Food
Cağ kebab, Erzurum's own, and a high-altitude table
Cağ kebab is marinated lamb stacked on a horizontal rotating spit, served in slices in bread with yoghurt, and protected since 2010 by the geographical indication "Erzurum Oltu Cağ Kebabı". In winter, finish with kadayıf dolması.
A meat-based table
The climate is too cold and high for delicate fruit and vegetables, so Erzurum's table leans heavily on meat. For a dessert or a tea, the dessert cafes near the madrasas are the handiest; Oltu stone and silver jewellery are sold at the Taşhan bazaar.
Nature in summer
Tortum Waterfall and the Çoruh River
Roughly 100 km north on the D950 towards Artvin, about 1 h 15 by road, the Tortum Waterfall at Uzundere drops 48 m over a width of 21 m. Lake Tortum lies nearby at about 1,127 m, covering more than 6 km².
Oltu, the town of black stone
Oltu is the town of black-stone jewellery, and the Çoruh River is used for rafting and canoeing.
Getting to Erzurum
An airport 10 to 15 km from the city
Erzurum
Open since 1966, about 11 km from the city (up to 15 km depending on the source). Regular flights from Istanbul (Istanbul and Sabiha Gökçen), with links to Ankara, Izmir and Bursa and seasonal flights to Germany and Antalya (check by season).
The railway station is at the north end of the centre and the bus station about 10 km north-west, towards the airport. Trains to Ankara are slow (around twenty hours), so flying is simpler.
| Journey | Approximate time | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| ERZ to the centre | About 15 to 25 minutes | Taxi or local bus depending on the timetable; check time and fares |
| Centre to Palandöken | About 15 to 20 minutes | About 5 to 7 km; bus, taxi or car; gondola from the base station |
| Centre to Konaklı | About 25 to 30 minutes | About 18 km (check) |
| Centre to Tortum Waterfall | About 1 h 15 | About 100 km on the D950; hire car or excursion |
| Istanbul to Erzurum by coach | About 15 hours | Possible, but flying is far simpler |
Getting around
On foot, by bus and by gondola
Most sights in the centre, around the Twin Minaret Madrasa, the Yakutiye and the citadel, are within walking distance. Buses and dolmuşes ply the main streets, and taxis are handiest in the evening or in severe cold.
Heading for the slopes
From the centre, buses link to the Palandöken base station, where you take the gondola up to the pistes. For Tortum or Oltu, a hire car or an excursion is simplest.
When to go
A long winter, a short green summer
December to March
The best time for skiing. January averages around -10 degrees C, average lows are around -16 degrees C and the record is -37 degrees C.
April and May
Snow can last into May and the pistes close in spring; a cool in-between season before the fine weather returns.
June to September
The ideal season for sightseeing and nature, with a July mean of around 20 degrees C and August highs near 28 degrees C.
October and November
Cool, with the first snow; very warm clothing is essential from November to April.
How long to stay
How many days, what budget and what formalities
Three to four days
The pistes at Palandöken or Konaklı, plus half a day for the madrasas, the museums and the citadel.
The city
The Twin Minaret Madrasa, the Yakutiye, the citadel and a cağ kebab.
Tortum
The Tortum Waterfall and the lake, with a detour to Oltu.
Recommended length
Three to four days in winter to combine skiing and the city, two days in summer.
Cost level
Low to moderate: meals, transport and museums remain affordable, and skiing is generally cheaper than in the big Alpine resorts (lift passes change every season: check). Accommodation on the mountain and equipment hire are the main expenses.
Entry rules and common sense
Depending on your nationality, an e-visa or an exemption applies: check the official site evisa.gov.tr and your own government's advice (to be verified). Erzurum is a welcoming city and the usual precautions are enough, along with care on snow and ice and very warm clothing from November to April. In mosques, cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off at the entrance.
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In pictures
Erzurum in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Erzurum
How far is Erzurum Airport from the city?
Erzurum Airport (ERZ) is about 11 km from the city (10 to 15 km depending on the source), roughly 15 to 25 minutes by taxi, with flights from Istanbul.
When is the ski season in Erzurum?
The best time for skiing runs from December to March. For sightseeing and nature, choose June to September.
Is Erzurum an expensive destination?
No: the cost level is low to moderate. Meals, transport and museums remain affordable; accommodation on the mountain and ski equipment are the main expenses.
How many days do you need in Erzurum?
Three to four days in winter if you want to ski, two in summer for the monuments and the surrounding nature.
How do you get around Erzurum?
On foot in the centre, by bus, dolmuş or taxi; buses reach the Palandöken base station and its gondola. For Tortum or Oltu, a hire car or an excursion.
Is Erzurum very cold?
Yes. January averages around -10 degrees C, average lows are around -16 degrees C and the record is -37 degrees C: very warm clothing is essential from November to April.
What should you eat in Erzurum?
Cağ kebab, marinated lamb grilled on a horizontal spit, and, in winter, kadayıf dolması for dessert; local cooking leans heavily on meat.
How much does a flight to Erzurum usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
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