4 Days Kirikkale City & Cooking Tour: Nur Mosque, Weapons Museum and Local Cuisine Private Tour

Highlights of the 4‑Day Kirikkale City & Cooking Tour

Kirikkale lies in central Anatolia, about an hour and a half east of Ankara, and is best known in Turkey as the home of the national weapons industry. This four-day programme starts and ends at Ankara Airport, keeps you in one hotel in Kirikkale for three nights, and balances a full guided day of sightseeing with a hands-on introduction to the local kitchen, leaving the first and last days relaxed around your flights.

The city tour guides you through the majestic Nur Mosque, completed in 2007 in the classical Ottoman manner and capable of hosting 10,000 worshippers. From there you will stroll past well‑preserved 16th‑century Ottoman mansions and the iconic Clock Tower that punctuates the downtown skyline. The highlight of the day is the MKE Weapons Industry Museum, where a curated collection of arms covering the period from the 14th century up to modern times showcases Kirikkale’s long‑standing role in armament production. Next comes the Watery Cave, a former quarry now open to visitors, with galleries with a 285‑meter walking path, and the ancient Ceritkale Rock Tombs from the Iron Age (1200 BC). Each site offers a distinct perspective on the region’s layered past.

On the third day, immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of the area with a professional cooking lesson held at a local restaurant. Learn to prepare Tarhana Soup, a staple made from sun‑dried food, tomato, and flour; Tuvalak, a hearty soup‑like dish featuring bulgur and meat; and Sizgit, the local fried meat specialty. After savoring the dishes you created, spend free time exploring the city centre, where you can shop for souvenirs. The final day provides a relaxed morning before a comfortable transfer back to Ankara Airport, marking the end of a memorable journey through Kirikkale’s cultural and culinary treasures.