This full-day trip from Sivas takes you to Hattusa, the UNESCO-listed capital of the Hittite Empire, and to the rock-cut sanctuary of Yazilikaya, with a guide, lunch and entrance fees all arranged. More than 3,500 years ago this hilltop city near the village of Bogazkoy ruled one of the great powers of the Bronze Age, sending treaties to Egypt and Babylon. On this day tour from Sivas you cross the open plateau of Central Anatolia in an air-conditioned vehicle and reach the ruins by mid-morning, ready to explore them in depth.
Inside Hattusa your guide leads you from monument to monument: the vast Great Temple (Temple I) with its storerooms, the Lion Gate flanked by carved lions, the King's Gate with its warrior-god relief, the Sphinx Gate, and the Royal Citadel of Buyukkale where the Hittite kings held court. You also follow the line of the ancient city walls, step into the remarkable underground tunnel known as the Postern, and walk the ceremonial avenues that once linked the temples and palaces. After a traditional Turkish lunch of Anatolian dishes at a local restaurant, the tour continues to the Yazilikaya Open-Air Sanctuary, where processions of gods, goddesses and kings are carved straight into the limestone cliffs.
Before heading back there is free time for photographs and souvenirs, then a relaxed drive returns you to your hotel in Sivas in the evening. This daily excursion suits history lovers, photographers, families and anyone curious about one of the world's earliest civilisations. Expect a fair amount of walking on uneven ground across a large site, so comfortable shoes, sun protection and a light jacket for the changeable Anatolian weather are recommended.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Hattusa Programme Your guide meets you at your hotel in Sivas at around 07:00 and the journey begins in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. During the scenic drive across the Anatolian countryside you hear the story of the Hittites, the people who built an empire here in the second millennium BC. Around 10:30 you arrive at the archaeological site of Hattusa near Bogazkoy and start a guided walk through the ancient capital. Highlights include the Great Temple (Temple I), the Lion Gate, the King's Gate, the Sphinx Gate, the Royal Citadel of Buyukkale, the surviving stretches of the city walls, the underground Postern tunnel and the grand ceremonial avenues lined with excavated remains; at each stop your guide explains what the monument meant to the Hittite state. At about 13:00 you sit down to a traditional Turkish lunch of regional Anatolian cuisine at a selected local restaurant. In the early afternoon the tour moves on to Yazilikaya, the sacred open-air sanctuary where reliefs of deities, kings and ceremonial processions are carved directly into natural limestone rock. Around 15:30 there is free time to take photos, browse local souvenirs or simply enjoy the quiet of the ancient city. At about 16:00 you set off on the return drive and reach your hotel in Sivas at approximately 19:30.
Sivas → Hattusa → Sivas Hittite Capital → Yazilikaya Sanctuary
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!