Discover Bingöl: ski slopes, caves and historic sites

In Bingöl, travel interests range from ski slopes and caves to castle ruins, waterfalls and thermal springs. Which destinations you focus on can also shape your plans for your stay. The sites offer different reasons to explore the region: winter sports, early Christian history, historic architecture and striking rock formations.

Ski slopes and early Christian caves

The Hesarek ski facilities are in the village of Dikme, in the Hesarek area, 34 km from the centre of Bingöl. The facilities include three ski slopes: a 1,200 m telesiyej slope, a 1,000 m teleski slope and a 200 m baby-lift slope. The municipal description from 2021 gives the ski season as four to five months; its duration may vary depending on snow conditions.

The Zağ Caves tell a very different chapter of the region’s history. They are dated to the beginning of the 5th century AD and associated with the early Christian period of Late Antiquity, or the Late Roman–Early Byzantine period. Christian communities are thought to have used the caves as secret settlements, living quarters and places of worship while under pressure from the Roman Empire. For directions: the village road branching off the Bingöl–Solhan–Muş road, Gökçeli–Kuşburnu, leads to the caves.

Castles and buildings in Bingöl

Bingöl Castle, also called Simani, lies about 1 km northeast of the centre on a hill 30 to 35 m high. Gayt Castle is north of the centre, in the Çayboyu area, near the Bingöl River. It is a medieval castle and settlement ruin with a polygonal ground plan. Its defensive walls, reinforced by towers, are 2 m wide. The two sites offer different architectural points of interest: Bingöl Castle is characterised by its hilltop setting, while Gayt Castle stands out for its ground plan and defensive walls.

The İsfahan Bey Mosque stands in Aşağı Çarşı, in the centre of Bingöl. It is considered the only historic mosque in the city centre; its exact construction date is unknown. Along with Bingöl Castle, it is one of the places where you can explore the history of the centre.

Waterfalls, rock formations and thermal springs

At Çır Waterfall, water plunges 50 m from the approximately 100 m high Çir Taşı rock. The waterfall is 8 km from the centre of Ilıca Bucağı in Bingöl and flows into Uzundere Stream, named after the village of Uzundere.

The Buban fairy chimneys are in the village of Oğuldere, which belongs to Sancak Belde in Bingöl. They are notable for their resemblance to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia in Nevşehir district. Their formation is attributed to floodwater and wind eroding the tuff substrate; these forces are thought to have shaped the pointed rock formations.

According to a municipal description dated 9 September 2021, the Kös thermal springs can be reached via the Bingöl–Karlıova road in both summer and winter. Check accessibility before setting out. According to the analyses carried out, the water belongs to the group of bicarbonate-, carbon dioxide- and carbonate-containing waters; it also contains anions such as chloride, sulfate and silicate, as well as the cations iron and aluminium.

A municipal description dated 9 September 2021 listed a motel, a hotel, a guesthouse, three swimming pools, a restaurant, a tea garden and a car park on the site. Two of the three swimming pools were closed at the time. Check what is currently available before visiting.

Planning your stay in Bingöl

If you are looking for a hotel in Bingöl, first decide which destinations you want to shape your stay: the buildings in the city centre, the Hesarek ski facilities, the Zağ Caves or natural sites such as Çır Waterfall and the Buban fairy chimneys. This lets you choose your base according to your travel plans, rather than a generalised idea of what Bingöl has to offer.

Discover more destinations: Çayağzı, Bingöl, Kalkanlı, Sancak, Topraklık Köyü, Yiğitler Köyü, Diyarbakir, Adiyaman.

For the broader travel overview: Anatolia.