Aksaray

About Aksaray

Aksaray is a city in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is the seat of Aksaray Province and Aksaray District. Its population is 327,575 (2025). In 2025 the province had an estimated population of 441,136 distributed over about 7,659 km2 (2,957 mi2). The average elevation is 980 m (3,215 ft), with the highest point being Mt. Hasan (Turkish: Hasan Dağı) at 3,268 m (10,722 ft).

The city of Aksaray has a long history and was an important stopover point on the Silk Road that transited Anatolia for centuries. It is a mid-sized city with the Melendiz river running through it and several monuments dating back to the pre-Ottoman era as well as some impressive examples of government buildings from the early Turkish Republic that are gathered around the main square.

The nearest airport is Kapadokya Nevşehir Airport (NAV) which is 62.1 km away from the city.

In antiquity the area was known as Archelais Garsaura, later attested as Taksará and Aksará, which is a rendering of Garsáoura.

The modern name Aksaray is derived from Turkish, meaning "White Palace" (ak = white, saray = palace), and is traditionally associated with a Seljuk-era palace attributed...

Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.