3 Days in Adana: Roman Taşköprü, Sabancı Mosque, Varda Viaduct and Anavarza

This three-day itinerary keeps Day 1 completely on foot along the Seyhan River and historic bazaars, takes you into the Taurus Mountains to the 1912 Varda Viaduct and Kapıkaya Canyon on Day 2, and gives you a choice on Day 3 between the eastern castles of Anavarza/Yılankale or the 28-minute train west to ancient Tarsus. Read our kebab ordering rules before Day 1.

Day 1: Roman Taşköprü, Sabancı Mosque, 1541 Ulu Cami, Kazancılar & Merkez Park

• Morning: start like an Adana local in Tarihi Kazancılar Çarşısı with a morning plate of charcoal-grilled lamb liver skewers (ciğer) or warm flaky Adana böreği, then stand beneath the 32-metre 1882 Great Clock Tower (Büyük Saat) and watch coppersmiths in the vaulted souk (grabbing a cold banana milk at Kazım Büfe).
• Morning: step into the Mamluk-striped portal of the 1541 Ramazanoğlu Ulu Cami to admire its 16th-century coral-and-turquoise Iznik tiles, visit the 1495 Ramazanoğlu Palace Mansion next door, and walk through historic Tepebağ to the Adana Cinema Museum and Atatürk Museum.
• Midday: sit down for a long lunch of hand-chopped Adana kebabı with ten complimentary salads and cold purple şalgam at Kebapçı Mesut or Birbiçer, topped with warm walnut-filled taş kadayıf.
• Afternoon: tour the six-minaret Sabancı Central Mosque, walk across the 14 arches of 385 AD Roman Taşköprü at sunset, and stroll through 33-hectare Merkez Park to Ziyapaşa Bulvarı for evening coffee.

Day 2: 1912 Varda Viaduct, Kapıkaya Canyon, Archaeology Museum & Seyhan Lake

• Morning: take the morning train or drive 60 minutes north to the 99-metre-high 1912 Varda (German) Viaduct to photograph the morning train crossing the 11 stone arches and walk the shaded riverside trail through Kapıkaya Canyon (adding autumn foliage at Belemedik Valley if visiting in October/November).
• Afternoon: back in town, spend two hours inside the restored 1907 textile factory of the New Adana Archaeology Museum Complex.
• Evening: head to the shore of Seyhan Dam Lake for a sunset bowl of rose-scented bici bici over the water and a lakeside dinner at Hasan Kolcuoğlu or Elem.

Day 3: Anavarza Ancient City & Yılankale

• Option A: drive east across the Çukurova plain past Misis Roman Bridge to climb Crusader Yılankale ("Snake Castle") and walk through the triple Roman triumphal arch and rock-cut road of UNESCO-tentative Anavarza.
• Option B: ride the 28-minute train from Adana Gar to Tarsus for St Paul's Well, the Roman Road, Cleopatra's Gate and Tarsus Waterfall.