Karabük Province, Turkey · Asia
Safranbolu sits on the route: 10 minutes from Bostanbükü.
Safranbolu is a town located in Karabük Province, Turkey. With a population of 35,242, it is an important destination in Asia.
On a road trip, Safranbolu sits in Turkey, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Istanbul time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Safranbolu to your route.
Safranbolu is a town in Karabük Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It is the seat of Safranbolu District. Its population is 52,999 (2022). It is about 9 km north of the city of Karabük, 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Ankara and about 100 km south of the Black Sea coast. The town's historic names in GreekRead more
were Theodoroupolis (Θεοδωρούπολις, i.e. city of Theodorus or Theodora), Dadybra (Δάδυβρα) and later Saphrampolis (Σαφράμπολις). Its former names in Turkish were Zalifre and Taraklıborlu. It was part of Kastamonu Province until 1923 and Zonguldak Province between 1923 and 1995. The town lies at an elevation of 508 m (1,667 ft).
The town became known for its resistance against Suleiman II, who besieged it for four months, destroyed its houses and poisoned its water supply, until its residents negotiated a surrender due to famine, in which they were allowed to leave undisturbed.
According to the Ottoman General Census of 1881/82-1893, the kaza of Safranbolu had a total population of 52,523, consisting of 49,197 Muslims and 3,326 Greeks.
The Old Town preserves many historic buildings, with 1008 registered historical artifacts. These are: 1 private museum, 25 mosques, 5 tombs, 8 historical fountains, 5 Turkish baths, 3 caravanserais, 1 historical clock tower, 1 sundial and hundreds of houses and mansions. Also, there are mounds of ancient settlements, rock tombs and historical bridges. The Old Town is situated in a deep ravine in a fairly dry area in the rain shadow of the mountains. The New Town can be found on the plateau about two kilometers west of the Old Town.
The name of the town derives from "saffron" and the Greek word polis (πόλις) meaning "city", since Safranbolu was a trading place and a center for growing saffron. Today, saffron is still grown at the village of Davutobası to the east of Safranbolu, with a road distance of 22 kilometres.
Safranbolu was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994 due to its well-preserved Ottoman era houses and architecture.
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Safranbolu.
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Safranbolu.
Safranbolu offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
Plan your road trip to Safranbolu with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Safranbolu as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Safranbolu is located in Karabük Province, Turkey, Asia. The coordinates are 41.2508 latitude, 32.6942 longitude.
Safranbolu has a population of approximately 35,242 people, making it a town in Turkey.
Add to your itinerary
Start planning your road trip with Safranbolu as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Start Road TripDiscover destinations like Tinder
Swipe through stunning destinations near Safranbolu. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.
Other places to explore near Safranbolu.
Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.
Start Planning