Muş, Turkey: cities, destinations and things to do

The province

Get to know Muş

Muş lies on the plain of the same name, cut by the Murat river and surrounded by mountains. From mid-April to May, the Muş tulip (Tulipa sintenisii), a red wildflower found only in Anatolia, usually colors fields and slopes for about three weeks.

The city has the fortress of Muş, the Ulu Camii, the bath and Alaaddin Bey mosque, and the Muş Museum, housed in an old school building, with pieces ranging from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman period. Near the city, the towers of Haspet fortress guard the entrance to the valley.

Malazgirt, to the north, was where the Seljuk sultan Alp Arslan defeated the Byzantine army in 1071, in the battle known in the West as Manzikert, which opened Anatolia to the Turks. The town has a fortress, a battle memorial and the Kız Köprüsü bridge, and the date is commemorated every year on August 26.

In winter, the Güzeldağ resort near the capital hosts skiers. Local cuisine includes Muş köftesi, keşkek and the plain's lamb dishes.

When to go

Mid-April to May is usually tulip season on the plain; June to September offers mild days for Malazgirt and Haspet. Winter is long and snowy, the ski season at Güzeldağ.

Getting there

Muş Airport (MSR) is about 18 km from the centre and has flights to Istanbul and Ankara. Malazgirt is about 135 km from the city by road; Bitlis and Lake Van are around an hour and a half away.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Muş

When do Muş tulips bloom?

They usually start from mid-April and last about three weeks, depending on the cold in any given year. They appear in the plain's fields and on the slopes around the city.

What to see in Malazgirt?

The town's fortress, the 1071 battle memorial and the Kız Köprüsü bridge, near the centre. A return trip from Muş takes the day.

How many days to allow for Muş?

One day for the city and Haspet; another for Malazgirt. In spring, allow time to see the tulips on the plain.

Muş pairs well with which provinces?

With Bitlis and Van, around Lake Van, and with Bingöl to the west via the road that passes the floating islands of Solhan.

Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: Natural Earth (domínio público). Ilhas do Mármara e dos Príncipes: geoBoundaries / © colaboradores do OpenStreetMap (CC BY-SA). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.