Osmaniye, Turkey: cities, destinations and things to do

The province

Get to know Osmaniye

Osmaniye is a small province on the eastern side of the Çukurova plain, between Adana and Gaziantep, at the foot of the Amanos Mountains. It is known in Turkey for peanuts, grown in the plain’s fields and sold roasted throughout the region.

Near Kadirli, Karatepe-Aslantaş National Park protects the Neo-Hittite fortress of Karatepe, from the 8th century BC, on a wooded hill above the Aslantaş dam lake. The citadel gates feature stone reliefs and a long inscription in Phoenician and in Luwian hieroglyphs; because it bears the same text in both languages, it helped scholars decipher Anatolian hieroglyphic writing. The reliefs remain in place, in an open-air museum.

Hierapolis-Castabala, near the provincial capital, has a colonnaded street leading to a medieval castle on a rock, and surrounding wetlands with birds. Toprakkale, on the road to Hatay, has a dark-stone fortress atop a hill.

In summer, the Zorkun plateau in the Amanos Mountains attracts plain-dwellers escaping the heat, with summer houses and grazing land. The cuisine follows Çukurova traditions, with grilled kebab and thin bread.

When to go

April to June and September to November usually have the most pleasant weather on the plain. Summer is very hot and humid in the lowlands, and the Zorkun plateau is cooler. Winter is generally mild and rainy.

Getting there

The province has no airport; the nearest are Çukurova (COV), between Adana and Mersin, Hatay (HTY) and Gaziantep (GZT). The highway between Adana and Gaziantep passes through Osmaniye, with frequent buses. For Karatepe and Castabala, a car is the most practical option.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Osmaniye

Why is the Karatepe inscription important?

It bears the same text in Phoenician, a language already known, and in Luwian hieroglyphs, which had not yet been read with confidence. Comparing the two versions helped researchers decipher Anatolian hieroglyphic writing.

Can Karatepe and Castabala fit into the same day?

Yes, by car. Castabala is near the provincial capital, and Karatepe is farther north, near Kadirli. Allow one to two hours for each.

Does Osmaniye pair well with Adana and Gaziantep?

Yes. Osmaniye lies on the route between the two cities and can be a one-day stop for those interested in archaeology.

What should you try in Osmaniye?

The local peanut, roasted in its shell or as a paste, and sweets made from it. In restaurants, dishes follow Çukurova cuisine, with grilled meats and thin bread.

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