Bayburt: Waterfalls, Museum and Historic Sites

Bayburt brings together natural attractions, a museum and historic buildings in different locations. When looking for a hotel in Bayburt, it’s worth first organizing the destinations for your stay: Taşhan is in the city center, the Baksı Museum is 45 kilometers outside the city, and several other sites are in the central district. This makes it easier to distinguish a visit to the city center from a museum visit outside the city or a destination in the surrounding villages.

Nature and Waterfalls

In Bayburt’s central district, Çimağıl Cave was registered as a natural monument, or natural protected area, with ministerial approval No. 242140 dated November 13, 2020. Its protection status and date are relevant to understanding this natural attraction.

To reach the Sırakayalar Waterfalls, take the Bayburt–Erzurum road, leave it at kilometer 6, then travel another 16 kilometers. The two waterfalls are in different parts of the village: one at the village entrance and the other within the village. Their surroundings are used as a recreational area during the summer months. For navigation, this combines a specific road route, two named waterfall locations and the seasonal use of the surrounding area.

Baksı Museum and Views of the Çoruh Valley

The Baksı Museum is in the village of Bayraktar, formerly known as Baksı, on a hill overlooking the Çoruh Valley. It is 45 kilometers outside Bayburt. The site covers 40 dönüm and includes exhibition halls, a depot museum, workshops, conference halls, a library and a guesthouse. The location and size of the site provide a clear framework for planning this museum visit, which is distinct from destinations in the city center.

Buildings in the Center and Along Historic Routes

Taşhan, also known as Bedesten, is in the Cami Kebir neighborhood in central Bayburt. Written sources attest to its existence as early as the beginning of the 17th century. This site therefore brings together a central location and a history dating back to the early modern period. Bayburt Castle stands on a hill above the city and is on a historic trade route connecting the Black Sea with the Persian Gulf.

Korgan Bridge is in the village of Akşar, on the historic Silk Road section between Bayburt and Gümüşhane, at approximately kilometer 25. It is a two-span Seljuk bridge made of dressed stone, with pointed arches. At Kop Martyrs’ Cemetery, by contrast, the monument’s form is the main feature: it is 13 meters high and consists of two sections arranged one above the other. It is located on the Bayburt–Erzurum road in the Kop area of Maden, in Bayburt’s central district.

Tombs and Their Names

The Dede Korkut Tomb is in the village of Yıldırım (Masat), which belongs to Bayburt’s central district. It is also popularly known as the Ali Baba or Korkut Ata Kümbet. These names refer to the same tomb and help visitors recognize the site by its different names.

The tomb of Abdülvehhab Gazi Hazretleri is in the village of Erenli (Duduzar), also in Bayburt’s central district. From there, it overlooks the city of Bayburt from above. Abdülvehhab Gazi Hazretleri is regarded as the standard-bearer of the Prophet Muhammad.

How to Factor Locations into Your Hotel Choice

When looking for a hotel in Bayburt, it helps to distinguish destinations by location: Taşhan is in the center, the Baksı Museum is 45 kilometers outside the city, and reaching the Sırakayalar Waterfalls involves taking a road route with a turnoff and traveling another 16 kilometers. This lets you factor the focus of your stay—city history, the museum or waterfalls—into your choice of location.

Discover more destinations: Pınarcık, Bayburt, Gökçedere, Kırkpınar, Güzelce Köyü, Zonguldak, Kastamonu, Rize.

For the regional travel overview: Turkey’s Black Sea Coast.