Bingöl

Last update September 29, 2026

The name Bingöl translates as “a thousand lakes”, and once you have seen the area you will know why. Located in the mountains of Eastern Anatolia, it is a province centered on glacial lakes, mountain streams, and highland plateaus, lying far enough off the normal tourist route that most tourists never get to visit it. That is one of the reasons people are drawn here. You experience a version of Turkey free from the crowds, the tour buses, and the souvenir shops that sell the same magnets.

For the majority of visitors, Turna Lake is the main attraction and is located approximately fifty-seven kilometers from the city centre in the Solhan district. This crater lake, which is bordered by mountains on three sides, contains three floating islands consisting of soil masses that drift slowly over the water rather than remaining in one place; the slight but genuine movement can be seen upon close inspection and is precisely what makes the journey worthwhile. If you can manage it, it is advisable to rent a car, since public transport in Bingöl is very limited and having a rental vehicle gives you the flexibility to get to Turna Lake and the neighbouring villages without having to wait for a bus timetable.

Past the lake, Bingöl offers mountains for hiking, thermal springs at Kos for a more relaxed afternoon, and the Hesarek Ski Center should you come during the winter. The city has a history dating back to 5,000 BCE, including 16th-century mosques and the remains of castles and churches from civilizations that passed through well before Turkey became a nation. If you want to see it all, stay for two or three days, preferably in spring or summer when the lakes and hiking trails are at their finest.

Bingöl isn’t usually included in most tour itineraries, which is exactly why you should add it to your trip. There you’ll find thermal springs, floating islands, and the silence of the mountains in a region where tourism has still not fully arrived. Visit for the lakes and stay because you’re likely to have most of them to yourself.