Amasya sits in a deep gorge carved by the Yeşilırmak River through limestone cliffs in northern Anatolia. The Pontic kings (3rd–1st century BCE) carved their rock-cut tombs into the cliff face 70 metres above the river - five large chambers with Doric-column facades visible across the valley. Strabo, the Greek geographer, was born here in 63 BCE.
Below the tombs, a row of 18th-century Ottoman timber mansions (yalıboyu konakları) lines the riverbank - their image reflected in the water. Harşena Castle (Kale) crowns the ridge 700 metres above. The valley is the centre of Turkey’s apple (elma) growing region - famous for Amasya apples, a variety cultivated here since antiquity. We have mapped 8 top-rated Amasya tours below.
Top Amasya Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amasya Old City and Pontic Tombs Tour | 3 hrs | From $20 | First-timers, history |
| Harşena Castle Hike and Valley Views | 3 hrs | From $20 | Hiking, panoramas |
| Amasya Apple Orchard and Harvest Tour | Half day | From $30 | Food culture, seasonal |
| Yeşilırmak River Boat Trip | 1.5 hrs | From $15 | Relaxation |
| Amasya Museums Walking Tour | 2 hrs | From $20 | History, archaeology |
| Amasya to Safranbolu Day Trip | Full day | From $60 | Ottoman heritage |
| Sunset at the Pontic Tombs Photography Tour | 2 hrs | From $25 | Photography |
| Private Amasya Heritage Tour | Full day | From $80 | Custom itinerary |
For First-Timers
Amasya Old City and Pontic Tombs Tour
The 3-hour old city tour covers the riverside promenade with views of the yalıboyu mansions and their reflections, the rock-cut Pontic royal tombs (reached by a footpath cut into the cliff - five tomb chambers, the largest being the Tomb of the Kings), the Amasya Citadel (Ottoman-era Kale, accessible from behind the tombs), and the Gök Medrese (the Blue Seminary, 1266, one of the finest Seljuk medreseler in northern Turkey, with an elaborate carved portal).
Duration: 3 hours | Price: From approximately $20 | Includes: Guide, tomb entry
For Hiking
Harşena Castle Hike and Valley Views
Harşena Castle (elevation 700 metres) sits on a dramatic ridge above the tombs - a fortification used from Pontic times through Ottoman rule. The guided hike ascends via the ancient staircase cut into the rock face behind the tombs, passing the Queen Kızlar grave complex (Pontic, 2nd century BCE), the cistern system, and the ruined keep at the summit. The panorama of the Yeşilırmak gorge, the Ottoman mansions below, and the tombs in the opposite cliff is the reason to make the climb.
Duration: 3 hours | Price: From approximately $20 | Includes: Guide | Fitness level: Moderate - rocky path, 300m ascent from town
For Food Culture
Amasya Apple Orchard and Harvest Tour
The Amasya apple (Amasya elması) is a small, dark-red variety cultivated in the Yeşilırmak valley orchards since the time of Strabo. The apple harvest tour (September–October) visits orchards in the valley below the city, includes picking and pressing into fresh juice, and covers the dried apple production that sustains the local economy through winter.
Duration: 3 hours | Price: From approximately $30 | Best season: September–October
For River Experience
Yeşilırmak River Boat Trip
The evening river boat trip runs from the town bridge to the cliff foot below the tombs and back - the best angle for photographing the mansion reflections and the illuminated rock tombs at dusk. The boats are flat-bottomed and seating is along the sides.
Duration: 1.5 hours | Price: From approximately $15 | Best time: Evening (17:00–20:00) for light and illuminations
For History
Amasya Museums Walking Tour
The museum circuit covers the Amasya Museum (Amasya Müzesi - holds Pontic and Roman artefacts from the tombs, including sarcophagi, jewellery, and bronze objects), the Hazeranlar Mansion (19th-century konak interior now preserved as a house museum), and the Amasya Archaeology Museum annex.
Duration: 2 hours | Price: From approximately $20 | Includes: Guide, museum entries
Practical Information
Getting to Amasya: By bus from Ankara, approximately 4 hours. From Samsun (Black Sea coast), approximately 2 hours. No major airport - the nearest is Samsun-Çarşamba Airport (SAW), 130 km by road.
Apple season: Orchards are harvested September–October. The Amasya autumn festival (Amasya Elma Festivali, typically October) coincides with harvest.
Illuminations: The cliff tombs are illuminated after dark from May–October. The riverfront promenade from 20:00 with both the mansion reflections and the lit tombs above is the signature Amasya scene.