Kars Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Kars

Situated on a high plateau in northeastern Turkey where Eastern Anatolia converges with the Lesser Caucasus mountain range, Kars is an upland city that serves as the administrative seat for both its surrounding district and province. Its interior geographical setting, high elevation, and distance from large bodies of water define both its landscape and its distinct environmental character.

Kars has a deep historical legacy shaped by shifting regional empires. In classical antiquity, the area was known within the region of Chorzene. It grew into a major medieval center and served as the capital of the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia between 929 and 961. During this period, prominent architectural structures were erected, including the historic Church of the Holy Apostles. Over the following centuries, rule over the city passed among Bagratid, Seljuk, Georgian, Mongol, Safavid, and Ottoman powers. Its strategic position led to the construction and frequent rebuilding of massive fortress defenses, which withstood major sieges by Persian and Russian forces.

The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought further geopolitical changes as control over the region was repeatedly contested between the Ottoman and Russian empires. Russian administration in the late 1800s transformed the town into a fortified regional center and introduced architectural and demographic shifts. During this period, significant populations of Armenians, Russians, Caucasus Greeks, and Poles lived in the city alongside its established Muslim inhabitants. After the conflicts of World War I and subsequent military engagements, the boundary of modern Turkey was formally defined by the Treaty of Kars in 1921.

In the modern era, Kars retains a varied cultural dynamic reflected in its resident population. The city is home to a mix of Turkish, Kurdish, and Azerbaijani inhabitants, the latter including sub-ethnic groups such as the Terekeme and Qarapapaq. Both Sunni and Shia Muslim traditions are present within the local community, preserving a heritage influenced by historical migrations across the surrounding borderlands.

The climate of Kars is humid continental, characterized by sharp temperature contrasts between seasons and between day and night. Summers are relatively short and warm, with average daytime high temperatures reaching 27 °C in August. Winters are long and frigid, featuring four months of snow cover on average and typical low temperatures around −15 °C in January that occasionally drop much lower.