Our Story

Everyone knows Istanbul, Izmir, and Cappadocia. Every year millions of tourists flock to the Aegean and western Mediterranean coasts. More and more are encountering the natural beauty of eastern Turkey. Caught in the middle is an often-overlooked city in southern Turkey—Adana. 

Adana is virtually disregarded by every major travel guide, and when mentioned, the reviews are not always positive. One guidebook previously described the Adana region this way, “The eastern extremity of the Mediterranean coast is a touristic backwater. The great plain of Cukurova is overcrowded and bland; Adana, its oversized capital, offers few charms to the visitor.”* We could not disagree more.

Adana is a city of tremendous historical, cultural, and culinary value, and, unfortunately, does not receive the acknowledgment it warrants. Additionally, a lack of English language media and websites touting the city results in very few foreign visitors encountering all Adana has to offer. We want to change that.

The team at Explore Adana are all expats who live in or have spent significant time in Adana. Our goal is to provide an insider’s guide to many of the city’s historical, cultural, and culinary hotspots. We want to pass on the places, experiences, and foods that our local friends have introduced to us.

Adana’s summers are warm, and so are its citizens. The people of Adana love their food, love their culture, love their city, and love to share them with guests. We invite you to Explore Adana to see all this “touristic backwater” has to offer. We think you’ll enjoy your time in our amazing city.

*Nisanyan and Nisanyan, Eastern Turkey: A Traveller’s [sic] Handbook, Boyut Yayin Grubu, 2006.