UNESCO City of Gastronomy Afyonkarahisar: Türkiye's Culinary Gem

Afyonkarahisar, in western Anatolia, holds UNESCO's Creative City of Gastronomy designation, recognizing a food culture built on centuries of local agriculture — from the region's famous clotted cream (kaymak) and sujuk sausage to its poppy-seed products and thermal-spring-fed produce.

The city takes its name from the dramatic volcanic rock (kara hisar, or 'black fortress') that rises abruptly from the plain at its center, topped by the ruins of a Byzantine-era citadel with sweeping views across the surrounding countryside.

Beyond the food, Afyonkarahisar is known for its thermal spas, a tradition dating back to Roman times, and for being a key site in the Turkish War of Independence — the Battle of Dumlupınar was fought nearby, and the region is dotted with memorials from that period.

For visitors interested in Turkish cuisine beyond the standard tourist menu, Afyonkarahisar offers an authentic look at the regional food traditions that make up the country's much broader culinary map.