Lake Çıldır
Çıldır Gölü
A highland lake at about 1,960 m. In winter, when it freezes over, horse-drawn sleigh rides and ice fishing become Kars' signature winter activities.
Lake Çıldır lies about 50 km north of Kars and spans Kars and Ardahan provinces. It covers roughly 120 square km and is the second-largest lake in eastern Turkey. In winter the surface freezes thick, and locals cut holes in the ice to fish. Visitors can ride horse-drawn sleighs across the ice, and the lakeside wooden huts serve freshly grilled lake fish. In summer the grasslands turn green, and on an island in the lake are the ruins of a medieval Armenian church. A day trip from Kars, by hired car or on a tour, is often combined with the Doğu Express itinerary.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Şeytan Castle
- Kars Museum
- Kars Castle
- Taşköprü (Stone Bridge)
- Church of the Holy Apostles (Kümbet Mosque)
- Doğu Express (Kars Station)
- Russian-era Old Town (Baltic Architecture)
- Fethiye Mosque