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More than 3 million visitors have already flocked to Erciyes Ski Center this winter, turning central Türkiye’s volcanic peak into one of the season’s busiest mountain destinations.
According to Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Memduh Buyukkilic, the center continues to draw visitors from across Türkiye and abroad, noting that interest has come from nearly all 81 provinces, with strong participation from cities such as Adana, Mersin, Hatay, Antalya, Gaziantep, Ankara and Istanbul.
He emphasized that Erciyes keeps bringing “millions together at the summit,” underlining its growing national and international appeal.
Erciyes holds a Safe Ski Center certification and stretches across 112 kilometers (about 70 miles) of ski slopes, supported by 25 kilometers of lift lines. The resort operates through multiple access gates and facilities located in Tekir, Hacilar, Hisarcik and Develi, offering visitors opportunities to take up skiing and snowboarding at different elevations and entry points.
By laying out a broad piste network and a developed lift system, the center has positioned itself as a comprehensive winter sports complex rather than a single-slope resort, enabling it to accommodate large numbers of daily guests throughout the season.
Officials describe Erciyes as “the most central ski center in the world” in geographical terms, pointing to Türkiye’s position at the crossroads of continents. From Türkiye, roughly one-third of the world can be reached within a four-hour flight. Istanbul, the country’s largest air hub, connects to Kayseri with 15 scheduled daily flights, and the flight time is about one hour, making short winter getaways feasible for both domestic and international travelers.
On the ground, the resort is located about 25 minutes from Kayseri Airport, 20 minutes from Kayseri city center and 60 minutes from Cappadocia, a globally known cultural and natural heritage region. A dual carriageway provides highway-level comfort from the city center to the ski area, helping visitors move in and out efficiently even during peak periods.
To support access during the ski season, bus services between Kaleonu, a central square in Kayseri, and Erciyes Ski Center operate every weekend and daily during the semester break, the mid-year school holiday period in Türkiye. Morning departures from Kaleonu begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue at regular intervals until 11:30 a.m., while return services from the ski center run between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
In addition, ring services connect the Develi, Tekir, Hisarcik and Hacilar gates during weekends and the semester holiday. Separate departures are scheduled from Develi Gate at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and from Hacilar Gate at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Minibuses departing every 15 minutes from Yogunburc Mini Terminal also provide transport to Erciyes. For the return journey by Develi minibuses, passengers are required to make a reservation via the municipal call center. From Kayseri Airport, visitors can take buses into the city center and transfer onward to the ski area.
Authorities note that bus and minibus schedules may change or be canceled depending on weather and road conditions. Both travel passes and credit cards are accepted on public transport services serving the resort.
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