Where is Alacahöyük and how far is it from Çorum?

Alacahöyük is in the Alaca district of Çorum, about 50 km from the city centre — roughly a one-hour drive. It is about 35 km from Hattusa (Boğazkale), so the two can be visited the same day.

What is there to see at Alacahöyük?

The main stops are the monumental Sphinx Gate at the entrance (with twin sphinx reliefs), the Early Bronze Age Hatti royal tombs, and the Alacahöyük Museum right beside the site. The famous sun discs found in the tombs are the emblem of this mound.

Is Alacahöyük a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Alacahöyük is not independently on the UNESCO World Heritage List; the inscription covers neighbouring Hattusa and Yazılıkaya. However, Alacahöyük lies within the same protected area — the Boğazköy–Alacahöyük National Park — and the wider Hittite heritage landscape.

How long does a visit to Alacahöyük take?

The site and museum together take about 1–2 hours. The area is compact; you walk the mound, the Sphinx Gate and the tomb area, and the museum is medium-sized.

Alacahöyük Visitor Guide: How to Get There, What to See

Q: What is the sun disc and how does it relate to Çorum's emblem?

The sun disc is a ceremonial metal standard found in the Alacahöyük royal tombs, symbolising the sun and the universe. The emblem used today for Çorum and popularly known as the 'Hittite Sun' originates from this mound (it actually belongs to the pre-Hittite Hatti period).

Alacahöyük is a mound with continuous settlement from the Chalcolithic age to the Ottomans, standing out for the Early Bronze Age Hatti civilisation and the Hittite Empire period. This page focuses on how to visit rather than the history.

📍 Location and transport

Alacahöyük is in the Alaca district of Çorum, about 50 km from the city centre — roughly a one-hour drive. The most practical way is by car or tour; public transport is limited. For ways to reach the city, see how to get to Çorum.

🏛️ Main sights

Sphinx Gate: the monumental Hittite-period gate through which you enter, flanked by twin sphinx reliefs.
Hatti royal tombs: Early Bronze Age (c. 2500–2000 BC) shaft graves; gold, silver and bronze objects and sun discs mark the peak of Hatti metalwork.
The mound and city remains: walls, temple and building layers.

Note: most of the finest original finds from the tombs are now displayed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara; some pieces and replicas can be seen at the site and the local museum.

🏺 Alacahöyük Museum

Right beside the site, the museum first opened in 1940 and was later renovated. It displays finds from the Chalcolithic, Early Bronze, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian and Roman periods. Visiting it with the site helps make sense of the finds in context.

☀️ The sun disc and Çorum's emblem

The sun disc that Alacahöyük is known for is a ceremonial metal standard from the royal tombs, symbolising the sun and the universe. The emblem used today for Çorum and popularly called the "Hittite Sun" originates from this mound (the symbol actually belongs to the pre-Hittite Hatti period).

🧭 Combined Hittite route with Hattusa

Alacahöyük is about 35 km (~30–35 min) from Hattusa; the two are easily seen the same day. The classic Hittite route is Hattusa (the great capital) + Yazılıkaya (the rock sanctuary) + Alacahöyük. For practical details, see the Hattusa visitor guide.

🎒 Practical tips

Time: ~1–2 hours for the site + museum; a full day combined with Hattusa.
Season: spring and autumn are ideal; it is open ground with little shade — bring a hat and water.
Entrance fees and hours can vary by season; check the official museum source before visiting.