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The slopes of Palandöken above Erzurum dusted with the first snow, with the ski hotels at their foot

Resort guide · Türkiye

Palandöken: Our Ski Guide

The mountains above Erzurum, on the high plateau of eastern Türkiye: dry powder for about 150 days a year, 55 pistes over 87 km, night skiing, and ski hotels five kilometres from a Seljuk city and fifteen minutes from its airport.

Plan your trip:Official resort site

The back story

Season: About 150 days, December to April (Governorship of Erzurum); 2026/27 dates from the operator · Ski area: 87 km, 55 pistes, 19 lifts (Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality) · Highest peak: Büyük Ejder Tepesi, 3,176 m · Skipass: Sold through Ejder 3200 (ejder3200.com) · Distances: 5 km from Erzurum; 15–30 minutes from the airport · Nearest airport: Erzurum (ERZ)

  1. The back story

    Palandöken: the back story

    Palandöken·In depth

    How the mountains above Erzurum, a Seljuk city on the high plateau of eastern Anatolia, became one of Türkiye’s great ski areas: dry powder, a master plan, the 2011 Universiade and long runs five kilometres from town.

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Lift passes, ski schools and hire

  1. 87 km, 55 pistes

    Palandöken Ski Centre

    Palandöken·Ski area·€€

    Erzurum’s ski centre on the slopes of Ejder Tepesi: 55 pistes over 87 km, 19 lifts, night skiing, a sled run and snowmaking.

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  2. Prices from the operator

    Palandöken skipass (Ejder 3200)

    Palandöken·Lift pass·€€

    Passes are sold through Ejder 3200, linked from the municipality’s site; its site shows prices behind a security check, so check it before you travel.

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  3. 18 km from Erzurum

    Konaklı Ski Centre

    Palandöken·Ski area·€

    The second ski centre of the Palandöken range, 18 km south-west of Erzurum, with 11 pistes suited to alpine and freestyle competition.

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  4. FIS-homologated slopes

    Sway Hotels ski school and rental

    Palandöken·Ski school and hire·€€

    Ski programmes for adults and children at Sway Hotels, with ski rental and two FIS-homologated slopes for giant slalom and slalom.

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  5. Chairlift towards Ejder Tepesi

    Polat Palandöken ski room and chairlift

    Palandöken·Ski room·€€€

    A 500 m² ski room with heated lockers, the hotel’s own chairlift towards Ejder Tepesi and a 400-metre floodlit slope.

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  6. Baby lift and snow tube

    Palan Hotel beginners’ area

    Palandöken·Beginner area·€

    Two slopes 50 metres from the Palan Hotel, a baby lift and a snow-tube run, with instructors and ski rental at the hotel.

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Where to stay, every budget

Who it suits. On a budget: Room-and-breakfast at the Palan Hotel, its baby lift for beginners, and cağ kebabı in town. Mid-range: Half or full board at Sway, Palan or the two Dedeman hotels, all at the foot of the slopes. Luxury: Polat Palandöken, with its own chairlift, MOMO après-ski, Peak at 2,500 m and a Turkish bath.

  1. Designed by Autoban · In depth

    Polat Palandöken

    Palandöken·Ski hotel·€€€€

    A ski hotel redesigned by the studio Autoban, with its own chairlift, the PLNDKN Sports Club’s indoor pool, Turkish bath, sauna and steam room, suites up to 110 m², MOMO après-ski and Peak at 2,500 metres.

    Yunusemre, Kayak Yolu Üzeri, 25070 Palandöken, ErzurumExplore View on map

  2. 15 minutes from the airport · In depth

    Sway Hotels

    Palandöken·Ski hotel·€€€

    A family ski hotel 15 minutes from Erzurum Airport, with two FIS-homologated slopes, night skiing, an indoor and open-terrace heated pool, a Zen Zone, a Ladies Club, a kids’ club and an après-ski terrace open until 2am.

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  3. Three minutes’ walk to the slopes

    Palan Hotel Ski & Convention Resort

    Palandöken·Ski hotel·€€

    A 158-room hotel built in 1998 and fully renovated in 2015, three minutes’ walk from the slopes, on room-and-breakfast, half or full board.

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  4. At the ski centre

    Dedeman Palandöken

    Palandöken·Ski hotel·€€€

    The Dedeman group’s hotel at Palandöken Ski Centre, with standard, deluxe and triple rooms.

    Yunusemre Mah., Palandöken Kayak Merkezi, 25000 Palandöken, ErzurumExplore View on map

  5. Twin rooms and king suites

    Dedeman Palandöken Ski Lodge

    Palandöken·Ski lodge·€€

    Dedeman’s second, lodge-style hotel at the ski centre, with 36 m² twin rooms and king suites.

    Yunusemre Mah., Palandöken Kayak Merkezi, 25000 Palandöken, ErzurumExplore View on map

Restaurants and mountain huts

  1. At 2,500 m

    Peak, Polat Palandöken

    Palandöken·Mountain restaurant·€€€

    A chalet restaurant at 2,500 metres on Palandöken with a barbecue menu and mountain views, 8am–4pm.

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  2. Turkish and international buffet

    Kestane Restaurant, Polat Palandöken

    Palandöken·Hotel restaurant·€€€

    A generous buffet of Turkish and international dishes with an emphasis on local, natural flavours, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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  3. 450 seats

    Main Restaurant, Sway Hotels

    Palandöken·Hotel restaurant·€€

    A 450-seat open-buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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  4. 500 seats

    Main Restaurant, Palan Hotel

    Palandöken·Hotel restaurant·€€

    A 500-seat restaurant serving international and regional dishes, with afternoon tea on full board.

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  5. Erzurum’s own kebab

    Cağ kebabı in Erzurum

    Palandöken·Local speciality·€

    Erzurum’s signature dish: spiced lamb on a horizontal spit, cooked slowly over wood and served sliced on pide with onions, yoghurt and pickled peppers.

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  6. Beside the beginners’ slopes

    Palan Cafe

    Palandöken·Slope café·€

    Palan Hotel’s café beside its beginners’ slopes, for hot and cold drinks with a view of the mountain.

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Après-ski and bars

  1. DJs on the snowdeck

    MOMO Après-Ski, Polat Palandöken

    Palandöken·Après-ski·€€€

    Lunch between runs, sunset après-ski and DJ performances on the snowdeck at Polat Palandöken.

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  2. Adults only

    Secret Bar, Polat Palandöken

    Palandöken·Bar·€€€

    An intimate adults-only bar at Polat Palandöken for evenings after the slopes.

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  3. 9am–2am

    Après-Ski Terrace, Sway Hotels

    Palandöken·Après-ski·€€

    Music and parties on Sway Hotels’ après-ski terrace, open from 9am to 2am.

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  4. Noon to 5pm

    Lounge 2400, Sway Hotels

    Palandöken·Mountain lounge·€€

    Sway Hotels’ lounge for music and parties on the mountain, from noon to 5pm and on event dates.

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  5. Terrace, lobby and disco

    Bars at Palan Hotel

    Palandöken·Hotel bars·€€

    A terrace bar with views of the city and Palandöken, a lobby bar, patisserie and disco bar.

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Shops

  1. At the hotel

    Sway Hotels ski rental

    Palandöken·Ski hire·€€

    Ski and snowboard rental at Sway Hotels, next to its slopes.

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  2. With ski lockers

    Palan Hotel ski rental

    Palandöken·Ski hire·€

    Ski equipment rental and personal ski lockers at the Palan Hotel.

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  3. 500 m²

    Polat Palandöken ski room

    Palandöken·Equipment support·€€€

    Equipment support for skiers and snowboarders in Polat Palandöken’s 500 m² ski room with heated lockers.

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  4. Five km from the slopes

    Erzurum city centre

    Palandöken·Old town·€

    The city below the slopes, with the Çifte Minareli Medrese and the kebab houses of the old centre.

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Spas and wellness

  1. Turkish bath and indoor pool

    PLNDKN Sports Club, Polat Palandöken

    Palandöken·Hotel spa·€€€

    A gym, indoor pool, Turkish bath, sauna, steam room and massages at Polat Palandöken.

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  2. Indoor and terrace heated pool

    Sway Wellness & Spa

    Palandöken·Hotel spa·€€

    A heated pool indoors and on an open terrace, fitness, a zen zone, therapy area and ladies’ club.

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  3. Sauna, hammam, indoor pool

    Palan Fitness & Spa

    Palandöken·Hotel spa·€€

    A sauna, Turkish hammam, massages, an indoor pool and a fitness centre at the Palan Hotel.

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  4. Movement and wellbeing

    The Studio, Polat Palandöken

    Palandöken·Studio·€€€

    Yoga, meditation and body-focused workshops with visiting experts at Polat Palandöken.

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Getting there

  1. About 15–30 minutes

    Erzurum Airport (ERZ)

    Palandöken·Airport·€

    Direct flights from Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir; the Governorship puts the ski centre 25–30 minutes from the airport, and the hotels about 15.

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  2. Five km from the city

    From Erzurum by road

    Palandöken·By road·€

    The ski centre is five km from Erzurum city centre, a short taxi ride up the Kayak Yolu.

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  3. Checked October 2026

    Entry to Türkiye

    Palandöken·Entry rules·€

    Ordinary passport holders from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and many other countries need no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days; others use the e-Visa.

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Property: the neighbourhoods

  1. Hotels at the foot of the slopes

    Palandöken ski centre (Yunusemre)

    Palandöken·Neighbourhood

    The hotel area at the foot of the pistes in Yunusemre, with Polat, Sway, Palan and the two Dedeman hotels.

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  2. The high plateau

    Erzurum city

    Palandöken·City

    The city on the high plateau, five km below the slopes, with Seljuk monuments, kebab houses and the airport close by.

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  3. 18 km south-west

    Konaklı

    Palandöken·Ski area

    The second ski area of the range, 18 km south-west of the city, quieter than Palandöken.

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  4. 7 km east

    Gez Yaylası

    Palandöken·Ski area

    The third area of the Palandöken master plan, 7 km east of Erzurum, suited to alpine and freestyle skiing.

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  5. Built for the 2011 Universiade

    Kandilli

    Palandöken·Nordic centre

    The cross-country and biathlon centre 36 km from Erzurum, built for the 25th Winter Universiade.

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Share your Palandöken tips

Been there? Share your runs, huts and tips with other skiers.

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