Erzurum is a city situated in the Erzurum Province of eastern Turkey and the city at the highest elevation in the country. This makes Erzurum a rather cold place during the winter, but it also makes it a destination for skiers who flock to Palandöken Ski Resort, known for its excellent powder skiing, which is only about a 10 minute drive from the Erzurum city center. Palandöken Ski Resort constitutes the most significant part of the tourism to the city of Erzurum. It was host to the 2011 Winter Universiade which brought signifigant development to the ski area including the development of the Konaklı Ski Resort, which was enhanced for alpine skiing competitions. Konaklı Ski Resort is located 17 kilometers or 11 miles from the city center and has contributed to the economy of Erzurum. Much of the ancient buildings were destroyed leaving only a number of sites like the Citadel, the Çifte Minareli Medrese and the Three Tombs (Turkish: Üç Kümbetler) which also draw a number of visitors every year.

In 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk resigned from the Ottoman Army in Erzurum and was declared an Honorary Native and freeman of the city. It was in Erzurum where his first citizenship registration and certificate (Turkish: Nüfus Cuzdanı) of the new Turkish Republic was issued. It was also in the city that the Erzurum Congress of 1919 was held being the key starting point of the Turkish War of Independence.