The Best Travel Guide to Ankara

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Turkey

Ankara

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Overview

Ankara The guide was updated: 2022-09-14

The heart of the Turkish Republic, Ankara, is the second largest city of Turkey after Istanbul. The city lies on the border where east between west. The European and Middle Eastern cultures merged and coloured the city's architecture, food, wine, nightlife, fashion and arts. Drop the anchor in Ankara, as its name suggests, cross the border between tradition and modernity.

Facts

Population:	5.7 million (2021)
Currency:	Turkish Lira (TRY) 1 = 100 kuruş
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Emergency: 112 Police: 155 Fire Brigade: 110
Newspapers:	Foreign newspapers and magazines are available. In addition, Turkish daily newspapers and Today’s Zaman are published in English.
Opening hours:	Shops are normally open Mon–Sat 9am–7/8pm, some are closed over lunch. Larger shops and malls often stay open until later. On Sundays and public holidays, shops are normally closed. Banks are generally open 8.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–5.30pm and closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tourist information:	Ankara Tourist Information Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvarı 121 Tandoğan, Ankara +90 312 231 55 72 info@kulturturizm.gov.tr

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Section in Ankara

To experience the ancient Ankara head over to Ulus, where the narrow and winding streets are filled with stalls and shops selling antiques and Kilims, traditional Persian tapestry. Kızılay is the place to go to for an outdoor beer, deep fried mussels, and inexpensive shopping. If fashion is what you seek, the fashionable central Tunalı and Çankaya have the best offer of modern food and clothing.

Ankara Kalesi

Ankara Kalesi

This early medieval castle offers a great view of the city from Ulus, the historic district. Within its walls, there is a small village with shops and restaurants in wooden beamed houses and the Old Turkish House Museum.

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Located on the south side of Ankara Castle, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations houses a huge collection of Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, Roman and Lydian treasures. It was elected as the first "European Museum of the Year" in 1997.

State Art and Sculpture Museum

State Art and Sculpture Museum

At the Museum of Painting and Sculpture you can find a major permanent collection of modern Turkish paintings, featuring works by Osman Handi and Hikmet Onat. This space also features temporary exhibitions of international works.

Ethnography Museum

Ethnography Museum

The Museum of Ethnography focuses in the Ottoman period, especially its textiles, metalwork and carved wooden doors. The museum will give you a solid understanding of Turkish history and identity.

Kocatepe Mosque

Kocatepe Mosque

Kocatepe Mosque is a huge, white mosque built in the late 20th century. The beautiful mosque has four minarets making it visible from almost anywhere in the city of Ankara.

Atatürk Mausoleum

Atatürk Mausoleum

This mausoleum honours the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The mausoleum hall is a colonnaded temple with huge bronze doors. Every day, Turks from all around the country and foreigners come to pay their respect to the founder of the Republic.

Karagöl

Karagöl

With beautiful scenery in winter and autumn, this is a local favourite for picnics in nature. You can walk along one of the many trekking routes along the mountains, as well as canoe in the lake — outdoor activities are certainly not lacking.

Atakule Tower

Atakule Tower

This 125-metre high observation and communication tower is located in the heart of the city, in Çankaya district. The tower also doubles as a shopping mall, just perfect to do some shopping after contemplating the sun setting over the city.

Hattusha

Hattusha

Hattuscha, an UNESCO World Heritage site, was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. Its ruins, lying near the village of Boğazköy, are an important archeological site and a must-see when in Ankara

Hacı Bayram Mosque

Hacı Bayram Mosque

This beautiful mosque is located in the heart of Ankara. Built in the 15th century, the mosque and its magnificent wood roof with floral motifs will not cease to amase you.

Gençlik Park

Gençlik Park

This park is located in the centre of the city and is a great retreat for a relaxing walk or run. Gençlik Park is the perfect place to bring the children for a entertaining fun day out.

Cermodern

Cermodern

Like every big city, Ankara needs its own Museum of Modern Art. Holding exhibitions in old, restored industrial buildings, Cermodern has artworks for all tastes.

Aqua Vega Aquarium

Aqua Vega Aquarium

At Aqua Vega you can step into a world full of exotic fish and other creatures from the ocean. This is a wonderful place to bring the children, who will be amused by the underwater aquarium tunnel.

Şengül Hamamı

Şengül Hamamı

The Turkish hamam plays an important in Turkish society. This 15th-century public bath and spa is just perfect for a restoring and refreshing bath or Turkish massage.

Temple of Augustus and Rome

Temple of Augustus and Rome

Located next to the Haci Bayram Mosque, the temple was built in AD 10 as a tribute to Emperor Augustus. Only ruins of the walls and columns still remain, making it the perfect spot for history enthusiasts.

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