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TOP 10 REASONS
TOP 10 REASONS
TOP 10 REASONS
Why travel to Ankara: Find out the top 10 reasons to visit
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01
A SNEAK PEAK
A SNEAK PEAK
A SNEAK PEAK
A Sneak Peek into Ankara
- Ankara is sometimes overlooked when planning a trip to Turkey, which is a shame because the capital city has more to offer than most travellers realise.
- Ankara is an excellent city to visit if one of your main travel goals is to learn about Turkey's enormous history.
- A sightseeing trip around Ankara's citadel neighbourhood provides a view of the city's past. Before it was upgraded to capital status, it included the country's top museum and Atatürk's mausoleum, two of its most important historic tourist attractions.
- Ankara's central location makes it an ideal starting point for excursions into the Anatolian heartland, where you'll discover several ancient sites and other historical attractions within day-trip distance.
- Plan whether to go east to Cappadocia, south to Konya, or west to Safranbolu while you're in town.
- Although the government is a large employer, Ankara is also a significant commercial and industrial city at the crossroads of Turkey's road and rail networks.
- The Angora wool sheared from Angora rabbits, the long-haired Angora goat (the source of mohair), and the Angora cat are all named after the city.
- Ankara is worth visiting if you enjoy the performing arts, from opera to ballet. Cultural facilities abound in the city, presenting the best of the country's talent in music, dance, theatre, and other fields.
- Capital – Ankara
- International Airport - Ankara Airport (ESB)
- Population- 5,747,325
- Currency- LIRA
- Time - GMT+3
- Driving side- right
- Main electricity- 230V
- Official language - Turkish
- Religion- Islam
02
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
Top Tourist Attractions in Ankara
- The Anatolian Civilizations Museum alone is incentive enough to visit Ankara while in Turkey.
- Anitkabir, the most visited attraction in Ankara, is also Turkey's most prominent modern pilgrimage destination.
- The Citadel (Kale) area comes from the Byzantine era and is surrounded by defences built in the 9th century that are still massive in sections.
- The Erimtan Museum's collection is primarily Classical, making it an ideal complement to the city's larger Anatolian Civilizations Museum.
- Ankara is frequently seen as a modern city, having been designated as the nation's planned new capital following the formation of the modern Turkish state.
03
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
Best Months to Visit Ankara
- Ankara is best visited between June and September.
- Because the days are nice and warm, and the sun shines brightly, this is the busiest traveller season.
- Temperatures routinely fall below -14 degrees Celsius in December and January throughout the winter months of November to February.
04
WORTH A VISIT
WORTH A VISIT
WORTH A VISIT
The Best Places to Visit in Ankara
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- This museum alone is incentive enough to visit Ankara while in Turkey.
- It's the only spot in the country where you can get a sense of Anatolia's pre-Classical human history.
- In the first hall, the most notable findings from the Neolithic village site of atalhöyük, near Konya, are on exhibit, including a wall painting that some archaeologists believe to be the world's first town map and the legendary fertility goddess statue.
- Further on, there are halls dedicated to the Bronze Age Hittite Empire, which had its capital at Hattuşa (192 kilometres to the east), and the Iron Age Phrygian and Urartian Empires, which flourished on the Anatolian steppe.
- The essential stone reliefs and sculptures from various times are displayed in the central Stone Hall.
- Several superbly detailed orthostat reliefs from the Hittite site of Carchemish (70 kilometres southwest of Gaziantep), renowned long before its actual discovery as the site of the Old Testament's Battle of Carchemish between Egypt and Babylonia.
The Anitkabir
- Ankara's most popular tourist destination is also Turkey's most important modern pilgrimage site.
- The mausoleum of Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish state, is located on a hilltop just west of the city centre.
- The site, which is centred on a wide plaza, features a significant museum complex in addition to the main mausoleum with its extravagant use of marble.
- It includes exhibits about Atatürk's War of Independence, which resulted in the formation of Turkey as a modern nation, as well as exhibits on Atatürk's life.
- You may get a great view of Ankara from the arcade that runs along the plaza's edge. Gilded inscriptions of Atatürk's speeches adorn the mausoleum itself.
- A cenotaph lies above the location of Atatürk's tomb on the inside. Travellers entering the tomb should respect the solemn solemnity with which Turks pay their respects to their modern nation's founder and first president.
The Citadel Neighborhood
- The most atmospheric thing to do in Ankara is a stroll through this area.
- The Citadel (Kale) area comes from the Byzantine era and is surrounded by defences built in the 9th century that are still massive in sections.
- Inside, rickety Ottoman-era cottages line tiny cobblestone lanes, some of which have been lovingly repaired in recent years, while others are slowly deteriorating into varying stages of dilapidation.
- The Eastern Tower (Sark Kulesi) is the primary attraction inside the inner walls, with views across modern Ankara from its crenellated ramparts.
- The winding pathways leading downhill from the main gate of the inner citadel region, known as Parmak Kaps, are crowded with traditional artisan workshops, antique stores, and cafés. This is an excellent location for souvenir hunting.
- Stop by the Aslanhane Cami, one of Ankara's most interesting mosques, while you're here.
- With its elaborate ceramic tile mihrab (wall niche) and prayer hall surrounded by wooden pillars topped with Roman stone capitals, the mosque's interior is worth visiting.
05
DISCOVER MORE
DISCOVER MORE
DISCOVER MORE
Ankara Off the Beaten Track
Erimtan Archaeology & Art Museum
- The Erimtan Museum's collection is primarily Classical, making it an ideal complement to the city's larger Anatolian Civilizations Museum.
- Because they sit on the road heading up to the citadel region, they can easily be seen together in the morning or afternoon.
- The Erimtan's contemporary narrative displays, which eschew standard museum curation, bring the artefacts of this private collection to life, allowing travellers to learn more about daily life in the Greek and Roman periods.
- The Erimtan presents frequent temporary exhibitions in its lower hall, which often focus on specific archaeological sites or Turkish culture and its permanent collection.
- Evening classical music concerts are held on the museum grounds regularly.
Ulus' Roman Remnants
- Ankara is frequently seen as a modern city, having been designated as the nation's planned new capital following the formation of the modern Turkish state.
- However, a settlement has existed on this site since the Bronze Age.
- This settlement rose to importance during the Roman period when it was renamed Ankyra, and Emperor Augustus designated it the capital of the Roman province of Galatia.
- The only extant Roman ruins from this period may be seen in Ulus' downtown section.
- Pay a quick visit to the meagre relics of the Temple of Augustus and Rome on Haci Bayram Veli Caddesi to get a sense of the prominence of ancient Ankyra.
- Next to the Haci Bayram i-Veli Cami, just incomplete ruins of the temple's once-impressive walls remain.
- The Roman baths on Ankiri Caddesi are the most comprehensive series of ruins from Ancient Ankyra.
- The foundations of this vast imperial baths complex, along with an abundance of stone reliefs and some remaining entire arched ruins, are visible, though you'll have to stomp through the weeds to see them.
- As you walk from Ulus up Hisarparki Caddesi to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the citadel region, keep an eye out for the remnants of the Roman theatre on the northern side of the road.
- Because it's being restored, you can only see the ruins of this theatre, which formerly held between 3,000 and 4,000 people, from above.
The Haci Bayram i-Veli Cami
- This 15th-century mosque is a prominent pilgrimage centre built in honour of the Muslim holy figure and Bayramiye dervish founder, Haci Bayram Veli.
- A stop here is more fascinating for non-pilgrim travellers because of the surrounding neighbourhood rather than the mosque's interior.
- The mosque's area has been beautifully landscaped, with gardens and renovated Ottoman-era homes, and is a favourite hangout for local families in the early evening.
- It features a plaza with a pond, fountains, and shops offering religious mementoes for pilgrims and the Temple of Augustus and Rome's remaining walls, which rub up against the mosque (and were initially used to house the mosque's madrassa).
06
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
Ankara Culture and Traditions
- Ankara is a true cultural hub, including museums, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish Republic's founder, and theatres and exhibition centres.
- The Anatolian Civilisation Museum, Ankara Castle, Coppersmith Market, and Open Bazaar are just a few sights to see.
- Beypazari, an ancient and traditional town in the Ankara Province, is known for its residences and location on the famed Silk Road.
- As a result, it is one of Anatolia's oldest residential neighbourhoods.
- Houses, garden walls, and the arş (market) border the historic streets, evoking a typical Turkish town.
- Coppersmiths, silversmiths, and bronze smiths work on metals to create beautiful items in the shops, usually one story high.
07
FOOD FUN FASHION
FOOD FUN FASHION
FOOD FUN FASHION
Ankara: Food, Fun & Fashion Guide
Kokoreç
#Food
- Kokoreç is a typical Turkish meal popular in other countries, notably Greece, referred to as kokoretsi.
- There are some distinctions between the Turkish and Greek translations, though.
- People in Greece consume lamb offal like lungs, kidneys, hearts, and liver, but in Turkey, small and large intestines and sweetbreads are used without other ingredients.
- The contents are rinsed and cleaned before wound around iron skewers and roasted over charcoal in the Turkish variation, kokoreç.
- When the dish is finished, it is frequently served on bread or wrapped with spices like oregano, cumin, and chilli flakes.
Lahmacun
#Food
- Even though lahmacun is commonly referred to as Turkish pizza, such a moniker does not credit what this crispy, doughy treat topped with spicy minced meat truly signifies.
- Lahmacun is a popular midday snack in Turkey and ideal street cuisine.
- It can be found in various street vendors and practically any traditional Turkish restaurant and kebab restaurant where little lahmacuns are commonly served as appetisers.
- The perfect lahmacun is produced by flattening a ball of firm semolina dough into a thin disc lightly coated with minced lamb or beef, chiles, onions, and other seasonings.
Bulgur pilavı
#Food
- Bulgur pilav is a hearty Turkish pilaf commonly prepared with onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and a variety of spices.
- When the bulgur is cooked and ready to eat, it's good to add some fresh parsley on the top.
- The dish is usually served as a side dish to casseroles or meat meals like kebap, izgara, or köfte.
Atakule
#Fashion
- The spinning restaurant tower at Atakule Shopping Mall in Ankara is a tourist attraction.
- It is in the ankaya district, facing Zübeyde Hanm Square, where Cinnah Street and ankaya Street converge.
- It was a 5-story section that served as an Atrium bazaar, a commercial mall, and a social unit with a wedding and drink hall.
- The observation deck, which stands at 87 metres in height, is accessible by two elevators with a reinforced concrete carrier system erected at the height of 125 metres and offers a view over the city on both the ascent and descent.
- A cafe-bar floor and a restaurant floor with a spinning platform are located beneath this part.
Next Level Shopping Mall
#Fashion
- Since its opening in 2013, the Next Level Shopping Mall has introduced a new perspective to the city in terms of shopping and culture, art, and life.
- It is located in Söütözü, which has become the hub of Ankara's rapid expansion, near the intersection of Eskişehir and Konya roads.
- The award-winning architecture of Next Level Shopping Mall has also contributed to Ankara's status as one of the world's capitals.
- With its outdoor terrace space, distinguished cafés and restaurants, and a friendly atmosphere with a pool, Next Level has become an essential address for Ankara residents as a shopping mall that caters to every demand and hosts a wide variety of brands and retailers.
Karum Shopping Mall
#Fashion
- Karum Shopping Mall, located on Iran Street in Kavakldere, is Ankara's oldest shopping mall.
- The Ankara Sheraton Hotel is located across the street.
- The commercial centre's construction area is 62.000m2. There is a parking lot of 12.000 m2, a common area of 23.000 m2, and a usable area of 27.000 m2.
- The structure has nine storeys: market floors (ground floor, first floor, and second floor), four office floors, two plumbing and parking floors, and four significant gates and parking connections.
- In the centre, there is an oval atrium.
Wonderland Eurasia
#Fun
- In March 2019, Wonderland Eurasia touted as "Europe's largest theme park," opened in Ankara, Turkey.
- After less than a year of operation, the vast park was forced to close permanently due to political turbulence, unequal ride quality, and a lack of attendance.
- According to an AFP report, the park's abandoned dinosaur statues, which are now stacked in fields, portray a "narrative of enormous ambition, waste, and challenges facing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's long-ruling party."
- The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality spent hundreds of millions of euros on the project, which included 17 roller coasters and dozens of other attractions sprawled throughout a 320-acre park that is now abandoned.
Vialand Theme Park
#Fun
- At Vialand theme park, Turkey's first theme park, you may get an adrenaline rush, go shopping, and have endless fun.
- The park offers a variety of activities to make your stay worthwhile. There's no chance you'll grow bored at Turkey's Vialand theme park.
- Test your nerves on the thrilling rollercoaster, shop at H&M, Armani, and Tommy Hilfiger, or take your kids on a boat ride down the river.
- The fun doesn't stop there: there's a bowling alley, a multiplex theatre, and a food court to quench your appetite after a long day of action.
The Land of Legends Theme Park
#Fun
- This gorgeously themed park is massive, with over 40 thrilling slides, a mainly created children's play area, pools, a 5D theatre, a shopping centre, and various restaurants, bistros, and cafes.
- Thrill enthusiasts should rush to the Typhoon Coaster and wander about the penguins, photographing and feeding them.
- Within the Belek resort, it is one of Turkey's leading theme parks, with a Turkish flair.
08
NATURE & SAFARI
NATURE & SAFARI
NATURE & SAFARI
Ankara: Natural Beauty & Safari Adventures
- Ankara's most popular sites for a nature escape from the significant city bustle are Eymir Lake (17 kilometres south of the central city) and its surrounding pine tree forest.
- On beautiful weekends, the lakeside area can be crowded with people out for a picnic, but it's considerably quieter during the week.
- The route that loops for 10.5 kilometres around the lake is Ankara's closest outdoor location for a long stroll, run, or cycling.
- Bicycles can be leased on-site for bikers, and adventurous walkers can tackle the different walking trails that lead into the forest for a deeper dive into nature.
- A swarm of eateries and cafés dot the lake's southern shore, and locals flock there for lengthy, leisurely breakfasts.
- This is the most central green park in Ankara. Gençlik Park, which is popular with local families for evening strolls and weekend picnics, is a fantastic spot to visit if you want to get away from the rush and bustle of the city.
- The park features a big lake and many promenades with fountains and well-kept flora.
- Ankara's Luna Park is located in the park's southeast corner and features several amusement park rides, including a Ferris wheel, two roller coasters, and lots of gentler rides for younger children, including carousels and bumper cars.
- If you're travelling with small children, it's a great spot to keep them occupied for an hour or two.
09
EVENTS & FIESTAS
EVENTS & FIESTAS
EVENTS & FIESTAS
Ankara Must-Attend Festivals and Events
- A'music festival' is a community event that features singing and instrument performances and usually has a theme, such as musical genre (e.g., rock, blues, folk, jazz, classical music), nationality, musician location, or holiday.
- Individuals or organisations within networks of music production, such as music scenes, the music industry, or music education institutions, usually host music festivals.
- The music festival is the most significant and most crucial performance institution in the music world, a place to see and hear what's going on in the culture.
- Music festivals are frequently hosted outdoors, with performers performing on tents or roofed temporary stages.
- Other activities such as food and goods-vending, dancing, crafts, performance art, and social or cultural events are frequently included at music festivals.
FAQs to Plan Your Best Ankara Holiday
Places similar to Ankara to visit
Places similar to Ankara to visit
Places similar to Ankara to visit