G2Rail

Ankara is Turkey's capital, and its second city in size after Istanbul. Literally and figuratively, it is at the heart of Turkey and of Central Anatolia, the surrounding region. The population is around 4.5 million.

Ankara is the administrative hub of Turkey and a huge university town, so it has a large population of government workers and university students. As the national capital Ankara is home to a large population of foreign diplomats and embassy staff, it offers goods and services that might be more difficult to find in other Turkish cities — for example you will have no problem ordering a cappuccino or a hamburger.

Ankara is a sprawling, modern city which can appear as little more than a dull, concrete jungle at first glance — most non-local Turks view Ankara as a depressive and grey city with nothing in offer other than the boring world of politics. Consequently, many tourists tend to use it merely as a transit point for getting to places like Konya or Cappadocia. However, Ankara does have a lot to offer for those prepared to look a bit deeper — as the proud capital of the Turkish Republic, it is easy to trace the steps of the early republican years here, whether it be in the shape of the fine buildings of the first national architecture movement or the 1940s monuments following the totalitarian aesthetics of the era. Local museums abound with some of the best pieces of art in the country, ancient and modern. And since it originally lies on the mostly barren Central Anatolian steppelands, Ankara vigorously pursued a policy of tree planting, which resulted in many parks and forestlands around the city, which add to its charms.

Modern cityscape of Ankara, as viewed from the path leading to Anıtkabir

Like most Turks, the locals are generally friendly and helpful to tourists. Ankara has a large university student population and many young people can communicate in English, but it's still a good idea to have a Turkish phrasebook or dictionary on hand.

Apart from the old town in and around the citadel near Ulus, and unplanned shanty town neighbourhoods here and there built hastily by new immigrants from countryside since the 1960s, most of Ankara, which was a provincial town of 20,000 people in the early days of the Republic, is a purpose-built capital due to its strategic location at the heart of the country, although the history of settlement in the vicinity is millennia old.

While the biggest claim to fame of the town used to be the long-haired local breed of goats named after the former name of the city (Angora), out of which high quality mohair textiles were produced, today the few places where you can spot them in the city is the lawns in some parks or at the sides of clover-leaf interchanges on the highways—in the form of cute sculptures.

Ankara: Kizilay square The "downtown" area of this large city is around Kızılay Square (Kızılay Meydanı, named after the headquarters of the Red Crescent, the Turkish equivalent of the Red Cross, now replaced by a modern shopping mall) which has a fair number of transportation links to almost anywhere in the city. To the north, Kızılay Square is connected by a wide avenue, Atatürk Boulevard, to the squares of Sıhhiye (Ottoman Turkish for "sanitary works" as this has been the site of the building of the Ministry of Health since the foundation of the republic), marked by an unmissable Hittite monument in the middle of its roundabout, and Ulus ("nation", the site of the major institutions of the early years of the republic, such as the old parliament), which has a large equestrian monument of Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the republic, at its side. Ulus, the adjoining Hisar district around the hilltop citadel, and Hamamönü just south of it down the hill form the old town of Ankara.

To the immediate south of Kızılay lies the upmarket districts of Kavaklıdere, Gaziosmanpaşa and Çankaya. The city's most expensive hotels and restaurants are found in this region, as are most of the embassies and consular services.

Southwest of Kızılay, past the aptly named Bakanlıklar ("ministries") district, İsmet İnönü Boulevard (named after the second Turkish president) leads into the area collectively known as Eskişehir Yolu (literally "the road to Eskişehir"), which is lined by most of Ankara's large and afforested university campuses and the buildings of the administrative institutions, including the National Parliament. The area becomes exurbs several tens of kilometres out of the city, which eventually give way to the wide open steppe.

As any other part of the Anatolian highland, the winters are cold and usually snowy. Temperature is regularly below the freezing point during this season, but it rarely drops below -15°C. Thanks to the low levels of relative humidity, the hot and dry summers are more comfortable than coastal regions of Turkey. Average daily temperatures in midsummer are around 30°C. Daily temperatures can reach 35°C and above, but is not common and usually last no more than a few days. Summer nights are cool, though, so be sure to bring at least a cardigan with you to wear outdoors. Spring and autumn are the wettest seasons, but with an annual precipitation of 415 mm (i.e. a semi-arid climate), you are unlikely to get much wet during your trip to Ankara, anyway.

Kocatepe

Kocatepe Mosque, Olgunlar Cd, Kızılay (Kizilay N 1km. Built between 1967 and 1987, completed in 1987, this project is built in a neoclassical Ottoman architecture style, and is an eclectic building.
Hacı Bayram Mosque, Sarıbağ Sk (near the Temple of Augustus - Ulus SW 0.7 km. Restored by architect Mimar Sinan in the 16th century, with Kütahya tiles being added in the 18th century. Just next door is the small tomb of Hacı Bayram Veli, a poet and Sufi, who settled in Ankara in the 15th century to spread his teachings. This is considered to be the holiest shrine in the city by pious Muslims, who can be found praying in and outside the tomb in large numbers regardless of the time of the day. Take a look inside to see the colourful dome topping the structure.
Arslanhane Mosque, Can Sk (Kurtuluş S 1km. A 13th-century Seljuk mosque near the citadel, and quite worth the effort to climb up the steep hill leading there. Has a finely carved wooden ceiling supported by a "forest" of stately wooden columns, following the style of a few such mosques dispersed throughout Anatolia.
Sultan Alaeddin Mosque, Altındağ (: 'Ulus' W 1 km. It has a carved walnut mimber, the inscription on which records that the mosque was completed in early AH 574 (which corresponds to the summer of 1178 AD) by the Seljuk Sultan. Ankara's first mosque was built in former Kaleici district.
Ahi Elvan Mosque, Koyunpazari Sk. (: 'Ulus' NW 1.7 km. was constructed during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The finely carved walnut mimber (pulpit) is of particular interest.
Yeni Mosque, Ulucanlar Avenue (Ulucanlar Caddesi) (Cebeci Tren İstanbul 600 m SE, or Dikimevi. Built by the famous architect Sinan in the 16th century. The mimber (pulpit) and mihrap (prayer niche) are of white marble, and the mosque is made of Ankara stone, an example of very fine workmanship.

Kocatepe Mosque, Olgunlar Cd, Kızılay (Kizilay N 1km. Built between 1967 and 1987, completed in 1987, this project is built in a neoclassical Ottoman architecture style, and is an eclectic building.

Hacı Bayram Mosque, Sarıbağ Sk (near the Temple of Augustus - Ulus SW 0.7 km. Restored by architect Mimar Sinan in the 16th century, with Kütahya tiles being added in the 18th century. Just next door is the small tomb of Hacı Bayram Veli, a poet and Sufi, who settled in Ankara in the 15th century to spread his teachings. This is considered to be the holiest shrine in the city by pious Muslims, who can be found praying in and outside the tomb in large numbers regardless of the time of the day. Take a look inside to see the colourful dome topping the structure.

Arslanhane Mosque, Can Sk (Kurtuluş S 1km. A 13th-century Seljuk mosque near the citadel, and quite worth the effort to climb up the steep hill leading there. Has a finely carved wooden ceiling supported by a "forest" of stately wooden columns, following the style of a few such mosques dispersed throughout Anatolia.

Sultan Alaeddin Mosque, Altındağ (: 'Ulus' W 1 km. It has a carved walnut mimber, the inscription on which records that the mosque was completed in early AH 574 (which corresponds to the summer of 1178 AD) by the Seljuk Sultan. Ankara's first mosque was built in former Kaleici district.

Ahi Elvan Mosque, Koyunpazari Sk. (: 'Ulus' NW 1.7 km. was constructed during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The finely carved walnut mimber (pulpit) is of particular interest.

Yeni Mosque, Ulucanlar Avenue (Ulucanlar Caddesi) (Cebeci Tren İstanbul 600 m SE, or Dikimevi. Built by the famous architect Sinan in the 16th century. The mimber (pulpit) and mihrap (prayer niche) are of white marble, and the mosque is made of Ankara stone, an example of very fine workmanship.

Ethnography Museum

Ankara Ethnography Museum, Türk Ocağı Cad./Talat Paşa Bulv, Ulus (opposite the Opera House Sıhhiye 0.5km. Tu-Su 08:30-17:00.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Gözcü Sokak 2 (on the way to the citadel from AkköprüUlus 1.0 km W, +90 312 3243160. Apr-Oct 08:30-19:00, Nov-Mar 08:30-17:15. Display of the artefacts remained from the pre-Greek and -Roman Asia Minor/Anatolian civilizations — the best bits of sculptures and reliefs of the ancient Near East are all here. The oldest artefacts in display date back to the Paleolithic. This museum is one of the best in Turkey and by itself makes Ankara certainly worthwhile to visit. 15 TL.
State Art and Sculpture Museum, Türkocağı Sokak, Altındağ (near the Ethnography Museum - Sıhhiye. Hosts galleries with temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent display of Turkish art from late 1800s to today.
Cer Modern, Altınsoy Cad. No:3 06101 Sıhhıye, (Maltepe or Sıhhiye 0.5 km. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. The m10) modern art museum of the city, Cer Modern is housed in the historic power plant building of Turkish Railways. Contemporary art. - P: +90 312 3100000 F: +90 312 3101000
Rahmi M. Koc Museum, Koyunpazarı Sk 64-76 (Ulus 1.3 km West, +90 312 309 6800. Similar to Istanbul's industrial museum (of which Çengelhan is a part), the technological progress since the 1850s is on display in this museum housed in an old Ottoman caravanserai, what was the former Çengel Han, an Ottoman era caravanserai (han) which was completed in 1523, during the early years of the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The lower floor is reserved for a carpet gallery, agricultural machinery and pharmaceutical exhibits. Various machines, medicine, everyday life tools and road transport vehicles are exhibited in the ground floor. A brasserie is also at the ground floor. The upper floor hosts sections of rail transport items, toys, communications, scientific instruments, maritime and navigation. There are also sections about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey; Vehbi Koç, Rahmi Koç's father and one of the first industrialists of Turkey, and Ankara city
Ankara Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Doğanbey Mh. or Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bulvarı (İstanbul Yolu) (near highway to Istanbul - Subayevleri Tren İstanbul Stn., +90 (312) 2248550. W-Su 09:00-16:30. Various aircraft, aviation items, missiles, and whatnot are in the exhibition, as are MiGs from the other side of Iron Curtain.
METU Science and Technology Museum, ODTÜ Kampüsü A-8 Kapısı (ODTÜ Teknokent Kapısı), Dumlupınar Bulvarı No:1 (on Middle East Technical University campus, on the highway to Eskişehir, 7 km away from the city center. - Nearest Metro Stn. Aşti ~3 km, +90 312 210 2000. M-F 09:30-15:30.
Stamps Museum at Turkish Telecom, Aydinlikevler district, Çağdaş Sk No:57 (From : 'Kültür Merkezi' 2.5 km NE. daily 08:30-17:00.
Mehmet Akif Ersoy Old House & Museum, Hacettepe University Campus, Sıhhiye (: Akköprü 0.7 km east, +90 312 3052144.
Mehmet Akif Ersoy Literature Museum Library, Hacettepe Mah. Sarıkadı sok. No: 47 Hamamönü, Altındağ (Kurtuluş 0.4 km S, +90 312 3122864. Tu-Su 10:00-19:00.
Liberation War Museum, Karşıyaka Mh., Cumhuriyet Cd No:14/22 (: Ulus 0.3 km southwest, +90 312 310 5361. This was the first building that hosted the Turkish Republican Parliament. The 1921-22 War of Independence was directed from here, as evidenced by photographs and other items in the display. Waxworks of former Turkish presidents are also on display.
Hacettepe University Arts Museum, Sihhiye district, inside the university's cultural center. evher Nesibe Cd. (: 'Sihhiye'. M-F 10:00-17:00. You can see over 250 works of many Turkish painters and artists from the early ages of the Republic until our times.
Roman Road of Ankara. This is an ancient Roman road
Artifacts of Pious Foundations (Vakif) Museum, Ataturk Boulevard in Ulus (: 'Ulus'. There are Turkish carpets from 15th and 16th centuries, historic candle holders and Korans, old watches, woodworks from 13th century, traditional tiles, and many other ethnographic objects.

Ankara Ethnography Museum, Türk Ocağı Cad./Talat Paşa Bulv, Ulus (opposite the Opera House Sıhhiye 0.5km. Tu-Su 08:30-17:00.

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Gözcü Sokak 2 (on the way to the citadel from AkköprüUlus 1.0 km W, +90 312 3243160. Apr-Oct 08:30-19:00, Nov-Mar 08:30-17:15. Display of the artefacts remained from the pre-Greek and -Roman Asia Minor/Anatolian civilizations — the best bits of sculptures and reliefs of the ancient Near East are all here. The oldest artefacts in display date back to the Paleolithic. This museum is one of the best in Turkey and by itself makes Ankara certainly worthwhile to visit. 15 TL.

State Art and Sculpture Museum, Türkocağı Sokak, Altındağ (near the Ethnography Museum - Sıhhiye. Hosts galleries with temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent display of Turkish art from late 1800s to today.

Cer Modern, Altınsoy Cad. No:3 06101 Sıhhıye, (Maltepe or Sıhhiye 0.5 km. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. The m10) modern art museum of the city, Cer Modern is housed in the historic power plant building of Turkish Railways. Contemporary art. - P: +90 312 3100000 F: +90 312 3101000

Rahmi M. Koc Museum, Koyunpazarı Sk 64-76 (Ulus 1.3 km West, +90 312 309 6800. Similar to [[Istanbul/Golden Horn#See|Istanbul's industrial museum]] (of which Çengelhan is a part), the technological progress since the 1850s is on display in this museum housed in an old Ottoman caravanserai, what was the former Çengel Han, an Ottoman era caravanserai (han) which was completed in 1523, during the early years of the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The lower floor is reserved for a carpet gallery, agricultural machinery and pharmaceutical exhibits. Various machines, medicine, everyday life tools and road transport vehicles are exhibited in the ground floor. A brasserie is also at the ground floor. The upper floor hosts sections of rail transport items, toys, communications, scientific instruments, maritime and navigation. There are also sections about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey; Vehbi Koç, Rahmi Koç's father and one of the first industrialists of Turkey, and Ankara city

Ankara Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Doğanbey Mh. or Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bulvarı (İstanbul Yolu) (near highway to Istanbul - Subayevleri Tren İstanbul Stn., +90 (312) 2248550. W-Su 09:00-16:30. Various aircraft, aviation items, missiles, and whatnot are in the exhibition, as are MiGs from the other side of Iron Curtain.

METU Science and Technology Museum, ODTÜ Kampüsü A-8 Kapısı (ODTÜ Teknokent Kapısı), Dumlupınar Bulvarı No:1 (on Middle East Technical University campus, on the highway to Eskişehir, 7 km away from the city center. - Nearest Metro Stn. Aşti ~3 km, +90 312 210 2000. M-F 09:30-15:30.

Stamps Museum at Turkish Telecom, Aydinlikevler district, Çağdaş Sk No:57 (From : 'Kültür Merkezi' 2.5 km NE. daily 08:30-17:00.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy Old House & Museum, Hacettepe University Campus, Sıhhiye (: Akköprü 0.7 km east, +90 312 3052144.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy Literature Museum Library, Hacettepe Mah. Sarıkadı sok. No: 47 Hamamönü, Altındağ (Kurtuluş 0.4 km S, +90 312 3122864. Tu-Su 10:00-19:00.

Liberation War Museum, Karşıyaka Mh., Cumhuriyet Cd No:14/22 (: Ulus 0.3 km southwest, +90 312 310 5361. This was the first building that hosted the Turkish Republican Parliament. The 1921-22 War of Independence was directed from here, as evidenced by photographs and other items in the display. Waxworks of former Turkish presidents are also on display.

Hacettepe University Arts Museum, Sihhiye district, inside the university's cultural center. evher Nesibe Cd. (: 'Sihhiye'. M-F 10:00-17:00. You can see over 250 works of many Turkish painters and artists from the early ages of the Republic until our times.

Roman Road of Ankara. This is an ancient Roman road

Artifacts of Pious Foundations (Vakif) Museum, Ataturk Boulevard in Ulus (: 'Ulus'. There are Turkish carpets from 15th and 16th centuries, historic candle holders and Korans, old watches, woodworks from 13th century, traditional tiles, and many other ethnographic objects.

Citadel. There were laid by the Galatians on a prominent lava outcrop, and the rest was completed by the Romans. Walk through the cobbled streets lined by old houses to climb up to one of the towers, which offers a good view of the sprawling city below and the surrounding mountains.
Roman Theatre, Hisar Parkı Cd No:~18/Çankırı Cad. Dışkapı (Ulus 1.0 km west, +90 312 3107280. The remains, the stage, and the backstage of the Roman theatre can be seen outside the castle.
Temple of Augustus and Rome, Sarıbağ Sk. The remains of a temple constructed between 25 BC - 20 BC after the Roman conquest of central Anatolia. and created the formation of the Roman province of Galatia, with Ancyra (modern Ankara) as its administrative capital. The temple, on the ancient Acropolis of Ancyra, was enlarged by the Romans in the 2nd century. In the 5th century it was converted into a church by the Byzantines. Its remains, some sturdy rock-cut walls decorated by ancient motifs, lie just next to the mosque and tomb of Hacı Bayram Veli, marking this site as a sacred one.
Column of Julian. A Roman column erected in 362 CE to commemorate the visit of Emperor Julian (r. 355–363) to Ancyra.
Roman Bath, Çankırı Cd (walk up the street north from Ulus Square, 15 min. Excavated ruins accessible to the public. Typical features of a classical Roman bath complex: a frigidarium (cold room), a tepidarium (warm room) and a caldarium (hot room). The baths were built during the reign of the Roman emperor Caracalla in the early 3rd century AD to honor Asclepios, the God of Medicine. Today, only the basement and first floors remain.

Citadel. There were laid by the Galatians on a prominent lava outcrop, and the rest was completed by the Romans. Walk through the cobbled streets lined by old houses to climb up to one of the towers, which offers a good view of the sprawling city below and the surrounding mountains.

Roman Theatre, Hisar Parkı Cd No:~18/Çankırı Cad. Dışkapı (Ulus 1.0 km west, +90 312 3107280. The remains, the stage, and the backstage of the Roman theatre can be seen outside the castle.

Temple of Augustus and Rome, Sarıbağ Sk. The remains of a temple constructed between 25 BC - 20 BC after the Roman conquest of central Anatolia. and created the formation of the Roman province of Galatia, with Ancyra (modern Ankara) as its administrative capital. The temple, on the ancient Acropolis of Ancyra, was enlarged by the Romans in the 2nd century. In the 5th century it was converted into a church by the Byzantines. Its remains, some sturdy rock-cut walls decorated by ancient motifs, lie just next to the mosque and tomb of Hacı Bayram Veli, marking this site as a sacred one.

Column of Julian. A Roman column erected in 362 CE to commemorate the visit of Emperor Julian (r. 355–363) to Ancyra.

Roman Bath, Çankırı Cd (walk up the street north from Ulus Square, 15 min. Excavated ruins accessible to the public. Typical features of a classical Roman bath complex: a frigidarium (cold room), a tepidarium (warm room) and a caldarium (hot room). The baths were built during the reign of the Roman emperor Caracalla in the early 3rd century AD to honor Asclepios, the God of Medicine. Today, only the basement and first floors remain.

Anıtkabir, Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Cd 55-71 (20 min walk from the Tandoğan/Anadolu station, along a road that smoothly climbs uphill through the forest that surrounds the mausoleum grounds. Daily. Completed in 1953 on an imposing hill in the Anittepe quarter of the city is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. The mausoleum and its adjacent buildings make an especial effort to combine the elements of both ancient Anatolian and ancient Turkish art. A museum underneath displays a large collection of Atatürk memorabilia and provides an excellent overview of modern Turkey's history, and the wars led to the proclaimation of the republic. Australians and New Zealanders will find it interesting to hear the story of Gallipoli presented entirely from the Turkish point of view.
- Atatürk's Tomb (Mausoleum) and Museum, Anıt Caddesi Tandoğan, +90 312 2317975. Tu-Su. There is a museum housing a superior wax statue of Atatürk; writings, letters and items belonging to Atatürk, as well as an exhibition of photographs recordings of important moments of his life
Atakule Tower. A 125 m-high communications and observation tower in the Çankaya district. The highest structure of the city, with a shopping mall located under the tower. (Atakule shopping mall, where very few shops are left open, will close in autumn 2019 as it will be transformed to a hotel.)
Victory Monument, Ulus square. Erected in 1927, the monument is made of marble and bronze, and features an equestrian statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Since it was erected a year before the "alphabet reform", it is one of the very few republican monuments in Turkey that has an inscription written in Ottoman Turkish, using the Arabic script.
Monument to a Secure, Confident Future, Güven Park (near Kızılay Square. Built in 1935 and bears Atatürk's advice to his people: "Turk! Be proud, work hard, and believe in yourself." Features the statues of two gun-holding men with a rough look, presumably representing the Turkish police and the Turkish army, all perfectly fitting the totalitarian art style fashionable during the years the monument was erected.
Hatti Monument, Sıhhiye Square (Sıhhiye. Built in the 1970s, this impressive monument symbolizes the Hatti gods and commemorates Anatolia. It features the statues of a deer and two oxen, similar to those found in innumerable archaeological sites throughout Central Anatolia, all surrounded by a stylized Hittite sun disc.
Akköprü. A 13th-century stone bridge (the oldest in Ankara) built by the Seljuk Turks spanning the Çubuk River. Despite its name (Turkish for "white bridge"), it is made of local reddish stones that are so ubiquitously used in Ankara's other major old buildings. Once on the trade route between Istanbul and Baghdad through Ankara, it is now engulfed by suburban development on all sides, and may not worth the effort of heading there just for the sake of it unless you are really enthusiastic about old stone bridges, but drop by if you are around for nearby Ankamall or the Etlik bus station, where minibuses for nearby towns depart from.

Anıtkabir, Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Cd 55-71 (20 min walk from the Tandoğan/Anadolu station, along a road that smoothly climbs uphill through the forest that surrounds the mausoleum grounds. Daily. Completed in 1953 on an imposing hill in the Anittepe quarter of the city is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. The mausoleum and its adjacent buildings make an especial effort to combine the elements of both ancient Anatolian and ancient Turkish art. A museum underneath displays a large collection of Atatürk memorabilia and provides an excellent overview of modern Turkey's history, and the wars led to the proclaimation of the republic. Australians and New Zealanders will find it interesting to hear the story of Gallipoli presented entirely from the Turkish point of view.

Atatürk's Tomb (Mausoleum) and Museum, Anıt Caddesi Tandoğan, +90 312 2317975. Tu-Su. There is a museum housing a superior wax statue of Atatürk; writings, letters and items belonging to Atatürk, as well as an exhibition of photographs recordings of important moments of his life

Atatürk's Tomb (Mausoleum) and Museum, Anıt Caddesi Tandoğan, +90 312 2317975. Tu-Su. There is a museum housing a superior wax statue of Atatürk; writings, letters and items belonging to Atatürk, as well as an exhibition of photographs recordings of important moments of his life

Atakule Tower. A 125 m-high communications and observation tower in the Çankaya district. The highest structure of the city, with a shopping mall located under the tower. (Atakule shopping mall, where very few shops are left open, will close in autumn 2019 as it will be transformed to a hotel.)

Victory Monument, Ulus square. Erected in 1927, the monument is made of marble and bronze, and features an equestrian statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Since it was erected a year before the "alphabet reform", it is one of the very few republican monuments in Turkey that has an inscription written in Ottoman Turkish, using the Arabic script.

Monument to a Secure, Confident Future, Güven Park (near Kızılay Square. Built in 1935 and bears Atatürk's advice to his people: "Turk! Be proud, work hard, and believe in yourself." Features the statues of two gun-holding men with a rough look, presumably representing the Turkish police and the Turkish army, all perfectly fitting the totalitarian art style fashionable during the years the monument was erected.

Hatti Monument, Sıhhiye Square (Sıhhiye. Built in the 1970s, this impressive monument symbolizes the Hatti gods and commemorates Anatolia. It features the statues of a deer and two oxen, similar to those found in innumerable archaeological sites throughout Central Anatolia, all surrounded by a stylized Hittite sun disc.

Akköprü. A 13th-century stone bridge (the oldest in Ankara) built by the Seljuk Turks spanning the Çubuk River. Despite its name (Turkish for "white bridge"), it is made of local reddish stones that are so ubiquitously used in Ankara's other major old buildings. Once on the trade route between [[Istanbul]] and [[Baghdad]] through Ankara, it is now engulfed by suburban development on all sides, and may not worth the effort of heading there just for the sake of it unless you are really enthusiastic about old stone bridges, but drop by if you are around for nearby Ankamall or the Etlik bus station, where minibuses for nearby towns depart from.

Ankara offers a good selection of cinemas both in Kavaklıdere and Çankaya and several concert halls for classical music and opera. Many universities promote concerts and spring festivals but these are sometimes open to their students only. Folk and traditional music is very alive, from small bars and restaurants to big concert halls where you can find local stars like Musa Eroğlu.

Fountain in Akif Ersoy Park Depending on your interests, you can find trekking in local parks and in the surroundings, visiting the museums or hunting for the Ottoman or Selçuk remains in the ancient castle. Upscale shopping centers like Armada along the Eskisehir road also offer cinemas and quality restaurants.

Abdi Ipekci Park, Sağlık Mh. (Sıhhiye 200 m. See here the 'Hands' statue
Adile Nasit Park, Kuzgun Sokak, Ayrancı.
Ankara Botanic Park, Çankaya Street,Cinnah Street, Çankaya Mh. (, Kizilay.
Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo, Alparslan Türkeş Caddesi (Çiftlik Cd.) No:150 (Train stop 'Gazi Mh. Tren İstasyonu' ~one km. This is an expansive recreational farming area, which houses a zoo, several small agricultural farms, greenhouses, restaurants, a dairy farm and a brewery. It was started by Kemal Atatürk, who wanted to prove that the neglected steppes around Ankara could be converted into a lush, fertile agricultural land.
Genclik Park, Doğanbey Mh., Ulus Dolmuşları (Ulus 100 m. The earliest park of the city, which features a large lake in the middle with cafes and restaurants along its sides, and an amusement park complete with a rollercoaster.
Goksu Park, Etimesgut suburb (Etimesgut Train Station 2 km south or nearest Metro Stn Batikent SE 3 km. Enjoy the scenic Susuz Lake (Gölu)
Guvenpark, Kizilay square (, Kizilay 100 m. A small park surrounding the Security Monument
Korea Park, Hipodrum Street (Tandoğan 700 m SW. A stylized Korean pagoda in this park commemorates the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in the Korean War.
Kugulu Park, Atatürk Boulevard, Polonniya Street, Kavaklıdere (, Kizilay 2 km North - Near to Egyptian Embassy. Fountains and contemporary sculptures. Famous for, and named after, the swans (Turkish: kuğu) inhabiting the small pond in the middle of the park.

Abdi Ipekci Park, Sağlık Mh. (Sıhhiye 200 m. See here the 'Hands' statue

Adile Nasit Park, Kuzgun Sokak, Ayrancı.

Ankara Botanic Park, Çankaya Street,Cinnah Street, Çankaya Mh. (, Kizilay.

Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo, Alparslan Türkeş Caddesi (Çiftlik Cd.) No:150 (Train stop 'Gazi Mh. Tren İstasyonu' ~one km. This is an expansive recreational farming area, which houses a zoo, several small agricultural farms, greenhouses, restaurants, a dairy farm and a brewery. It was started by Kemal Atatürk, who wanted to prove that the neglected steppes around Ankara could be converted into a lush, fertile agricultural land.

Genclik Park, Doğanbey Mh., Ulus Dolmuşları (Ulus 100 m. The earliest park of the city, which features a large lake in the middle with cafes and restaurants along its sides, and an amusement park complete with a rollercoaster.

Goksu Park, Etimesgut suburb (Etimesgut Train Station 2 km south or nearest Metro Stn Batikent SE 3 km. Enjoy the scenic Susuz Lake (Gölu)

Guvenpark, Kizilay square (, Kizilay 100 m. A small park surrounding the Security Monument

Korea Park, Hipodrum Street (Tandoğan 700 m SW. A stylized Korean pagoda in this park commemorates the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in the [[Korean War]].

Kugulu Park, Atatürk Boulevard, Polonniya Street, Kavaklıdere (, Kizilay 2 km North - Near to Egyptian Embassy. Fountains and contemporary sculptures. Famous for, and named after, the swans (Turkish: kuğu) inhabiting the small pond in the middle of the park.

Ankara's Castle (Kale) has been a trade centre for centuries, and its sellers of carpets, leather and antiquities are slowly moving upmarket hoping to attract the tourist trade. It's still a delicious place for walking and browsing, and there are family firms where you can buy, for a price, excellent carpets and kilims. Walking down from the castle you can walk through the covered market, an iron structure reminiscent of places like Les Halles in Paris, where you can buy very cheap and excellent produce. Ankara has a number of large shopping malls each of them offering fashion stores (including Zara, Mango, Harvey Nichols, Marks and Spencer), technology retailers (like Media Markt and Electro World) supermarkets (like Carrefoursa and Tesco/Kipa). Many of the new malls are located on the Eskişehir Yolu, including Armada, Cepa, Kentpark and Gordion.

Ankamall. The largest one of Ankara's shopping malls.
Armada Tower Ankara Shopping Mall.
Atakule Mall.
Karum Shopping center, Iran Street (Caddesi).

Ankamall. The largest one of Ankara's shopping malls.

Armada Tower Ankara Shopping Mall.

Atakule Mall.

Karum Shopping center, Iran Street (Caddesi).

Ankara is best known with its "döner kebap". In order to pick a good döner restaurant (there are many) you should take a look at the döner round. it should be rectangular and the cuts must be flat and separated.

Like many other capitals, Ankara is where you can eat the best and the freshest fish of the country all around the year (not the cheapest, though). Around Sakarya str., there are various types of fish restaurants, from fast food to stylish ones and it can be a good opportunity to also try rakı, which is known as a companion of fish. But fish restaurants abound in the city; in Çankaya there are at least two excellent ones, "Akdeniz Akdeniz" and "Lazoli" featuring the first Mediterranean and the second Black Sea cuisine. "Ege", located close to Tunali street, is another excellent choice for fish and raki. The restaurant has also a variety of wines. If you want to listen good Turkish classical music while you eat and drink raki, then "Sudem" should be seen. It is located on Olgunlar Street.

There are also plenty of cheaper restaurant options in Kızılay and Maltepe, selling fast food or kebaps, döner, lahmacun. In Çankaya, Tunali, GOP region you may find various types of Turkish cuisine and luxurious restaurants where prices go higher.

Besides many classic iskender kebab restaurants there are also many restaurant featuring the traditional cuisine of a specific city, catering to the community of more affluent immigrants: from the spicy Urfa to the variety of vegetables coming with Adana kebab. Uludag Kebabcisi on Denizciler Caddesi in Ulus has been around for about sixty years and is a top of the line restaurant mainly serving Iskender kebap.

Finally, as the national capital, Ankara has a large population of diplomats, and hence there are a number of "international" restaurants in Kavaklıdere and Çankaya (also where the majority of diplomatic missions are located). Prices tend to be on the steep side.

Hacı Arif Bey, Güniz sokak 48/1. Kebaps and South Anatolian cuisine is a well managed and delicious restaurant for savoring Gaziantep cuisine. A wealth of options are available and prices are not very high. A person can eat well for around 30-40 TL.
Sushico. Japanese and Thai food. Sushico's GOP restaurant especially has a very good garden.
Quick China, Uğur Mumcu Cad. Good option for Chinese and Thai cookings. Quick China's branch on the Park Avenue "Park caddesi" is also very good, particularly for a Sunday brunch.

Hacı Arif Bey, Güniz sokak 48/1. Kebaps and South Anatolian cuisine is a well managed and delicious restaurant for savoring Gaziantep cuisine. A wealth of options are available and prices are not very high. A person can eat well for around 30-40 TL.

Sushico. Japanese and Thai food. Sushico's GOP restaurant especially has a very good garden.

Quick China, Uğur Mumcu Cad. Good option for Chinese and Thai cookings. Quick China's branch on the Park Avenue "Park caddesi" is also very good, particularly for a Sunday brunch.

Papsi bar, Tunalı Hilmi Cd. A good choice to take a cold beer in a friendly atmosphere for years
"Kitir" and "Random" bars, Tunali (adjacent to Kugulu Park. Two other popular bars
Corvus, Bestekar Street. offering rock music.
The Soul Pub, Kavaklıdere Mh., Olgunlar Cd No:18, 06420 Ankara, +90 312 424 0 144.

There are many bars and places to drink on that street which is parallel to Bestekar. The Edge, Twister, Hayyami (wine bar) are nice places.

Sakal on Kennedy Street is a unique place with electronic, reggae or retro (offering different kinds of music). On the same street Mono is pleasant place to drink. Tunus Street, parallel to Bestekar is another street where you may find many pubs like Retrox, Flat, James Cook and Zodiac. If Performance Hall, Manhattan, Overall and Siyah-Beyaz are places where you can drink and dance till 4 am with live rock music. There normally are rock cover bands and a huge crowd, especially on Friday and Saturday nights in these places.

"Sakarya" is full of the cheapest solutions. Among the best places in Sakarya, one should note "Net", which is a good choice not only take a glass of beer or raki, but also to eat. "Buyuk Ekspres" is also a nice old bar of the town. Also Eski-Yeni, Pasaj and Telwe are nice bars where you may find rock or alternative live music styles with cheaper drink prices compared to Tunali, Çankaya region.

"Park Avenue" -in Konutkent district- is the new street for classy bars, cafes and night clubs. You may also find second branch of Kitir, Random & Crossroads in "Park Avenue". Istanbul's fashionable night club Sortie has also opened in this avenue and is a nice place to drink any kind of drinks and listen to latest club mixes. Narquilla is a great place to have your nargile while drinking beer and enjoying nice food.

Also, there are meyhanes (tavern) in which fixed menus are served with drinks and classic Turkish music played. There are bars and restaurants also in the historic core of Ankara, close to citadel. You definitely have to go and return by taxi though.

Don't expect a lively gay life of Istanbul in Ankara. No-one comes to Ankara for its amazing gay life, however you can still enjoy your time while you are here. It has only one gay bar-club (Sixties) and this is open only on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. It gets pretty crowded after 00:00 and plays Turkish and Western pop music. In addition to that, though it is not a gay bar, Eski-Yeni Bar in Sakarya Caddesi (street) seems to attract a gay-lesbian crowd especially in its bottom floor. Kaos GL and Pembe Hayat, the leading queer organizations in Ankara, hold activities throughout the year.

Papsi bar, Tunalı Hilmi Cd. A good choice to take a cold beer in a friendly atmosphere for years

"Kitir" and "Random" bars, Tunali (adjacent to Kugulu Park. Two other popular bars

Corvus, Bestekar Street. offering rock music.

The Soul Pub, Kavaklıdere Mh., Olgunlar Cd No:18, 06420 Ankara, +90 312 424 0 144.

Ankara is probably one of the safest big cities you will ever visit. Most people, including single female travellers, would very rarely encounter problems walking along the streets alone at night. Street crime is extremely rare, even late at night. However, "little crime" does not mean "no crime", and common sense should still be applied as anywhere in the world. Petty crime such as pickpocketing can occur, however, especially in crowded areas. Therefore, one should always take care of their belongings and keep bags closed.

The biggest danger for travellers is the road traffic, because there is little respect for pedestrians. Every road should be crossed carefully and very quickly. Even if pedestrian traffic lights show green, it is absolutely essential to have a watchful eye. At crosswalks definitely look out before crossing the street.

Another danger for pedestrians, are the sidewalks because they are often in a very poor condition. Because of the poor or irregular renovation of sidewalks, many of them have loose paving stones and holes in the asphalt. The risk of tripping and hurting oneself should not be underestimated.

Ankara Police Department has a "tourism police" section with staff multilingual in English, German, French, and Arabic.

Tourism Police, Emniyet Turizm Şube Müdürlüğü, İskitler, +90 312 384-0811, +90 312 384-0606, +90 312 6350-6353.

Tourism Police, Emniyet Turizm Şube Müdürlüğü, İskitler, +90 312 384-0811, +90 312 384-0606, +90 312 6350-6353.

Ankara is the national capital and most countries have an embassy (or equivalent consular service). These are useful if you need consular assistance from your own country, or need to obtain visas to other countries. The embassies are generally located in the suburbs just to the south of the city centre, such as Kavaklıdere, Gaziosmanpaşa and Çankaya.

Algeria Algeria, Şehir Ersan Caddesi No. 42, Çankaya, +90 312 468 7593. M-Th 09:00-12:00 and 13:00-1700, F 09:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00.
Australia Australia, 7 Büyükesat Mh., Uğur Mumcu Cadesi, MNG Binasi No.88, 06700 Ankara, +90 312 459 9500.
Austria Austria, Atatürk Bulvarı 189, 06680 Kavaklıdere, +90 312 405-5190. M–Th 08:15–16:30, F 09:00–16:00.
Bangladesh Bangladesh, Birlik Mh., 391. Caddesi No. 16, 06560 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 495 2719. M-F 09:00-17:00.
Belgium Belgium, Mahatma Gandi Caddesi No. 55, 06700 Gaziosmanpaşa, Ankara, +90 312 405 6166.
Canada Canada, Cinnah Caddesi No.58, 06690 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 409 2700.
Chile Chile, Resit Galip Caddesi, Hirfanli Sokak 14/13, 06700 Gaziosmanpaşa, +90 312 447 3418.
China China, Gölgeli Sokak 34, Gaziosmanpaşa, +90 312 436-0628.
Cuba Cuba, Güzeltepe Mh., 06540 Çankaya, +90 312 442 8970.
Denmark Denmark, Mahatma Gandi Caddesi No. 74, 06700 Gaziosmanpașa, Ankara, +90 312 446 5720.
Ecuador Ecuador, Kelebek Sokak 21/1, Gaziosmanpaşa, 06700 Çankaya, +90 312 446 0160. M-F 09:30-17:00.
Egypt Egypt, Atatürk Bulvarı No. 126, Kavaklıdere, +90 312 426-1026. M-F 09:00-16:00.
Finland Finland, Kader sokak No. 44, Gaziosmanpasa, +90 312 457-4444. M-Th 08:30-16:30, F 08:30-15:15.
France France, Rimzi Oğuz Ank Mh., 06540 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 455 4545.
Germany Germany, Remzi Oğuz Ank Mh., Atatürk Bulvarı No. 114, 06690 Ankara, +90 312 455 5100.
Greece Greece, Kazım Özlap Mh., Ziaur Rahman Caddesi No. 9, 06700 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 448 0387.
India India, 77/A Cinnah Caddesi, 06680 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 438 2195. M-F 09:00-13:00 and 13:30-17;30.
Indonesia Indonesia, Abdullah Cevdet Sokak No. 10 Cankaya, +90 312 438-2190, +90 312 438-2191.
Iran Iran, Tahra Caddessi No. 10, 06700 Kavaklıdere, Ankara, +90 312 468 2820.
Ireland Ireland, 3 Büyükesat Mh., Uġur Mumcu Caddesi, MNG Binasi B Blok, No. 88, 06700 Ankara, +90 312 459 1000. M-F 09:30-13:00 and 14:00-17:00.
Japan Japan, Kazım Özlap Mh., 06700 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 446 0500.
Luxembourg Luxembourg, Reşit Galip Caddesi No. 70/2, Gaziosmanpaşa, 06700 Ankara, +90 312 459 1400. M-F 09:00-12:30 and 14:00-17;30.
Mexico Mexico, Aziziye, 06690 Çankaya, +90 312 442 3033.
Netherlands Netherlands, Hilal Mh., Turan Güneş Bulvarı, Hollanda Caddesi No. 5, 06550, Ankara, +90 312 409 1800. M-F 09:00-17:00.
New Zealand New Zealand, Kızkulesi Sokak No. 11, Gaziosmanpaşa, Ankara, +90 312 446 3333. M-F 08:30-17:00.
Norway Norway, Kırpınar Sokak No. 18, 06540 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 408 4800. M-Th 08:30-16;30, F 08:30-14:00.
Pakistan Pakistan, Gaziosmanpaşa, İran Caddesi No. 37, 06700 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 427 1410. M-F 09:00-17:00.
Philippines Philippines, Mahatma Gandhi Caddesi No. 56, 06700 Gaziosmanpaşa, +90 312 446 3831.
Russia Russia, Kayağdi Sokak No. 5, P.K. 35 Kavaklıdere, 06692 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 439 2122.
South Africa South Africa, Filestin Sokak No. 27, GOP 06700 Ankara, +90 312 405 6861.
Spain Spain, Abdullah Cevdet 8, 06680 Çankaya, +90 312 438 0392.
Sweden Sweden, B.P. 3, Kavaklıdere, 06692 Ankara, +90 312 455 4100. M-Th 10:30-12:00 and 14:00-15:00, F 10:30-13:30.
Switzerland Switzerland, Atatürk Bulvarı No. 247, Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 457 3100.
Taiwan Taiwan (de facto embassy), Resit Galip Caddesi, Rabat Sokak No. 16, Gaziosmanpaşa, 06700, +90 312 436 7255. M-F 09:00-12:00.
UkraineUkraine, Sancak Mahallesi 512. Sokak No: 17, Çankaya, Ankara, 06550, +90 539 550 98 98.
UK United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Şehit Ersan Caddesi 46/A, Çankaya, +90 312 455 3344. M-F 08:45-17:00.
United States United States of America, 110 Atatürk Bulvarı, Kavaklıdere, 06100 Ankara, +90 312 455 5555. M-F 09:30-17:30.

Algeria Algeria, Şehir Ersan Caddesi No. 42, Çankaya, +90 312 468 7593. M-Th 09:00-12:00 and 13:00-1700, F 09:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00.

Australia Australia, 7 Büyükesat Mh., Uğur Mumcu Cadesi, MNG Binasi No.88, 06700 Ankara, +90 312 459 9500.

Austria Austria, Atatürk Bulvarı 189, 06680 Kavaklıdere, +90 312 405-5190. M–Th 08:15–16:30, F 09:00–16:00.

Bangladesh Bangladesh, Birlik Mh., 391. Caddesi No. 16, 06560 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 495 2719. M-F 09:00-17:00.

Belgium Belgium, Mahatma Gandi Caddesi No. 55, 06700 Gaziosmanpaşa, Ankara, +90 312 405 6166.

Canada Canada, Cinnah Caddesi No.58, 06690 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 409 2700.

Chile Chile, Resit Galip Caddesi, Hirfanli Sokak 14/13, 06700 Gaziosmanpaşa, +90 312 447 3418.

China China, Gölgeli Sokak 34, Gaziosmanpaşa, +90 312 436-0628.

Cuba Cuba, Güzeltepe Mh., 06540 Çankaya, +90 312 442 8970.

Denmark Denmark, Mahatma Gandi Caddesi No. 74, 06700 Gaziosmanpașa, Ankara, +90 312 446 5720.

Ecuador Ecuador, Kelebek Sokak 21/1, Gaziosmanpaşa, 06700 Çankaya, +90 312 446 0160. M-F 09:30-17:00.

Egypt Egypt, Atatürk Bulvarı No. 126, Kavaklıdere, +90 312 426-1026. M-F 09:00-16:00.

Finland Finland, Kader sokak No. 44, Gaziosmanpasa, +90 312 457-4444. M-Th 08:30-16:30, F 08:30-15:15.

France France, Rimzi Oğuz Ank Mh., 06540 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 455 4545.

Germany Germany, Remzi Oğuz Ank Mh., Atatürk Bulvarı No. 114, 06690 Ankara, +90 312 455 5100.

Greece Greece, Kazım Özlap Mh., Ziaur Rahman Caddesi No. 9, 06700 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 448 0387.

India India, 77/A Cinnah Caddesi, 06680 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 438 2195. M-F 09:00-13:00 and 13:30-17;30.

Indonesia Indonesia, Abdullah Cevdet Sokak No. 10 Cankaya, +90 312 438-2190, +90 312 438-2191.

Iran Iran, Tahra Caddessi No. 10, 06700 Kavaklıdere, Ankara, +90 312 468 2820.

Ireland Ireland, 3 Büyükesat Mh., Uġur Mumcu Caddesi, MNG Binasi B Blok, No. 88, 06700 Ankara, +90 312 459 1000. M-F 09:30-13:00 and 14:00-17:00.

Japan Japan, Kazım Özlap Mh., 06700 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 446 0500.

Luxembourg Luxembourg, Reşit Galip Caddesi No. 70/2, Gaziosmanpaşa, 06700 Ankara, +90 312 459 1400. M-F 09:00-12:30 and 14:00-17;30.

Mexico Mexico, Aziziye, 06690 Çankaya, +90 312 442 3033.

Netherlands Netherlands, Hilal Mh., Turan Güneş Bulvarı, Hollanda Caddesi No. 5, 06550, Ankara, +90 312 409 1800. M-F 09:00-17:00.

New Zealand New Zealand, Kızkulesi Sokak No. 11, Gaziosmanpaşa, Ankara, +90 312 446 3333. M-F 08:30-17:00.

Norway Norway, Kırpınar Sokak No. 18, 06540 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 408 4800. M-Th 08:30-16;30, F 08:30-14:00.

Pakistan Pakistan, Gaziosmanpaşa, İran Caddesi No. 37, 06700 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 427 1410. M-F 09:00-17:00.

Philippines Philippines, Mahatma Gandhi Caddesi No. 56, 06700 Gaziosmanpaşa, +90 312 446 3831.

Russia Russia, Kayağdi Sokak No. 5, P.K. 35 Kavaklıdere, 06692 Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 439 2122.

South Africa South Africa, Filestin Sokak No. 27, GOP 06700 Ankara, +90 312 405 6861.

Spain Spain, Abdullah Cevdet 8, 06680 Çankaya, +90 312 438 0392.

Sweden Sweden, B.P. 3, Kavaklıdere, 06692 Ankara, +90 312 455 4100. M-Th 10:30-12:00 and 14:00-15:00, F 10:30-13:30.

Switzerland Switzerland, Atatürk Bulvarı No. 247, Çankaya, Ankara, +90 312 457 3100.

Taiwan Taiwan (de facto embassy), Resit Galip Caddesi, Rabat Sokak No. 16, Gaziosmanpaşa, 06700, +90 312 436 7255. M-F 09:00-12:00.

UkraineUkraine, Sancak Mahallesi 512. Sokak No: 17, Çankaya, Ankara, 06550, +90 539 550 98 98.

UK United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Şehit Ersan Caddesi 46/A, Çankaya, +90 312 455 3344. M-F 08:45-17:00.

United States United States of America, 110 Atatürk Bulvarı, Kavaklıdere, 06100 Ankara, +90 312 455 5555. M-F 09:30-17:30.

Beypazarı. This is famous with its traditional houses, mineral water, bazaar, and of course bakery which is called Beypazari Kurusu. It is a quite a lot for a small Anatolian town which make them tourism attraction of the area. You must spare a weekend. You will not regret it.
Gordion, Yassihoyuk, (96 km west. - near Polatlı off the highway to Eskişehir. This is one of the most important ancient cities in Turkey and is from Ankara in. The city had been home for Hittites, Phyrigians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans since 3000 B.C. The remnants of the city are displayed in Gordion Museum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ulus.
Kızılcahamam. This is a town with many thermal springs, surrounded by forests—a welcome retreat from the arid landscapes around Ankara.
Boğazkale. is the hub for visiting ancient Hattuşaş, the capital of Hittites.
Gavurkale and Kulhoyuk, Haymana town (60 km south-west of Ankara. rock friezes and Hittite burial grounds
Soguksu National Park.
Ankara is a reasonably convenient place to base yourself if you want to travel around Anatolia, Cappadocia or the Black Sea coast and a growing number of tour operators and related service industries are catering to tourists. There is accommodation here at all levels, with prices pegged below those of Istanbul or the south coast, and the new bus station (AŞTİ) is probably the most useful transport hub in Turkey with services to just about anywhere that's feasible (Lebanon is only 16 hours away, if you're feeling adventurous).

Beypazarı. This is famous with its traditional houses, mineral water, bazaar, and of course bakery which is called Beypazari Kurusu. It is a quite a lot for a small Anatolian town which make them tourism attraction of the area. You must spare a weekend. You will not regret it.

Gordion, Yassihoyuk, (96 km west. - near Polatlı off the highway to Eskişehir. This is one of the most important ancient cities in Turkey and is from Ankara in. The city had been home for Hittites, Phyrigians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans since 3000 B.C. The remnants of the city are displayed in Gordion Museum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ulus.

Kızılcahamam. This is a town with many thermal springs, surrounded by forests—a welcome retreat from the arid landscapes around Ankara.

Boğazkale. is the hub for visiting ancient Hattuşaş, the capital of Hittites.

Gavurkale and Kulhoyuk, Haymana town (60 km south-west of Ankara. rock friezes and Hittite burial grounds

Soguksu National Park.