2025 Ankara Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

This grand Kemal Memorial commemorates the brave Turkish founding father and hero, Kemal. Kemal died of illness in 1938. In order to commemorate him, the people built the memorial in 1944. The memorial is located in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. If you look closely, you can see that the main buildings are made up of the colors of Cappadocia, the favorite of the founding father. There must be soldiers stationed here and guards standing guard. There is a guard handover ceremony at around 9am. When the national anthem is played, everyone will stand at attention to show respect and admiration for the country. This year is also the 100th anniversary of Turkey's founding in 1923, so there are many special activities❗️👍👍 Because this is where many schools conduct off-campus teaching, you can see many cute local Turkish children everywhere and take photos with them🥰✨️ #Overseas Travel #travel #Turquia #Turkey #travelholic #TravelCoolExperience #Photography Guide #Romantic #100 Ways to Travel

Compared to Istanbul, the capital, Ankara is much more low-key. The main tourist attractions in the city are mostly museums or military memorials. What you must know when you come to Ankara is Kemal, the father of Turkey (the name is too long to remember). The Turks have great respect for their founding father, especially women. Kemal exempted women from many traditional Islamic customs such as headscarves and robes, making Turkey the most open among Islamic countries. After coming to Turkey, you can really feel the huge difference in folk customs👍 The most eye-catching thing about the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is the guard change. They stepped very loudly and shouted incomprehensible military orders, which was very handsome ❤️ #100TravelWays #Ankara #TurkeyTreasureCities #TurkeyFather #2024TravelReview

#2024Travel Review Ahî Şerafeddin Camii, also known as Aslanhane Camii, in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, is listed as a World Cultural Heritage. This mosque is a Seljuq mosque built in the 13th century. Its most distinctive feature is the mix of wooden craftsmanship and Roman building materials. Wooden columns, colorful tiles, wood carvings, stone carvings, Roman capitals, etc. are all highlights. There are mosques all over the country, and most of them are made of stone. Although it is not magnificent, it is really special. "Ahî" is an honest trade association. In the Islamic world, it advocates integrity and doing business with integrity. Şerafeddin is a personal name. As for "Aslanhane" meaning House of Lions, the reason is that the Roman-era lion sculptures can be seen on the outer wall, but they seem to have disappeared.

As the capital of Turkey, Ankara is less bustling than Istanbul, but it has its own unique charm. Here, history and modernity intertwine. Ankara Castle is like a majestic old man, telling stories of the past. Standing on the castle, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. 🛕 The Anıtkabir is solemn and majestic, commemorating the hero of Turkey. The exquisite architecture and tranquil atmosphere make people feel respectful. Modern Ankara is also full of vitality. There are many unique shops in the streets and alleys, where you can find many exquisite handicrafts. And the delicious Turkish food, the aroma of barbecue, and the sweet desserts will make you feel sweet. 🍖 Ankara is a place waiting for you to explore and discover, and you may be surprised at every step!

📍Attraction address: Ankara Castle is located on the hill of the old city in Ankara, Ankara Province, Turkey. 🚗Attraction transportation: [One] Public transportation: Take bus 16 or 64 in Ankara city to the foot of the mountain in the old city, or take the subway to Ulus Station and continue walking up the mountain. [Two] Self-driving: The castle is located in the center of Ankara. It is recommended to use Google Maps in Turkey, as the location is more accurate. You can reach the castle according to the navigation, and there is a parking lot at the foot of the mountain. 👍️Must-see attractions: [One] City walls: Well-preserved thick city walls, full of vicissitudes, and the architectural style shows the operation of ancient military defense systems. [Two] City panorama: Ankara Castle is located at the commanding height of the hillside. Climb the castle to overlook the entire city of Ankara and see the unique style of the modern city and ancient buildings blending with each other. [Three] Mountain climbing streets: On the streets climbing from the foot of the mountain to the castle, there are ancient buildings and traditional shops on both sides. Turkish vendors are very enthusiastic and speak multiple languages. 🎟️Ticket information: Ankara Castle is one of the few castles in Turkey that can be visited for free. If you park your car under the castle, you will be charged a parking fee. 💗Other tips: Ankara Castle was built by the ancient Romans in the 2nd century BC for military defense. Due to its strategic location, the castle has been baptized by many wars and was successively occupied by the Byzantines, Persians, Arabs, and others. During the long history, the castle has been continuously repaired and transformed, becoming an important witness to the history of Ankara. It is said that during the construction of the castle, the ancient Romans made full use of the local terrain advantages and built the castle on the hillside, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Moreover, the architectural layout of the castle was also carefully designed to ensure that it could effectively resist enemy attacks during wartime.

#citystroll My trip to Ankara, Turkey’s capital, was an unexpected but delightful cultural experience! 🌍 This city is often overshadowed by Istanbul, but it has so much to offer. I started my visit at Anıtkabir, the impressive mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which is free to enter and such a powerful tribute to modern Turkey’s founder. The atmosphere there was solemn yet inspiring. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations was another highlight, with an entrance fee of about 45 TRY. It’s a treasure trove of ancient artifacts dating back to the Hittites, Greeks, and Romans. Walking through its exhibits, I gained a deeper appreciation for Turkey’s rich history. 🏛 Kızılay Square, the bustling center of Ankara, is perfect for soaking in the city’s vibrant energy, with lots of cafes and shops nearby. I also recommend heading to the Ankara Castle for stunning panoramic views of the city—it’s especially beautiful at sunset. 🌅 Overall, Ankara is a quieter yet fascinating city, perfect for anyone interested in history and local culture. #AnkaraAdventures #AnatolianCivilizations #AtaturkMausoleum #ExploreTurkey #AnkaraCastle #CulturalJourney

If you are for the first time in Ankara, I can suggest you to start your tour from the old city centre. There you will see the traditional architecture and some of the most emblematic places as the clock tower, the covered fountain and the small shops with crafts and cafeterias. Than you can't miss the big mosque, the fortress, the attraction park called Genclik (means Youth) and of course the Anıtkabir museum dedicated to Ataturk, the father of the modern Turkish Republic. #100WaysOfTravel #turkiye #ankara #itinerary

Ankara, Turkey's capital, may often be overshadowed by Istanbul, but it has its own unique charm and rich history. With landmarks like the iconic **Anıtkabir** (the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk), the historic **Ankara Castle**, and the lively **Kızılay Square**, there’s plenty to explore by foot. The city's blend of ancient and modern architecture creates a vibrant atmosphere that makes walking through Ankara an adventure in itself. ### Tips for Your Ankara City Walk: - **Start at Anıtkabir**: Pay your respects to Atatürk and explore the museum that showcases Turkey’s modern history. - **Visit Ankara Castle**: This ancient fortress offers panoramic views of the city and a glimpse into the city's past. - **Stroll in Kızılay Square**: Bustling with shops, restaurants, and cafes, it’s the perfect place for a break. ### Enjoy a Cruise Tour: For a more relaxed experience, take a cruise tour along the **Lake Mogan** in the southern part of the city. This serene escape from the city center lets you enjoy Ankara from a different perspective, with beautiful views of the surrounding nature. Ankara’s combination of history, culture, and modernity ensures a fulfilling experience for any traveler. #ExploreAnkara #CityWalks #TurkeyTravel #Anıtkabir #AnkaraCastle #CruiseTour #DiscoverAnkara #100waysoftravel

🌎Turkey, a magical country that blends Eastern and Western cultures, tells legendary stories one after another with thousands of years of history. If you are curious about history, then this self-driving cultural tour will take you through time and space and experience the profound heritage of Türkiye. ⭐️Route recommendations 🚩Ankara→Eskisehir→Bursa→Istanbul Province 🌼Daily schedule DAY1: Anatolian Civilization History Museum-Ankara Tower-Ankara Castle DAY2: Fairy Tale Island (Masal Adası) - Tomb of the Founding Father of Türkiye - Golden Pavilion museum (Golden Pavilion museum) DAY3: Gondola boarding point-Eskisehir Metropolitan Palace of Art and Culture-Turazas Revolutionary Automobile Museum DAY4: Historical Market Square-Bursa Science and Technology Center-Emir Sultan Mosque DAY5: Dolmabahce Palace-Dolmabahce Clock Tower-Taksim Gezi Park DAY6: Blue Mosque - Hagia Sophia - Basilica Cistern - Holy Peace Church - Theodosius Basilica Cistern DAY7: Prince's Island-Island Museum 🌸The self-driving mileage is about 550 kilometers. The recommended travel time is 7-8 days. It is suitable for tourists who like humanities and history. 💖Overview of attractions ✔️Ankara Tower, a landmark building in Ankara, Turkey. There is a 360-degree panoramic revolving restaurant and a cinema at the top of the tower, where visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery and spectacular views of the entire city. ✔️The Mausoleum of the Founding Fathers of Turkey is located on a hill about 2 kilometers away from the center of Ankara. Mustafa Kemal, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, is buried here. In addition, Kemal’s former friend and second president are buried here. A monument to Ismail Teinonu, President of the Republic of Turkey, and a museum introducing Kemal’s life experiences. The Inonu Peace Monument opposite the main courtyard is simple and majestic in style, guarded by tall guards. ✔️Dolmabahce Palace, located in the New City of Istanbul, is also commonly known as the New Palace of the Ottoman Empire. The palace is tall, broad and majestic, with a 600-meter-long wall. The interior walls are covered with gold foil, and the main body is made of white marble and Egyptian alabaster. The palace is mainly composed of two parts, namely the Ceremonial Palace (Selamlık) and the Harem and the Concubine Court (Haremlik). It has a total of 285 rooms, 43 halls and 6 Turkish baths. It is a magnificent masterpiece. ✔️Prince’s Island was once a place where princes were exiled by the Byzantine dynasty, but now it has become the territory of the wealthy. The beautiful beaches and shady green trees attract both locals and foreign tourists. Choosing the right time to travel to the Princes Islands is very important. If you go on weekends or during summer holidays for locals, you will see a lively scene like going to a market. But if you go there during non-holidays, the town will be as peaceful as a paradise, completely different from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul. ✔️Hagia Sophia, this is a historical building in Türkiye and one of the symbols of Türkiye. The exterior of Hagia Sophia is a typical mosque dome and minaret. There is a purification pavilion (for mosques) in front of the church, and several stone pillars with carved patterns on the top stand next to it. The large and small partition windows and low-hanging chandeliers in the church maintain the light in the hall, and the exquisite chandeliers bring a warm atmosphere to the hall, and the tall dome gives people a sense of awe. The dome retains Byzantine murals and is very colorful. ☀️Starting from Ankara, passing through Eskisehir, Bursa, and finally arriving in Istanbul, this is a self-driving route full of humanistic atmosphere, and every stop is a witness to history. #trip # Self-driving # Car rental # Self-driving tour

Here are few places that I visited being in the capital before taking a train from Ankara to Kars. ✔️Ankara Citadel enjoy exploring the ancient castle walls, walking along cobblestone paths, visiting art studios and world-class museums, watching skilled street performers, relaxing in trendy cafes, and shopping in small stores offering a variety of products. ✔️The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations The old bazaar building showcases the exhibits. Inside this Ottoman structure, the museum displays a variety of Anatolian archaeological artifacts, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the Ottoman era, in chronological order ✔️Ulus Square. Monument of Republic Ulus Square is a historic square in Ankara, known for its significance to the Turkish nation. The square is located at the intersection of four streets, including Atatürk Boulevard. #Ankara #turkey #trip #capital

The Turkish History Museum and Park is located in the western suburbs of Ankara, about 30 minutes by car. When I passed through the entrance gate (free admission), I was surprised by the number of sculptures, over 200. They were sculptures of important figures in Turkish history, ranging from politicians, military personnel, and artists. There was also an exhibition of grassland yurts. Inside the building, important scenes in Turkish history were reproduced with paintings and models. They are displayed in a large room in a very large building, so it is very impressive. It is a place that you can enjoy even more if you study Turkish history. Türk Tarih Müzesi ve Parkı Address: Bağlıca, Çambayırı Cd. No:89, Pk: 06790 – Etimesgut / Ankara #Overseas travel

There is an energy museum a few kilometers west of central Ankara. It is right next to the Natural History Museum, which is very popular with children. Inside the museum, there are exhibits such as pipelines for drilling and transporting oil, and there are also colorful exhibits to make energy familiar to children. In the garden, there are also exhibits that recreate excavators and mine tunnels, and it is designed to deepen your understanding of energy from various perspectives. I visited on a nice day, so I was able to relax on a bench in the garden. Admission is free. #overseastravel

Located in the center of Ankara, Swan Park was in full bloom with flowers that look very similar to cherry blossoms. On a warm evening in late March, many locals and tourists sat on benches enjoying the cherry blossoms while watching swans and other water birds. It's conveniently located near the Tunulhirmi shopping street. Even overseas, I found a park that perfectly matches the cherry blossom viewing atmosphere. #hanami

I visited the Aslanhane Mosque in Ulus, the old city of Ankara. This mosque has a long history dating back to the Seljuk period. The exterior is majestic, made of stone, while the interior is gentle, made of wood. There are antique shops and restaurants around, making it a fun area to stroll around. I was able to enjoy both history and shopping to my heart's content.

Although it is called the New Mosque, it was founded in 1565 during the first half of the Ottoman Empire and is one of the oldest mosques in Ankara. It is located very close to the Ulcanlar Prison Museum, not far from the Old Town of Ulus, so it is recommended to visit both. The Chess Museum is also within walking distance. There are also many restaurants serving traditional Turkish cuisine in the surrounding area.

I went to the Atakule Shopping Mall at the base of the Atakule Tower, a landmark in Ankara. One day in mid-February, it was snowing outside and the temperature was below freezing, but it was warm inside and I was able to shop leisurely. In addition to fashion goods, there are restaurants, a food court, and cafes, so there are many ways to enjoy yourself. There is also a supermarket on the lower floor, where you can buy some typical Turkish souvenirs. #Snowscape

During a break in my travels, I went to the Karum Shopping Center in the center of Ankara city. There was still snow remaining in the surrounding area from a recent snowfall, so I was able to enjoy the beautiful snow scenery. It is conveniently located and easy to access, with many restaurants and cafes nearby. Inside, there are many fashion-related shops, and there is also a cafe, making it a convenient place to take a break. #SnowScenery

#NewYearGoodDestinations Hotel 2000 Kavaklidere is located at Bestekar Sokak No:29, Ankara, Türkiye. Although the hotel is small, the rooms are not cramped, they are comfortable and clean. What I like most is that the hotel is located in the city center, which is very convenient for shopping and finding delicious food. The shopping area and the food area are just a few minutes' walk away. #TurkeyTourism #TurkeyHotels

The Roman Theater is a place full of stairs. It is definitely a must-see attraction in Turkey. The scenery here is so beautiful and it is very good for taking photos. It is definitely a must-see attraction in Turkey.

The Republic of Turkey is located on the Anatolian peninsula in western Asia and a small enclave in Thrace in the Balkan region of Southeast Europe. Turkey has a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea in the south and east and on the Black Sea in the north. It borders Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan (at the exclave of Nakhchivan) in the east, Georgia in the northeast, Bulgaria and Greece in the northwest, and Iraq and Syria in the southeast. Turkey covers an area of 783,562 km²; the country is more than twice the size of Germany or slightly smaller than the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana combined. Turkey has a population of 83.2 million people (in 2020), the largest city is Istanbul, the national capital is Ankara. Spoken languages are Turkish (official), Kurdish by Kurdish people, and Arabic by Turkish Arabs.

The combination of breathtaking natural beauty, historic and cultural sites, along with great food, makes Turkey one of the top tourist destinations in the world. As in previous years, the number of incoming tourists to Turkey increased by 13.7 percent in 2019, reaching 51.8 million people, setting an all time record. According to Ali Bilir, Vice Chairman of Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), Turkey has diversified its tourism industry to a great extent, adding new sites to its list of destinations while working hard toward the goal of reaching the target of hosting 75 million guests by 2023.

#ankara this amazing city blew our minds away. we found this park while searching for things to do in Ankara, and we were so happy to find it. the cleanliness, the greenery and amazing walk ways and benches to sit and just smell the fresh air and hear the birds. You have to stop at the cafe in the middle of the park and try the pide and great turkish coffee and look up at the trees. must try and must see dont miss this place. #tripblazers #staycation #deliciousfood #fallingforfall #couplestrip #awesomepic #foodie #mytripvlog #cafe #passionpassport #nationalpark #celebratewithtrip #spooktaculartrip

#mytripvlog If you are looking a peaceful place, you should try Sofa coffee house. A place where you will feel at home and a very ideal place for study, not to mention the taste of their drinks. I also love the decoration of the cafe ✨ It is located in Asagı Ayrancı. It takes 15 min from Kızılay by bus. #mytripvlog #tripmoments #coffee #cafe #tripblazers #awesomepic #ankara #turkey

Not far from Kizilay in the center of Ankara is a fashionable street called Bayındır 2. In late November, the trees along the street were beautifully colored yellow. It's a fun area lined with restaurants and cafes, as well as hotels and music stores. They also sell Turkish folk instruments, which is interesting. #AutumnFoliage

Kizilay, in the center of Ankara, is a very busy area at a transportation hub. In late November, the trees along the streets were beautifully colored in autumn. There are many subway and bus routes to go anywhere, making it a convenient location for traveling. There are also many restaurants and cafes nearby. #AutumnFoliage

I discovered Başyazıcıoğlu Mosque by chance when I went to Armada Shopping Center, three stops (Sögütözü station) from Kizilay in the center of Ankara. The autumn leaves of the surrounding trees and the green of the roof were beautiful against the blue sky. The gorgeous tiles inside are distinctive. #AutumnLeaves

We enjoyed the autumn leaves at Lake Eymir on the outskirts of Ankara, about a 30-minute drive from central Ankara. Ankara is a city with many valleys, but this lake really feels like the bottom of a valley. Many people were enjoying walking, cycling, and fishing among the autumn leaves. A hidden gem for enjoying nature. #AutumnLeaves

This is a place where Turkey is proud of the country and respected by its citizens. There is a soldier handover ceremony at a fixed time to enjoy. Here you can see the scenery connecting the Eurasian plate. It is a tourist attraction worth visiting.