🇹🇷 Turkey

10 best places in Ankara

Ankara is Turkey's political and administrative capital, where Hittite mounds, Roman baths and the mausoleum of the republic's founder sit alongside broad ministry boulevards.

Sight

Anıtkabir

The monumental hilltop mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country's most powerful national symbol.

Museum

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

One of the world's finest collections of Hittite, Phrygian and Urartian artifacts inside an old covered bazaar.

Sight

Ankara Castle

Ancient hilltop walls overlooking Ulus, enclosing a maze of narrow old-town streets.

Sight

Kocatepe Mosque

Ankara's largest mosque, built in neo-Ottoman style and visible from across the city.

Museum

Ankara Ethnography Museum

Seljuk and Ottoman art alongside the building that once housed Atatürk's first resting place.

Sight

Roman Baths

The ruins of a 3rd-century Roman bathing complex sitting right among modern city streets.

District

Hamamönü district

A restored old quarter of Ottoman houses, coffee shops and craft stores.

Park

Gençlik Park

A spacious city park with a lake, funfair rides and paths beloved by local strollers.

Sight

Atakule Tower

An observation tower in Çankaya offering panoramic views over the whole capital.

Café

Kızılay street cafés

The pedestrian heart of downtown, packed with cafés, tea gardens and street food of every kind.

FAQ

Is Ankara worth visiting?

If you care about history and the state side of Turkey, yes: the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is one of the country's best, and Anitkabir explains the republic better than any guidebook. As a postcard or beach city it loses to Istanbul and the coast; Ankara is administrative, restrained and landlocked. Many travellers stop here on the way to Cappadocia.

How many days do you need in Ankara?

One or two days is plenty: Anitkabir, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the castle with the restored Hamamonu quarter, Kocatepe Mosque and the Ethnography Museum. Everything is compact except Anitkabir, which deserves half a day. Longer only makes sense if you are here for work.

Is Ankara cheaper than Istanbul?

Generally yes: rent, food and services are noticeably more affordable, and daily life is easier with less traffic and fewer crowds. The trade-offs are a continental climate with cold snowy winters and hot dry summers, plus lira inflation that makes any price you read go stale fast. There are fewer foreigners, so life without some Turkish is harder.

How do you get a residence permit in Turkey?

The main options are the short-term residence permit (ikamet), work and student permits, family permits, and citizenship by investment, most often through property. In big cities certain neighbourhoods are closed to new foreign registrations, Ankara included, so check the address before signing a lease. Requirements and thresholds keep tightening, so confirm current rules before you move.